Research Article

Sexual victimization by current partner is negatively associated with women’s sexual satisfaction

Published: 2023-11-26

Journal: Women & Health

DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2272203

Abstract

ABSTRACT Lower sexual satisfaction with one’s current partner (SSCP) has been associated with having a history of sexual victimization experience (SVE). However, whether or not this SVE involved the current partner as the perpetrator has been unclear. This study aimed to address this gap in the sexual health literature by examining women’s SSCP based on SVE with that current partner (yes; no) and/or a different perpetrator (yes; no). A convenience sample of undergraduate women with an exclusive current partner (n=412; 99 percent unmarried) at a U.S. public university anonymously responded via paper-and-pencil to the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction and the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization between 2012–2016. A 2×2 ANOVA revealed that current-partner SVE was associated with lower SSCP (F (1, 410)=7.38, p=.007, partial n2=.018), but other-perpetrator SVE was not. SVE may predict lower SSCP when victimized by that partner, as that partner may be associated with the negative victimization experience. Although preliminary, findings highlight the importance of considering how partner-related health factors (e.g. SSCP) may be differentially associated with SVE based on whether or not the victim’s current partner was the perpetrator. KEYWORDS: Current, partner, satisfaction, sexual victimization Disclosure statement No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). Additional information Funding The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Faculty Members

  • Suzanne L. Osman - Department of Psychology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland, USA

Themes

  • Sexual victimization
  • Partner-related health factors
  • Sexual satisfaction
  • Impact of perpetrator identity
  • Women's health

Categories

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