Predicting Sexual Satisfaction in Women: Implications for Counselor Education and Training

Sexuality is an important aspect of emotional and physical health (Kirkpatrick, 1980; Risen, 1995) and is also an integral part of intimate relationships (L'Abate & Talmadge, 1995). Because sexuality is defined not only by the act of genital intercourse but also by intimacy, relationship satisfaction, self-esteem, and family life (Russel, 1990), it is likely that most counselors will see clients who have issues relating to sexuality. Recognizing these issues when they are raised in sessions and knowing the signs of pending or existing sexual difficulties are vital aspects of good therapeutic work. Many mental health professionals find the possibility of discussing sexual issues with their clients to be unfamiliar and anxiety producing (Risen, 1995), resulting in a reluctance to discuss sexuality or sexually related issues. Moreover, because sexual issues are often intertwined with presenting problems such as depression, low self-esteem, problems with intimate relationships, and anxiety (Anderson & Cyranowski, 1995; Lewis & Borders, 1995; Sprecher & McKinney, 1993), they can easily be missed by the counselor if he or she is not knowledgeable about the variables that affect sexual satisfaction or dissatisfaction. CHANGING PERSPECTIVES ON WOMEN'S SEXUALITY Over recent decades, perspectives on women's sexuality changed rapidly. With the arrival of reliable contraception came the possibility of increased sexual activity without risk of pregnancy. The increase in frequency, however, did not necessarily lead to an improvement in the quality of sexual interactions or the sexual satisfaction women experienced. In addition, the sexual revolution in the 1970s not only brought about sexual freedom but also the expectation that "normal" women are sexually satisfied and orgasmic. The pressure many women experienced to be orgasmic and truly enjoy sexual interaction, when they in fact did not, compelled sex therapist Lonnie Barbach (1976) to write For Yourself. " The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality. Barbach's (1976) work was one of the first to provide information and techniques for sexual satisfaction for women, and it continues to be recommended highly by sex therapists and counselors. Research has also become more attuned to the particular needs and sexual concerns of women. However, much of this research has focused on the description and frequency of sexual behaviors, with little attention paid to subjective aspects of sexuality such as satisfaction (Anderson & Cyranowski, 1995; Rosen & Leiblum, 1995; Schover & Leiblum, 1994). The combination of the objectification of sexuality, in general, and the history of objectification of women, in particular, has led to a paucity of information on subjective factors such as women's sexual pleasure. Thus, it becomes relevant to focus specifically on the predictors of women's sexual satisfaction. Because few studies have measured any dimension of sexual satisfaction ('Woody, D'Souza, & Crain, 1994), investigating the feelings connected with such satisfaction as well as the predictors of satisfaction can be of considerable importance for the practicing counselor. A base of information for understanding the relationships between sexual satisfaction and related behaviors would be helpful in bridging the gap between sexual satisfaction and other areas of one's life. Variables that are potentially relevant to sexual satisfaction can be viewed in relation to the perceptions of family (e.g., attitudes toward physical affection in one's family of origin), partner relationships (e.g., sexual communication and initiation), and self relationships (e.g., masturbatory practices). THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY Developmentally, physical affection in the family of origin is one of the first precursors to adult sexuality (Weeks & Hoff, 1987). The way in which adults exhibit affection to their children and to other adults is a model for how children will exhibit affection in their own adult relationships (Boyer, 1987). …