Associations of Intimacy, Partner Responsiveness, and Attachment-Related Emotional Needs With Sexual Desire

Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld; Marieke Dewitte; Peter Verboon; Susan A. H. van Hooren

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665967

Associations of Intimacy, Partner Responsiveness, and Attachment-Related Emotional Needs With Sexual Desire

Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld^*, Marieke Dewitte, Peter Verboon, Susan A. H. van Hooren

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

In this online cross-sectional survey study in a large community sample we investigated the associations between attachment-related relational needs, partner responsiveness, intimacy, and sexual desire, using structural equation modeling. Participants were heterosexual and non-heterosexual women and men. Intimacy and partner responsiveness correlated positively with sexual desire in all subsamples. Anxious attachment-related relational needs correlated positively with sexual desire. Avoidant attachment-related relational needs correlated negatively with sexual desire. Anxious and avoidant attachment-related needs, however, did not moderate the association between intimacy and sexual desire. Individuals with problems of low sexual desire may benefit from an emphasis in sex therapy on ways to increase (perceptions of) intimacy.

Original language	English
Article number	665967
Number of pages	13
Journal	Frontiers in Psychology
Volume	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665967
Publication status	Published - 21 Jun 2021

Keywords

sexual desire
attachment-related emotional needs
partner responsiveness
intimacy
anxious adult attachment
avoidant adult attachment
INTERPERSONAL PROCESS
GENDER-DIFFERENCES
SELF-DISCLOSURE
VOLUNTEER BIAS
MEN
SATISFACTION
LIFE
MODELS
PREVALENCE
MOTIVATION

Access to Document

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665967Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{548861de91de45fba230a2903b79ac36,

title = "Associations of Intimacy, Partner Responsiveness, and Attachment-Related Emotional Needs With Sexual Desire",

abstract = "In this online cross-sectional survey study in a large community sample we investigated the associations between attachment-related relational needs, partner responsiveness, intimacy, and sexual desire, using structural equation modeling. Participants were heterosexual and non-heterosexual women and men. Intimacy and partner responsiveness correlated positively with sexual desire in all subsamples. Anxious attachment-related relational needs correlated positively with sexual desire. Avoidant attachment-related relational needs correlated negatively with sexual desire. Anxious and avoidant attachment-related needs, however, did not moderate the association between intimacy and sexual desire. Individuals with problems of low sexual desire may benefit from an emphasis in sex therapy on ways to increase (perceptions of) intimacy.",

keywords = "sexual desire, attachment-related emotional needs, partner responsiveness, intimacy, anxious adult attachment, avoidant adult attachment, INTERPERSONAL PROCESS, GENDER-DIFFERENCES, SELF-DISCLOSURE, VOLUNTEER BIAS, MEN, SATISFACTION, LIFE, MODELS, PREVALENCE, MOTIVATION",

author = "{van Lankveld}, {Jacques J. D. M.} and Marieke Dewitte and Peter Verboon and {van Hooren}, {Susan A. H.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 van Lankveld, Dewitte, Verboon and van Hooren.",

year = "2021",

month = jun,

day = "21",

doi = "10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665967",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Frontiers in Psychology",

issn = "1664-1078",

publisher = "Frontiers Media S.A.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations of Intimacy, Partner Responsiveness, and Attachment-Related Emotional Needs With Sexual Desire

AU - van Lankveld, Jacques J. D. M.

AU - Dewitte, Marieke

AU - Verboon, Peter

AU - van Hooren, Susan A. H.

PY - 2021/6/21

Y1 - 2021/6/21

N2 - In this online cross-sectional survey study in a large community sample we investigated the associations between attachment-related relational needs, partner responsiveness, intimacy, and sexual desire, using structural equation modeling. Participants were heterosexual and non-heterosexual women and men. Intimacy and partner responsiveness correlated positively with sexual desire in all subsamples. Anxious attachment-related relational needs correlated positively with sexual desire. Avoidant attachment-related relational needs correlated negatively with sexual desire. Anxious and avoidant attachment-related needs, however, did not moderate the association between intimacy and sexual desire. Individuals with problems of low sexual desire may benefit from an emphasis in sex therapy on ways to increase (perceptions of) intimacy.

AB - In this online cross-sectional survey study in a large community sample we investigated the associations between attachment-related relational needs, partner responsiveness, intimacy, and sexual desire, using structural equation modeling. Participants were heterosexual and non-heterosexual women and men. Intimacy and partner responsiveness correlated positively with sexual desire in all subsamples. Anxious attachment-related relational needs correlated positively with sexual desire. Avoidant attachment-related relational needs correlated negatively with sexual desire. Anxious and avoidant attachment-related needs, however, did not moderate the association between intimacy and sexual desire. Individuals with problems of low sexual desire may benefit from an emphasis in sex therapy on ways to increase (perceptions of) intimacy.

KW - sexual desire

KW - attachment-related emotional needs

KW - partner responsiveness

KW - intimacy

KW - anxious adult attachment

KW - avoidant adult attachment

KW - INTERPERSONAL PROCESS

KW - GENDER-DIFFERENCES

KW - SELF-DISCLOSURE

KW - VOLUNTEER BIAS

KW - MEN

KW - SATISFACTION

KW - LIFE

KW - MODELS

KW - PREVALENCE

KW - MOTIVATION

U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665967

DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665967

M3 - Article

C2 - 34234713

SN - 1664-1078

VL - 12

JO - Frontiers in Psychology

JF - Frontiers in Psychology

M1 - 665967

ER -