Work

Sexual Satisfaction and Sexual Health Among University Students in the United States

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Despite the World Health Organization's definition of sexual health as a state of well-being, virtually no public health research has examined sexual well-being outcomes, including sexual satisfaction. Emerging evidence suggests that sexual well-being indicators are associated with more classic measures of healthy sexual behaviors. We surveyed 2168 university students in the United States and asked them to rate their physiological and psychological satisfaction with their current sexual lives. Many respondents reported that they were either satisfied (approximately half) or very satisfied (approximately one third). In multivariate analyses, significant (P < .05) correlates of both physiological and psychological satisfaction included sexual guilt, sexual self-comfort, self-esteem (especially among men), relationship status, and sexual frequency. To enhance sexual well-being, public health practitioners should work to improve sexual self-comfort, alleviate sexual guilt, and promote longer term relationships.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2011.300154

Authors: Jenny A. Higgins, Margo Mullinax, James Trussell, J. Kenneth Davidson, Nelwyn B. Moore

Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Texas State University, Princeton University, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Sexual function and dysfunction studies

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Texas State University, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development