Poster 3:
This qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted to understand and report on the conceptual overlap between qualitative evidence surrounding the definitions of sexual pleasure, sexual satisfaction and sexual well-being.
METHODS
Searches were conducted using the following
keywords: (“Sexual satisfaction” or “satisfying sex” or “sexual pleasure” or “pleasurable sex” or “sexual wellbeing” or “sexual well-being”).
Databases used were: PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science, Medline.
Study inclusion criteria consisted of: Qualitative studies, sample: adults 16+, timeframe: any, geography: any, language: any, peer reviewed journal articles.
This process included a final list of 18 papers included in this synthesis. All papers are listed below.
FINDINGS
After reviewing each of the 18 articles and developing themes that were consistent across the papers, we designed a conceptual framework to represent key themes related to sexual satisfaction, pleasure, and wellbeing. These themes are organized across three levels of influence (Individual, Relational, Social/Cultural) and two types of contextual categories (Sexual, Non-Sexual, Both), depending on which area each theme relates to.
What we found is that there was significant overlap between qualitative descriptions of sexual pleasure, sexual satisfaction and sexual well-being.
This finding is shown in the following chart, showcasing that each of our developed themes were found across the papers examining each of the associated constructs (sexual satisfaction, wellbeing and pleasure). Checkmarks indicate that a paper examining that construct mentions one of the themes we developed.
The final list of papers included is below:
1. Chatterji, S., Bay-Cheng, L. Y., Schick, V., Dodge, B., Baldwin, A., Van Der Pol, B., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2017). The year’s best: Interpersonal elements of bisexual women’s most satisfying sexual experiences in the past year. The Journal of Sex Research, 54(7), 887-898. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1207056
2. Cruz, R. V. (2024). The wife, the mother, and the slut: Sexual pleasure for the Filipino woman a grounded theory approach. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 39(2), 323-358.
3. De Meyer, S., Jerves, E., Cevallos-Neira, A., Arpi-Becerra, N., Van den Bossche, R., Lecompte, M., ... & Michielsen, K. (2022). Which factors contribute to sexual well-being? A comparative study among 17 to 20 year old boys and girls in Belgium and Ecuador. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 24(8), 1122-1138.
4. Faccio, E., Casini, C., & Cipolletta, S. (2014). Forbidden games: The construction of sexuality and sexual pleasure by BDSM ‘players’. Culture, health & sexuality, 16(7), 752-764. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2014.909531
5. Fiaveh, D. Y., Okyerefo, M. P., & Fayorsey, C. K. (2015). Women’s experiences of sexual pleasure in Ghana. Sexuality & Culture, 19, 697-714.
6. Goldey, K. L., Posh, A. R., Bell, S. N., & van Anders, S. M. (2016). Defining pleasure: A focus group study of solitary and partnered sexual pleasure in queer and heterosexual women. Archives of sexual Behavior, 45, 2137-2154.
7. Lindley, L., Anzani, A., Prunas, A., & Galupo, M. P. (2021). Sexual satisfaction in trans masculine and nonbinary individuals: A qualitative investigation. The Journal of Sex Research, 58(2), 222-234.
8. McKiernan, D. M., Clawson, K. G. D. A., & Eddy, B. P. (2022). From secrecy to openness: sexual satisfaction in couples from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 37(3), 377-394. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2022.2047643
9. O’Connor, M., Rawstorne, P., Devi, R., Iniakwala, D., & Razee, H. (2018). Understanding the meaning of youth sexual and reproductive well-being in Fiji. Culture, health & sexuality, 20(11), 1244-1258. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2018.1424938
10. Okotie, E. S., & Jolly, S. (2024). Feeling ‘Happy, Loved, Cherished, Desired’and ‘Hopeful for the Future’: Disabled Women in Nigeria Talk About Sex and Pleasure. Sexuality and Disability, 42(1), 85-99.
11. Özer, M., de Kruif, A. J., Gijs, L. A., Kreukels, B. P., & Mullender, M. G. (2023). Sexual wellbeing according to transgender individuals. International journal of sexual health, 35(4), 608-624.
12. Pascoal, P. M., Shaughnessy, K., & Almeida, M. J. (2019). A thematic analysis of a sample of partnered lesbian, gay, and bisexual people’s concepts of sexual satisfaction. Psychology & Sexuality, 10(2), 101-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2018.1555185
13. Pascoal, P. M., Narciso, I. D. S. B., & Pereira, N. M. (2014). What is sexual satisfaction? Thematic analysis of lay people's definitions. Journal of sex research, 51(1), 22-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2013.815149
14. Thorpe, S., Malone, N., Hargons, C. N., Dogan, J. N., & Jester, J. K. (2022). The peak of pleasure: US Southern Black women’s definitions of and feelings toward sexual pleasure. Sexuality & Culture, 26(3), 1115-1131.
15. Velez, C. M., Ávila, M. M., Best, J. I., & Chalco, J. (2023). Latinas Experiences with Sexual Satisfaction, Pleasure and Desire: An Exploratory Qualitative Study. Affilia, 38(3), 413-431. https://doi.org/10.1177/08861099221137560 von
16. Humboldt, S., Low, G., & Leal, I. (2020). Are older adults satisfied with their sexuality? Outcomes from a cross-cultural study. Educational Gerontology, 46(5), 284-293. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2020.1744805
17. von Humboldt, S., Mendoza-Ruvalcaba, N. M., Ribeiro-Gonçalves, J. A., Chávez-Rodríguez, A., Low, G., & Leal, I. (2021). How Do Older Portuguese and Mexican Adults Experience Their Sexual Well-Being? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(6), 2679-2689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-01994-x von
18. Humboldt, S., Ribeiro-Gonçalves, J. A., Costa, A., Low, G., Benko, E., & Leal, I. (2023). Sexual well-being in older adults: A qualitative study with older adults from Portugal and Slovenia. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 20(1), 364-376. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00709-8
