Power and passion: An exploration of the relationship between marital power processes and sexual passion styles

Limited research has explored the connections between relational power and sexual motivations in couple relationships. Self-determination theory provides a framework to explore the links between relational power and different types of sexual motivations. Data were taken from 1,668 newly married couples that participated in three waves of the nationally representative CREATE study. Using an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) framework, this study examined how perceptions of shared relationship power were associated with both partners’ harmonious and inhibited sexual passion, and whether connections were mediated by partners’ sexual autonomy. Results demonstrated that for both partners, a sense of shared power was predictive of greater harmonious sexual passion and less inhibited sexual passion over time. Although concurrent indirect effects were found for both partners, no longitudinal indirect effects were significant. These findings highlight the importance of both partners feeling that they have influence in the relationship for both partners’ sexual well-being.