Perfectionism and sexual satisfaction in intimate relationships

This study sought to provide information on the relations between trait per fectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation and sexual satisfaction in married couples. A sample of 74 married or cohabiting couples were recruit ed from the community to participate in the study. They completed measures of perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation, sexual satisfaction, d yadic adjustment, and depression. The results showed that the interpersonal dimensions of trait perfectionism were negatively related to general sexua l satisfaction and sexual satisfaction with the partner for both husbands a nd wives. After partialing out marital satisfaction and depression, the hus band's sexual satisfaction was significantly negatively correlated with his own socially prescribed perfectionism and with his wife's ratings of other -oriented perfectionism. The wife's satisfaction was significantly negative ly correlated both with her husband's socially prescribed perfectionism and with her own socially prescribed perfectionism, other-oriented perfectioni sm, and perfectionistic self-presentation Regression analyses suggest that the wife's other-oriented perfectionism is a unique predictor of her genera l lower sexual satisfaction and her husband's lower satisfaction with her c ontribution to the sexual relationship. Overall, the findings suggest that perfectionistic expectations have an important role to play in sexual satis faction in married couples.