2009/02/03 by Diane Holmberg, Karen L. Blair · 198 citations
Medicine · Psychology · #Demography #Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior #Family medicine #Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Medicine #Psychology #Sex partners #Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology #Social psychology #Sociology
paper · doi:10.1080/00224490802645294
published in The Journal of Sex Research 46(1), 57-66 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 2009/02/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
In an online study, measures of subjective sexual experiences in one's current relationship were compared across four groups: Men and women in mixed-sex (i.e., heterosexual) and same-sex (i.e., homosexual) relationships. Results indicated far more similarities than differences across the four groups, with groups reporting almost identical sexual repertoires, and levels of sexual communcation with partner. Men reported experiencing somewhat more sexual desire than women, while women reported slightly higher levels of general sexual satisfaction than men. Those in same-sex relationships reported slightly higher levels of sexual desire than those in mixed-sex relationships. Compared to the other three groups, heterosexual men reported deriving somewhat less satisfaction from the more tender, sensual, or erotic sexual activities. Implications of these findings for sex therapists are discussed.