J. Kenneth Davidson

Religiosity and the sexuality of women: Sexual behavior and sexual satisfaction revisited

Although our societal attitudes about sexuality continue to be dominated by the religious view that sexual desires are to be restrained and sexual pleasures to be avoided, the degree to which religiosity actually influences the sexuality of women remains a matter of conjecture. The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain the relationship, if any, between religiosity and the sexual behaviors and sexual satisfaction of women. An anonymous questionnaire concerning sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and female sexual response was administered to 868 female professional nurses in 15 states. Significant differences were found between the degree of religiosity and the age at initiation of sexual intercourse and attitudes toward masturbation. Similar to earlier findings, there were no significant differences in sexual satisfaction between women with high‐frequency and low‐frequency church attendance.

Virginity Lost, Satisfaction Gained? Physiological and Psychological Sexual Satisfaction at Heterosexual Debut

Despite the literatures focus on (hetero)sexual initiation, little is known about the degree to which young people are satisfied by their first vaginal intercourse experience, let alone the factors that predict satisfaction. This study analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey of 1,986 non-Hispanic White and Black 18- to 25-year-old respondents from four university campuses. Respondents were asked to rate the degree to which their first vaginal intercourse was physiologically and psychologically satisfying. Both Black and White women were significantly less likely than Black and White men to experience considerable or extreme satisfaction at first vaginal intercourse, particularly physiological satisfaction. Among all four gender–race groups, being in a committed relationship with ones sexual partner greatly increased psychological satisfaction, particularly among women. Experiencing less guilt at first sexual intercourse was also strongly associated with psychological satisfaction for women. Developing sexual relationships with partners they care for and trust will foster satisfaction among young people at first vaginal intercourse. These findings highlight strong gender asymmetry in affective sexual experience.

Sexual satisfaction and sexual health among university students in the United States.

Despite the World Health Organizations 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.

Religiosity and sexual responsibility: relationships of choice.

OBJECTIVE To determine the current influence of womens religiosity upon their sexual attitudes and behavior, including feelings of guilt. METHOD An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 535 female undergraduates at a Midwestern university. RESULTS Higher degrees of religiosity were associated with negative attitudes toward nonprocreative sexual activities, guilt towards masturbation, less likelihood of engaging in sexual intercourse, and fewer sex partners if sexually experienced. No significant differences were found regarding religiosity and physiological or psychological sexual satisfaction. CONCLUSION Religiosity appears related to sexual attitudes and behavior of college women, but not physiological or psychological sexual satisfaction.

Sexual Fantasies and Sexual Satisfaction: An Empirical Analysis of Erotic Thought

This empirical investigation explored the meaning and/or function of sexual fantasizing for married women and whether any differences exist between married women who are: satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, or dissatisfied with their current sex life. From a structural‐functionalism perspective, a questionnaire was developed and pretested for this exploratory study of sexual fantasies. The questionnaire was subsequently administered to 212 married undergraduate and graduate female volunteers at a midwestern commuter university. Although many professionals have argued that engaging in sexual fantasies may be undesirable, our findings do not support that view. No statistically significant relationships were found between ever having experienced a sexual fantasy and satisfaction with current sex life nor between frequency of sexual fantasizing and satisfaction with current sex life. These results also strongly indicate that sexual fantasies help many married women to achieve sexual arousal and/or ...

Female Sexual Response and the Timing of Partner Orgasm

Although orgasm can be experienced in many ways with or without a partner, partner involvement continues to be a noted preference for many women. In order to examine the timing of partner orgasm in relationship to female sexual response, women who usually experience orgasm before, simultaneously, or after their male partners first orgasm were examined in the context of their orgasmic behaviors, role of their partners in sexual interaction, and their level of sexual satisfaction. A survey research design, which utilized the responses of 709 adult women, indicated that those women who usually experienced orgasm after their male partners perceived less physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction. Furthermore, several other significant results were found regarding timing of partner orgasm. With the failure to reach orgasm through sexual intercourse being reported by women as a common sexual complaint, sex educators and therapists can use these findings to facilitate an increased awareness of timing factors influencing satisfying sexual relationships.

The female sexual response revisited: Understanding the multiorgasmic experience in women

Although it has been almost 20 years since recorded evidence of multiple orgasms among women emerged, there have been few recent investigations of this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to understand further the female multiorgasmic experience in relationship to the method of stimulatory activity, namely, masturbation, petting, and sexual intercourse. In addition, single-orgasmic and multiorgasmic women were compared by examination of various sexual and orgasmic behaviors, the role of sex partners, and perceptions of physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction. An anonymous 122-item questionnaire was utilized to obtain the responses of 805 college-educated female nurses, chosen for their perceived ability to verbalize data regarding the anatomical structures and physiological processes associated with sexual responsiveness. The findings indicated that 42.7% of the respondents had experienced multiple orgasms and that several significant differences existed between single-orgasmic and multiorgasmic women.

The sexually experienced woman: Multiple sex partners and sexual satisfaction

It has been suggested that women who have had more than one sex partner differ from those who have had only one, both in their background and in their current functioning (in the forms of attitudes, partner interaction, sexual satisfaction, desired changes in their sex life, and other behaviors). To explore these issues, we distributed a questionnaire to a sample of 868 nurses located in 15 states. For most variables, there were no significant differences among those with only one lifetime partner, those with few (2-5) partners, and those with many (6 or more) partners. Those with more partners did report having intercourse earlier, reaching orgasm earlier, and pretending to reach orgasm more often. Those with many partners indicated their partners more often delayed orgasm until after their own first orgasm. They also expressed more concern about a lack of interest in and a lack of adequate foreplay by their partners. Those women with a few partners expressed the least psychological sexual satisfaction (79%).

The Utilization of Sexual Fantasies by Sexually Experienced University Students

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to determine the nature of and the gender differences in the situational contexts, preferences, and functions of sexual fantasies by sexually experienced, never-married university students. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 187 never-married male and 235 never-married female undergraduate and graduate student volunteers at a midwestern commuter university. The data analyses for this investigation were limited to those 144 males and 166 females who had experienced sexual intercourse. Statistically significant differences were found with reference to the situational contexts of sexual fantasies by gender. Men were more likely than women to report sexual fantasies during masturbation, foreplay, sexual intercourse, and immediately prior to orgasm. In general, men also were more likely to fantasize about being the recipient of sexual activity whereas women were more likely to fantasize about past sexual experiences and romantic settings for sexual act...

Guilt and Lack of Orgasm During Sexual Intercourse: Myth Versus Reality Among College Women

With increasing emphasis on sexual fulfillment, many women perceive a societal expectation that they should always experience orgasm during sexual intercourse although scientific evidence indicates such a goal to be unrealistic. Failure to attain this expectation evokes guilt feelings in some women. This investigation of 556 never-married college women examined the influence of such guilt feelings on risk-related sexual behaviors and physiological/psychological sexual satisfaction. Significant differences identified included cognitive factors in sexual decision-making, number of lifetime sex partners, and levels of physiological/psychological sexual satisfaction. Given the negative role that guilt and unrealistic orgasmic expectations play in the sexual lives of many women, these findings have substantial implications for sex therapists, sex educators, physicians, and researchers.