Advancing a Model of Mindful Sexual Communication: Testing Sexual Communication as a Mediator of the Association Between Sexual Mindfulness and Sexual Satisfaction

Mindfulness and communication have powerful implications for sexual health. Sexual communication and sexual mindfulness - the ability to be aware and non-judgmental during sexual activity - are two constructs often associated with sexual satisfaction. To further explore these relationships, a model of mindful sexual communication was advanced. More specifically, a moderated mediation model was tested to explore the indirect effect of sexual mindfulness on sexual satisfaction through sexual communication, as well as the potential moderating role of interoceptive awareness (i.e., trusting the body and self-regulation). Data were collected from 205 young adult college students in a variety of relational contexts that had a recent sexual interaction. The results indicated that sexual mindfulness awareness was indirectly associated with sexual satisfaction via frequency and comfort of sexual communication, whereas sexual mindfulness non-judgment was only indirectly associated with sexual satisfaction via sexual communication comfort. Additionally, two moderated mediation models were supported for participants in committed relationships: trusting the body and self-regulation moderated the indirect effect of sexual mindfulness non-judgment on sexual satisfaction via sexual communication comfort. The results reveal that different aspects of sexual mindfulness function uniquely together with aspects of sexual communication and interoceptive awareness to predict sexual satisfaction, revealing preliminary support for a new theoretical model of mindful sexual communication. These findings and their implications for sexual communication and mindfulness are discussed along with practical applications for individuals and professionals.