Emotional and physical pathways to sexual satisfaction and problematic sexual behaviour in dating, monogamous and non-monogamous relationships

Background

Sexuality significantly impacts well-being. Trait Emotional Intelligence (EI) has been increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in promoting psychological well-being and higher-quality relationships. However, the potential of trait EI as a protective factor in sexuality remains understudied. This study aimed to 1) investigate a model where trait EI influences insecure attachments, which are hypothesized to be negatively linked with comfort with interpersonal touch and body appreciation, subsequently predicting higher sexual satisfaction and lower problematic sexual behaviour (PSB); and 2) explore the model's replicability across different types of relationships.

Methods

672 Italian adults in monogamous, non-monogamous and dating relationships (71.4 % females) aged 18–77 (M = 34.6; SD = 12.2) completed an anonymous online survey. Path analysis and multi-group analysis were conducted.

Results

Trait EI indirectly predicted sexual satisfaction through attachment avoidance and comfort with interpersonal touch. It also indirectly predicted PSB through attachment avoidance and anxiety. Multigroup analysis revealed that, only in the dating group, trait EI predicted PSB through attachment anxiety and comfort with interpersonal touch.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the importance of trait EI in mitigating negative emotions linked to insecure attachments, reducing the risk of PSB, and improving overall sexual satisfaction.