Reasons to Pretend Orgasm, Mate Retention, and Relationship Satisfaction in Brazilian Women

Occurrence, Frequency, and Correlates of Faking Orgasm and Satisfaction in Sexual Minority Men

Existing literature on "faking" orgasm focuses almost exclusively on women. Limited research exists among men, and none focuses on sexual minority (e.g., gay, bisexual, queer) men. Additionally, faking satisfaction (pretending to be sexually satisfied) remains an unknown concept. This study examined the occurrence, frequency, and correlates of faking orgasm and satisfaction in sexual minority men. Participants (N = 211, age = 18-53, 59% identified as gay) responded to an online survey assessing frequencies of faking orgasm and satisfaction as well as potential correlates of faking (age, relationship status, sexual frequency, orgasm frequency, internalized sexual stigma). Results showed that faking orgasm and faking satisfaction were highly prevalent among sexual minority men in this sample (83% had faked orgasm and 88% had faked satisfaction in the past two years). The frequency of faking was also high; 62% and 68% faked orgasm and satisfaction at least "sometimes." Higher internalized sexual stigma and lower orgasm frequency were associated with higher frequencies of faking orgasm and satisfaction. For faking orgasm, however, the relationship between internalized sexual stigma and faking only existed in gay men. The findings suggest that faking pleasure in sexual minority men is common and deserves more empirical attention.

Sexual Communal Strength Partially Mediates the Associations between Mate Retention Behaviors and Relationship Satisfaction

Mate retention behaviors are associated with several aspects of romantic relationships, but different categories of mate retention behaviors have divergent associations with relationship satisfaction. The present studies examined whether sexual communal strength - which refers to the motivation to meet the sexual needs of one's partner - mediated the associations that benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors had with relationship satisfaction. We investigated the associations that mate retention behaviors had with relationship satisfaction through sexual communal strength using men's self-reports (Study 1) and women's partner-reports (Study 2). We found that sexual communal strength partially mediated the associations that mate retention behaviors had with relationship satisfaction in both studies. Benefit-provisioning mate retention behaviors had a positive indirect association with relationship satisfaction through sexual communal strength in both studies, whereas cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors had a negative indirect association with relationship satisfaction through sexual communal strength in Study 1 but not in Study 2. We explore the reasons why sexual communal strength may play an important role in the connections that mate retention behaviors have with relationship satisfaction.

Motives that Mediate the Associations Between Relationship Satisfaction, Orgasmic Difficulty, and the Frequency of Faking Orgasm

INTRODUCTION

Faking orgasm by women reportedly occurs quite frequently, with both relationship characteristics and orgasmic difficulty being significant predictors.

AIM

We explored women's motives that might mediate the associations between orgasmic difficulty and relationship satisfaction on the one hand, with the frequency of faking orgasm on the other.

METHODS

In a study of 360 Hungarian women who reported "ever" faking orgasm during partnered sex, we assessed the direct and indirect (mediated) associations between orgasmic difficulty, relationship satisfaction, and the frequency of faking orgasm.

OUTCOMES

Determination of motives that mediate the association between orgasmic difficulty and the frequency of faking orgasm, and the association between relationship satisfaction and the frequency of faking orgasm.

RESULTS

Increased orgasmic difficulty was directly related to increased frequency of faking orgasm (β = 0.37; P < .001), and each variable itself was related to a number of motives for faking orgasm. However, the only motive assessed in our study that mediated the relationship between orgasmic difficulty and the frequency of faking orgasm was insecurity about being perceived as abnormal or dysfunctional (indirect effect: β = 0.13; P < .001). A similar pattern emerged with relationship satisfaction and frequency of faking orgasm. These two variables were directly related in that lower relationship satisfaction predicted higher frequency of faking orgasm (β = -0.15; P = .008). Furthermore, while each variable itself was related to a number of motives for faking orgasm, the only motive assessed in our study that mediated the relationship between the 2 variables was insecurity about being perceived as abnormal or dysfunctional (indirect effect: β = -0.06; P = .008).

CLINICAL TRANSLATION

Insecurity related to being perceived as abnormal or deficient, along with sexual communication, should be addressed in women with a history of faking orgasm but who want to cease doing so.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

The sample was relatively large and the online survey adhered to best practices. Nevertheless, bias may result in sample characteristics when recruitment is achieved primarily through social media. In addition, the cross-sectional sample prevented causal determination and represented Western-based values.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations between orgasmic difficulty and faking orgasm, and between relationship satisfaction and faking orgasm, are both direct and indirect (mediated). The primary motive for mediating the indirect association between the predictor variables and the frequency of faking orgasm was the insecurity about being perceived as deficient or abnormal. Hevesi K, Horvath Z, Miklos E, et al. Motives that Mediate the Associations Between Relationship Satisfaction, Orgasmic Difficulty, and the Frequency of Faking Orgasm. Sex Med 2022;10:100568.