The Role of Dyadic Sexual Desire Similarity in Predicting Sexual Behaviors in Cohabitating Couples: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

To date, we have a limited understanding of how sexual desire operates on a couple level and how it may positively or negatively impact the occurrence of sexual activity in intimate relationships. This study used ecological momentary assessments to explore how similar levels of desire for sex with one’s sexual partner, or dyadic sexual desire are associated with sexual initiation, receptivity to a partner’s sexual initiation, and partnered sexual activity. Eighty-eight mixed-sex cohabitating couples provided six reports a day for ten consecutive days. We used Dyadic Response Surface Analyses to examine the effects of both the degree and direction of similarity in partners’ dyadic desire on each of the outcome variables. Our results revealed that partners experienced similar levels of desire on a moment-to-moment basis, as well as across the entire study period. Furthermore, when partners’ dyadic sexual desire levels were similar and high, the probability of the initiation of, receptivity to, and actual occurrence of partnered sexual activity increased. The findings contribute to our understanding of the role of dyadic desire in a couple’s sex life and emphasize the need for more research on the role that dyadic sexual desire plays in relationship satisfaction and maintenance.