A study conducted in Germany confirms that this association is reciprocal
A long-term study conducted by the Universities of Zurich and Utrecht in Germany has confirmed a dynamic correlation between self-esteem and sexual satisfaction. The results provide intuitions valuable insights into these age-old questions: does a better sex life make you feel better, or does feeling good about yourself improve your sex life?
There was little research
Several theories suggest that people with higher self-esteem tend to have more satisfying sexual relationships and that the two factors influence each other. However, to date, little research has been conducted on how this interaction develops over time.
The work, based on a nationally representative sample of over 11,000 German adults, provides some intuitions interesting. The researchers analyzed 12 years of data on participants’ self-esteem and sexual experiences.
The effect is reciprocal
“People with higher self-esteem tend not only to be sexually active more frequently, but also to be more satisfied with their sexual experiences,” explain authors Elisa Weber and Wiebke Bleidorn from the Department of Psychology at the University of Zurich.
There were also significant correlations over time: changes in sexual satisfaction led to changes in a person’s self-esteem, and vice versa. These intraindividual associations show that self-esteem and sexual satisfaction can influence each other.
Do you feel accepted and appreciated?
The findings on the dynamic interaction between self-esteem and sexual well-being are supported by theories that consider self-esteem as a sort of social barometer that indicates the extent to which we feel accepted and appreciated in our relationships with other people.
Positive experiences in social and intimate relationships can increase self-esteem, while negative experiences are interpreted as a kind of warning signal for social rejection and are reflected in lower self-esteem in the long term.
At the same time, people with high self-esteem may be better able to communicate their desires and preferences to their intimate partners, which translates into greater long-term sexual well-being.
Do age and gender make a difference?
The study also showed that the correlations are not equally pronounced for all people. Age and gender are important factors: older people and women tend to show a stronger link between self-esteem and sexual well-being than younger people and men.
Interestingly, relationship status did not appear to matter, as the link between self-esteem and sexual well-being was just as strong for single people as it was for those in relationships.
Bleidorn contextualizes the study findings:
“Answering these questions is of immense importance. Our findings suggest that self-esteem plays an important role in our sexual experience, especially in terms of sexual well-being. At the same time, changes in sexual well-being can also lead to changes in self-esteem.”
Source: Terra
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