Sexual desire and relationship duration in young men and women.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
PubMed 22268980 · doi:10.1080/0092623X.2011.569637
What was done
The authors examined the association between romantic relationship duration and sexual desire in a cross-sectional sample of 170 undergraduate men and women aged 18 to 25 years. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed, controlling for age, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction.
What was found
Relationship duration significantly and negatively predicted sexual desire in women after controlling for age, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. For men, relationship duration had no significant effect on sexual desire. The abstract provides no specific numerical values, regression coefficients, or effect sizes.
Why it matters
This study provides evidence that relationship duration may differentially influence sexual desire in young men and women, with desire decreasing over time in women independently of relationship or sexual satisfaction.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional rather than longitudinal, precluding causal inference or direct tracking of changes over time. The sample is limited to undergraduate students aged 18 to 25, and no numerical statistics or effect sizes are reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Women's sexual desire declines more rapidly over the duration of a relationship than men's sexual desire does.