Singles Not Sexually Satisfied? Prevalence and Predictors of Sexual Satisfaction in Single versus Partnered Adults

Give Me More, and More Variety: Sexual Satisfaction Among BDSM and Kink Practitioners in Chile

Previous research has shown a positive association between BDSM/kink behaviors and sexual satisfaction. The present study further explored this relationship within a Chilean population of BDSM practitioners. A total of 543 participants responded to an online questionnaire about BDSM/kink roles, practices, and overall sexual satisfaction. The main regression analyses evaluated the associations between BDSM roles, the frequency and variety of BDSM/kink interests and behaviors and the degree of discordance between the BDSM/kink behaviors participants find arousing and those that they have engaged in, as well as the contributions of the socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, sexual orientation, educational level, and relationship status on sexual satisfaction levels. The results indicated that the frequency and diversity of BDSM and kink activities were linked with higher sexual satisfaction. While no significant differences were found in sexual satisfaction across dominant, submissive, and switch roles, individuals in both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships reported higher satisfaction levels in comparison to those not in a relationship. These results emphasize the importance of respecting and de-pathologizing "non-conventional" forms of sexuality, such as BDSM. Future research should focus on the long-term psychological and relational effects of BDSM participation and aim to include more diverse and representative samples.

Analysis of the International Index of Erectile Function: psychometric evidence and measurement invariance across relationship status and age generations in a Chilean sample

Background

The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) stands out for its utility and widespread use to measure sexual function in men. However, it lacks consistency in its internal latent structure across studies, has not been evaluated for measurement invariance, and has not undergone psychometric validation for its 15-item form in Spanish among South American countries.

Aim

To examine the IIEF's psychometric evidence (ie, structural/criterion validity and reliability) in a sample of adult men and determine its measurement invariance across relationship status (single vs in a relationship) and age generations (generations Z, Y/millennials, and X).

Methods

A sample of 650 sexually active males was derived from a broader Chilean study (Chilean Sex and Sexuality Study). We used a confirmatory factor analysis to determine the IIEF's structural validity, sexual satisfaction dimensions to establish its criterion-related validity, and Cronbach alpha and McDonald omega to assess the reliability of its scores.

Outcomes

Measures of goodness of fit.

Results

The evidence supported the 5-factor latent solution. Meanwhile, criterion-related validity revealed subtle yet significant differences in sexual satisfaction, with younger men displaying higher satisfaction in various sexual domains. In contrast, middle-aged men and those in a relationship showed better sexual function. Finally, the IIEF was invariant across age groups and relationship status at the factor covariance level.

Clinical Translation

This study provides evidence that the IIEF is a valid, reliable, and invariant tool for the clinical practice in men's sexual health, particularly that associated with their sexual function and dysfunction.

Strengths and Limitations

The study included a comprehensive validity analysis of the IIEF's psychometric properties, demonstrating its reliability and validity across diverse Chilean male subpopulations. The study also offered the IIEF's first assessment of measurement invariance and confirmed its suitability for clinical and research use in the Chilean population. Meanwhile, the study's limitations include a lack of clinical population and a sample predominantly younger, cisgender, and heterosexual.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence of the IIEF's 5-factor structure and measurement invariance across age generations and relationship status in Chilean men, supporting its validity for clinical use and research and broadening its applicability in global sexual health studies, particularly in the Spanish-speaking South American male population.

Relationship between Solitary Masturbation and Sexual Satisfaction: A Systematic Review

Masturbation is a healthy sexual behavior associated with different sexual functioning dimensions, which highlights sexual satisfaction as an important manifestation of sexual wellbeing. This review aims to systematically examine studies that have associated masturbation with sexual satisfaction, both in individuals with and without a partner. Following the PRISMA statement, searches were made in the APA PsycInfo, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The search yielded 851 records, and twenty-two articles that examined the relation between solitary masturbation and sexual satisfaction were selected. In men, a negative relation between masturbation and sexual satisfaction was observed in 71.4% of the studies, 21.4% found no such relation, and 7.2% observed a positive association. In women, 40% reported no relation, 33.3% a negative relation, and 26.7% a positive one. The negative association between solitary masturbation and sexual satisfaction is consistent with the previously proposed compensatory role of masturbation, especially for men. In women, compared to men, the complementary role of masturbation in relation to sexual relationships is observed to a greater extent and is associated more closely with sexual health. The importance of including different parameters beyond the masturbation frequency in future studies to explore its relation with sexual satisfaction is emphasized. This systematic review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023416688).