The Interrelationships Between Sexual Problems and Sexual Satisfaction: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study with Dyads

Sexual problems in relationships are negatively correlated with sexual satisfaction, but the direction of this relationship remains unclear. Although most theorizing posits that changes in sexual problems precede changes in sexual satisfaction, most studies are cross-sectional, so they cannot assess directionality or capture any bidirectional effects. This study addressed this limitation by investigating the association between sexual problems and sexual satisfaction prospectively. Additionally, we sought to test for partner effects and determine whether broader relationship problems, rather than sexual problems specifically, explain the relation to sexual satisfaction. We measured sexual satisfaction, sexual problems, and nonsexual problems two years apart. Our sample included 109 mixed sex/gender couples (218 individuals; M_age = 37.00); 83 couples (166 individuals) completed both time points. Dyadic cross-lagged analyses showed that participants with higher levels of sexual problems at baseline reported lower sexual satisfaction two years later. Lower baseline sexual satisfaction did not predict increases in sexual problems two years later. No significant prospective partner effects emerged. When nonsexual problems were added to the model, sexual problems continued to predict sexual satisfaction. These findings suggest that sexual problems in relationships precede declines in sexual satisfaction and may offer a target for intervention.