Health, depression, and marital processes as they relate to sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion: a biopsychosocial model

Individual, biological, psychological, and social factors have each been associated with sexual satisfaction. In the current study we examine ways that these factors combined in the same study might be associated with understanding couples’ sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion by evaluating an actor-partner-interdependence-model (APIM). This model was based on data (N = 2,187 couples) collected as part of a nationally representative study of the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the APIM model. The results indicated that the quality of sleep and the number of physical symptoms both partners were experiencing were substantially associated with the same individual’s depression and anxiety. In turn, depression and anxiety were associated with the quality of communication and the ability to resolve conflict. These social variables had strong associations with sexual satisfaction and they, along with sexual satisfaction, were significantly associated with the couple’s ability to experience harmonious sexual passion in their relationship.