Ta ble 3: R E S U L T S (C O N T.) ORGASM FUNCTIONING AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION: THE SELECTIVE PROTECTIVE VALUE OF GOOD RELATIONSHIPS Kyle R. Stephenson, B.S. & Cindy M. Meston, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin I N T R O D U C T I O N  Recent research suggests that sexual functioning can be weakly related to subjective outcomes such as sexual satisfaction and distress 1,2,3.  Poor sexual functioning is less likely to result in negative subjective outcomes when individuals are satisfied with their relationships overall, suggesting that relationship satisfaction may buffer against the negative effects of sexual problems in some cases 4.  However, anxiously attached individuals tend to use sex as a means to satiate their desire for extreme closeness and intimacy, so negative sexual encounters are often perceived as indicators of rejection, intensifying attachment insecurities and resulting in increased distress 5,6.  As such, poor sexual functioning may lead to decreases in sexual satisfaction for insecurely attached individuals regardless of their satisfaction with the overall relationship. A I M  To determine when relationship satisfaction buffers against the negative effects of poor orgasmic functioning on sexual satisfaction. M E T H O D S  303 undergraduate participants currently in exclusive, sexually-active romantic relationships (see Table 1) PARTICIPANTS MEASURES  The Orgasm subscale of the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) modified for use with men and women.  A validated measure of orgasmic functioning  The Experiences in Close Relationships Scale – Revised (ECRS-R)  A validated measure of attachment anxiety and avoidance  The Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS)  A validated measure of relationship satisfaction  The Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W) modified for use with men and women  A validated measure of sexual satisfaction  Linear regressions analyses were run testing orgasmic functioning, attachment style, relationship functioning, and their interactions as predictors of sexual satisfaction.  Separate analyses were run for attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance.  Interactions were interpreted using median splits.  The 3-way interaction between attachment anxiety, orgasmic functioning, and relationship satisfaction was significant such that relationship satisfaction moderated the association between orgasmic functioning and sexual satisfaction for those low in attachment anxiety but not for those high in attachment anxiety (see Table 2; Figure 1).  The 3-way interaction between attachment avoidance, orgasmic functioning, and relationship satisfaction was significant such that relationship satisfaction moderated the association between orgasmic functioning and sexual satisfaction for those low in attachment avoidance but not for those high in attachment avoidance (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Geographic Characteristics of the Participant Sample: Number of Participants by State 3-way interactions between orgasmic functioning, attachment style, and relationship functioning ABREVIATIONS: RS: Relationship Satisfaction; FSFI: Female Sexual Functioning Inventory; ECRS-R: Experiences in Close Relationships Scale - Revised; RAS: Relationship Assessment Scale; SSS-W: Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women; β: Beta; SE: Standard Error Attachment Anxiety X Relationship Satisfaction X Orgasm Functioning as Predictors of Sexual Satisfaction Table 2: R E F E R E N C E S The Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of Texas is funded by Grant Number 5 RO1 HD from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to Cindy M. Meston. R E F E R E N C E S 1. Ferenidou F, et al (2007). Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5, Hays R, et al (2008). Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5, King M, Holt V, & Nazareth I (2007). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, Oberg K & Fugl-Meyer K (2005). Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2, Birnbaum G, et al (2006). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, Birnbaum G (2007). Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS C O N C L U S I O N  Satisfaction with the overall relationship seems to buffer against the negative effects of orgasm difficulties for securely attached individuals, such that those with poor orgasmic functioning have lowered sexual satisfaction only in the presence of low satisfaction with the overall relationship.  However, this effect is not present in individuals with high attachment anxiety or avoidance. In these cases, those with poor orgasmic functioning have lowered sexual satisfaction regardless of their satisfaction with the overall relationship.  The relationship between sexual difficulties and negative subjective outcomes may be stronger for insecurely attached individuals, putting them at increased risk for sexual dysfunction.  Interventions that target relationship functioning may benefit securely attached individuals suffering from sexual difficulties, but may have a weaker effect on insecurely attached individuals. R E S U L T S Participants N303 Age (yr) Mean 20.5 yrs SD 2.3 yrs Range Gender (F/M) 235/68 (77.5% F) Ethnicity Caucasian 58.50% Other 41.50% Sexual Preference (%) Heterosexual 286 (94.5%) Homosexual/Bisexual 17 (5.50%) Note: some percentages may not total 100 because of rounding All participants reported being in exclusive, sexually-active romantic relationships Demographic Characteristics of the Participant Sample Table 1: Attachment Style is determined at a young age, but can have important implications for adult romantic relationships ANALYSIS