Qualities Midlife Women Desire in Their Sexual Relationships and Their Changing Sexual Response

The present study focused on the association between the particular sexual qualities midlife women desired in themselves and their husbands and the changes in sexual response they were experiencing. In a U.S. sample of 280 women participating in the ongoing Midlife Women's Health Survey, 40% re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of women quarterly 1998-06, Vol.22 (2), p.285-303
Main Authors: Mansfield, Phyllis Kernoff, Koch, Patricia Barthalow, Voda, Ann M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Decision making
Feminism
Feminist psychology
Interpersonal relations
Men
Middle age
Middle aged women
Personal relationships
Psychology
Quality
Sex
Sexual behavior
Sexual relationships
Sexuality
USA
Women
Womens studies
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Summary:The present study focused on the association between the particular sexual qualities midlife women desired in themselves and their husbands and the changes in sexual response they were experiencing. In a U.S. sample of 280 women participating in the ongoing Midlife Women's Health Survey, 40% reported a change in their sexual response, more often as decrements than increases, although desiring more nongenital touching was frequently noted. Respondents wanted more change in their own than in their partners' sexual qualities. In addition, the desire to change sexual qualities in oneself and in one's husband was significantly related to many changes in sexual responsivity. These findings are discussed in the context of a woman-defined sexuality at midlife.
ISSN:0361-6843
1471-6402
DOI:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1998.tb00155.x