Predicting sexual desire in daily life from an attachment perspective: an experience sampling study

https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2020.1871141

Commentary

This study investigated the temporal association between emotional intimacy, daily bother, and sexual desire in individuals in these long-term relationships, and examined and analyzed the direct/moderating effects of attachment orientation.

An empirical sampling technique was used, and data were collected ten times a day over seven days. Attachment orientation was assessed using the Experiences in Intimate Relationships questionnaire, with age, gender, and duration of the relationship added as predictors.

One hundred thirty-four participants were included (N females = 87), and only one partner of the couple participated.

According to the results of these analyses, men reported higher sexual desire than women. Additionally, longer relationships were found to be associated with lower sexual desire, but age was not associated with sexual desire.

Also, increasing levels of intimacy predicted sexual desire at a mean time interval of 90 minutes, but this effect was no longer significant when the assessment points were 180 minutes apart.

Daily annoyance did not predict sexual desire at subsequent assessments, and avoidant and anxious attachments were not associated with sexual desire levels.

There is no effect of the interaction of gender, stress, intimacy, and attachment orientation on sexual desire, and the absence of an effect of stress has become something for which a speculative explanation is offered.