Zorn, Tabea Marie (2022) Does sexual creativity enhance sexual and relationship satisfaction? Examining the effect of weekly creative sexual tasks in monogamous long-term relationships. Master thesis, Psychology.
![[img]](https://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
Zorn, Tabea Marie, s4520912, master thesis TDC.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) |
Abstract
Research has only recently started investigating how sexual passion and satisfaction can be maintained in a monogamous long-term relationship. The challenge lies in the familiarity and comfort that frequently turn into sexual boredom and predictability, leading partners to desire less mechanical and routine sex. Since sexual novelty has been positively related to sexual and relationship satisfaction, we tested the effect of including weekly sexual creativity in couples' sex lives. As part of the study, we introduced a definition of sexual creativity as sexual activity that is new, pleasurable, and safe for all parties involved. The experimental group had to plan at least one sexually creative activity per week for one month, while the control group planned sex as usual. Both groups received weekly instructions in which the experimental group got a theme with examples to stimulate creativity. There were weekly questionnaires and a follow-up two weeks after the intervention. In a preliminary analysis, scores of 114 monogamous couples that had been together for at least 1.5 years were analyzed on their development of sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, sexual boredom, sexual novelty, sexual communication, sexual frequency, sexual desire, and importance of sex at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Results showed no differences between the groups. However, sexual satisfaction and sexual novelty significantly increased for both groups over the three measurement points. Our results raise questions about how to effectively manipulate sexual creativity in an experimental setup, as our two tested groups might have been too similar, which may have hindered the finding of positive effects of the intervention. Nevertheless, our study gives first indications of the effectiveness of having participants regularly plan sexual activity. In general, we achieved high adherence opening up new research directions for experimentally testing a sexual intervention with couples in real life.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Cox, R.F.A. and Borg, C. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Talent Development and Creativity (TDC) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Nov 2022 13:18 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Nov 2022 13:18 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1473 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |