View all articles in this issue
Examining Relationships: Communication and Satisfaction in Lesbian and Heterosexual Women
Download this article for $1.00 (FREE for Members)
by Elizabeth Brashier and Jennifer Hughes - Agnes Scott College
In light of the current literature concerning communication and
satisfaction in relationships, we examined whether there are differences in
communication and its impact on the relationship and sexual satisfaction
of lesbian and heterosexual women. A sample of 209 heterosexual and 94
lesbian women completed an online survey about relationship satisfaction,
sexual satisfaction, and communication variables. Greater physical touch
indicated greater relationship satisfaction for lesbian compared to
heterosexual women. There was not a significant interaction between sexual
orientation and physical touch in relation to sexual satisfaction. Greater
words of affirmation indicated greater sexual satisfaction for heterosexual
women compared to lesbian women. There was no significant interaction
between sexual orientation and words of affirmation in relation to
relationship satisfaction. There was no significant difference between lesbian
and heterosexual women on relationship satisfaction, nor was there a
significant difference between lesbian and heterosexual women on sexual
satisfaction. A central implication from these findings is that working to
improve verbal communication in heterosexual couples and physical touch
in lesbian couples might lead to improved sexual satisfaction. These findings
are important to consider from the perspective of both couples and sex
therapy work.
Summer 2012 | Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research (Vol. 14, No. 1, p. 35), published by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright, 2012, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.