Sexual Rewards and Costs in Heterosexual and Gay Hispanic Adults

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 170
• Main Authors: Calvillo, Cristobal, Sierra, Juan Carlos, Sánchez-Fuentes, María Del Mar, Granados, Reina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Analysis; Cisgender; Costs; Couples; Gay men; Gays & lesbians; Gender; Health aspects; Heterosexuality; Hispanic people; Hispanics; Medical care, Cost of; Sex roles; Sexual behavior; sexual costs; sexual rewards; sexual satisfaction; Sexuality; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social aspects; Social exchange; Social exchange theory; Sociodemographics; STD; Women; Spain; sexual costs; sexual satisfaction; Hispanics; sexual rewards
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12020170

The Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction proposes that sexual satisfaction can be explained by the balance of sexual rewards or costs exchange. The Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (IEMSSQ) was developed from this model. The IEMSSQ includes the Reward/Costs Checklist (RCC). The RCC assesses different sexual exchanges that are categorized into sexual rewards and/or costs. Analyses and comparisons of sexual rewards and costs in the Hispanic cisgender population based on gender (man or woman) and sexual orientation (heterosexual and homosexual) with this measure have not been conducted. The main goal was to analyze and rank the sexual rewards, costs, and both, indicated by a sample of 1996 Hispanic partnered participants (heterosexual men, gay men, heterosexual women, and lesbians). The predominant sexual exchanges that were reported involved emotional aspects, both as rewards and costs. When participants indicated that the exchange was both a reward and a cost, they were referring to aspects specifically related to the sexual relationship itself. Heterosexual men and women had greater rewards and higher costs, respectively. Gay men obtained a greater number of items reported as rewards and costs. The results provide further insight into sexual satisfaction related to gender and sexual orientation.