(778) The Relationship Between Relationship Duration and Sexual Satisfaction: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Introduction Sexual satisfaction is a key component of relational and individual well-being, yet empirical evidence regarding its association with relationship duration remains inconsistent. While some studies suggest a decline in sexual satisfaction over time, others indicate stability or even improvement depending on relational and contextual factors. These inconsistencies may result from differences in measurement, sample characteristics, and study design. Given the theoretical and clinical relevance of understanding how sexual satisfaction evolves across relationship stages, a systematic synthesis of available evidence is needed. Objective This systematic review aims to synthesize empirical findings on the association between relationship duration and sexual satisfaction among coupled adults. Methods The protocol was developed following the PRISMA-P 2015 guidelines and will adhere to PRISMA 2020 reporting standards. Electronic searches will be conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published between January 2000 and December 2025. Eligible studies will include quantitative or mixed-methods designs involving adults (≥18 years) currently in romantic or marital relationships, reporting a quantitative measure of sexual satisfaction and relationship duration. Qualitative-only studies, case reports, reviews, dissertations, and non–peer-reviewed publications will be excluded. Search results will be managed using Rayyan, and screening will be performed independently by two reviewers. Data extraction will include study characteristics, relationship duration measures, and quantitative findings. Methodological quality and risk of bias will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklists, applied according to each study design. The preliminary search strategy will combine controlled vocabulary and free-text terms related to relationship duration and sexual satisfaction. An example search string is: (“relationship duration” OR “length of relationship” OR “marital duration”) AND (“sexual satisfaction” OR “sexual well-being”). Search syntax will be adapted for each database. Results This abstract presents the protocol for an ongoing systematic review. The literature search and screening process are currently underway. The review will provide a comprehensive synthesis of empirical evidence on how relationship duration relates to sexual satisfaction, identifying methodological gaps and potential moderators such as age, gender, or relationship type. Conclusions Findings from this review are expected to clarify the nature and direction of the association between relationship duration and sexual satisfaction, contributing to theory development in sexual and relational research and informing evidence-based interventions aimed at promoting sexual well-being across relationship stages. Disclosure No