The use of sexual humor in romantic relationships: Description, valence and association with sexual satisfaction

Research shows that humour is related to relationship satisfaction, but little is known about couples’ use of sexual humour. The current study examined sexual humour use and its associations with relational humour, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. Participants (adults in a romantic relationship of at least 4 months; N = 196) completed online measures of the frequency, nature, and perceptions of sexual humour use, relational humour use, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction, and they described an example of sexual humour their partner had used. Participants indicated that sexual humour was used at least occasionally with their partner. Examples of sexual humour suggest several common forms (e.g., inside jokes/rituals, physical humour, smoothing over awkward moments). Most participants perceived positive consequences of sexual humour, including increased comfort, fun, and closeness. More frequent use of positive relational humour (by self and partner) was associated with more frequent and more positively valenced sexual humour, whereas more frequent negative relational humour use by partner predicted lower relationship and sexual satisfaction. Finally, more positively valenced sexual humour predicted sexual satisfaction over and above relationship satisfaction and relational humour. Relationship and sexual humour are related to both relationship and sexual satisfaction. Sexual humour may help mitigate discomfort with potentially awkward situations and facilitate individual comfort as well as connection with a partner. The unique contribution of sexual humour to sexual satisfaction suggests it may play a modest but distinctive role in sexual well-being. Implications and future directions are discussed.