SEXUAL SATISFACTION WITHIN DATING RELATIONSHIPS - A TEST OF THE INTERPERSONAL EXCHANGE MODEL OF SEXUAL SATISFACTION

This study extended the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfa ction (IEMSS) to short-term dating relationships. The IEMSS has been s hown to have excellent validity for long-term heterosexual relationshi ps. The IEMSS proposes that sexual satisfaction is greater to the exte nt that, over time, relationship satisfaction is high, levels of sexua l rewards exceed levels of sexual costs, relative sexual reward levels exceed relative sexual cost levels, and interpersonal equality of sex ual rewards and of sexual costs are perceived to exist. Fifty-one coll ege men and 57 college women in a dating relationship of 3 to 36 month s participated in the study. As predicted, more sexually satisfied ind ividuals reported greater relationship satisfaction, a more favorable reward/cost ratio, a more favorable relative reward/relative cost rati o, and more equal rewards and costs between partners. Hierarchical reg ression analysis indicated that relationship satisfaction, the differe nce between relative rewards, relative costs and cost equality made un ique contributions to the prediction of sexual satisfaction, accountin g for 75 percent of the variance in sexual satisfaction. The model was shown to work equally well for men and women, for individuals new and less new to their relationship, and for high and low self-disclosers. The IEMSS offers a promising approach for investigating and understan ding sexual satisfaction.