Associations between Relationship Status, Anxiety, Sexual Function, and Sexual Satisfaction in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People

Elizabeth Arthur; Kathryn Flynn; Diana Jeffery; Rachel Cusatis

doi:10.1080/19317611.2023.2172510

Associations between Relationship Status, Anxiety, Sexual Function, and Sexual Satisfaction in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People

Int J Sex Health. 2023 Feb 7;35(1):41-51. doi: 10.1080/19317611.2023.2172510. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Elizabeth Arthur¹, Kathryn Flynn², Diana Jeffery³, Rachel Cusatis²

Affiliations

¹ Nursing Research Department, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard. J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
³ Washington, DC, USA.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe associations between relationship status, anxiety, and sexual function and satisfaction in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults.

Methods: Linear regression determined associations between sexual function, relationship characteristics and anxiety in 979 LGB participants.

Results: Relationship status was not related to sexual interest in gay men. Partnered relationship status was associated with higher sexual satisfaction for gay men, lesbians, and bisexual women. Anxiety symptoms were negatively associated with sexual interest, satisfaction, and orgasm pleasure for gay men but not associated with sexual outcomes in lesbian women.

Conclusion: Using a nationally representative sample of LGB adults, differences were found in factors related to sexual function and satisfaction by gender and sexual orientation.

Keywords: Sexual function; bisexual; gay; lesbian; sexual health.

Grants and funding

The original study was supported by the Research and Education Program Fund, a component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin.