Ego and Partner-Centered Sexual Satisfaction in Heterosexual Men

Sexual satisfaction can be differentiated in terms of its personal (ego) and interpersonal (partner-centered) components. This cross-sectional survey study, based on data from a sample of 226 heterosexual men in the United Kingdom and Germany, examined the effects of relationship variables (relationship status and relationship length in years), sexual communication, and self and self-with-other schemata (identity resilience and attachment style, respectively) upon ego and partner-centered sexual satisfaction, while controlling for age and country effects. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. Being partnered, sexual communication, secure attachment style, and identity resilience were associated with higher ego sexual satisfaction. In contrast, only sexual communication and secure attachment style were associated with higher partner-centered sexual satisfaction. Self and self-with-other schemata appear to operate differently in relation to the two components of sexual satisfaction. Therapeutic interventions for enhancing sexual satisfaction should distinguish between its ego and partner-centered components and focus upon developing sexual communication skills, a more secure attachment style and, for ego sexual satisfaction specifically, feelings of identity resilience in clients.