Body Image Satisfaction and Body-Related Partner Commentary Link to Marital Quality Through Sexual Frequency and Satisfaction: A Path Model
This study examined the association between body image satisfaction and marital quality, focusing on sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction as the mechanistic links. A sample of 141 different-sex married couples was used, ranging from 20 to 70 years old. We built on previous research by using path...
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| Published in: | Couple and family psychology Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 31 - 49 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Educational Publishing Foundation
01-03-2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | This study examined the association between body image satisfaction and marital quality, focusing on sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction as the mechanistic links. A sample of 141 different-sex married couples was used, ranging from 20 to 70 years old. We built on previous research by using path analysis to evaluate body image in both husbands and wives at various marital stages, looking at its nonmediated effects on sexual satisfaction, and including the downstream role of partner commentary on body weight and shape. Results demonstrated that husbands and wives with lower body image satisfaction engaged in sex less frequently, were less sexually satisfied, and indicated lower marital quality. In addition, after controlling for sexual frequency, wives reported less sexual satisfaction when they had lower body image satisfaction and, conversely, when their husbands had higher body image satisfaction. Receiving positive appearance-related commentary also corresponded to higher body image satisfaction and, subsequently, marital quality by impacting sexual frequency and satisfaction for both partners. Meanwhile, negative commentary was associated with lower marital quality by way of lower sexual satisfaction for wives only. These findings suggest different mechanisms that may impact the experienced quality of sex both pursuant to and irrespective of sexual frequency. They also provide body image and body-related partner commentary as potential targets of assessment or intervention for married couples where sexual intimacy may be an issue, while also highlighting gender-related differences in what may need to be emphasized during treatment. |
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| ISSN: | 2160-4096 2160-410X |
| DOI: | 10.1037/cfp0000216 |