Sexual Experiences in Romantic Relationships, 2020

We recruited 216 participants from an undergraduate sample at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (IRB #20-0205). Participants were invited to participate if they were at least 18 years old and reported being in a romantic relationship for at least 6 months. Given that the goal of the study was to learn more about romantic couples’ sexual interactions, participants were later deemed ineligible (and thus did not participate in the study) if they reported being in a long-distance relationship, saw their partner less than once a week, or did not engage in sexual activity with their partner. The average age of participants was approximately 21 years old. A majority of participants (66%) identified as female, 31% as male, <1% as trans male, <1% as trans female, and 2% as other. A majority of participants (86%) identified as straight or heterosexual, 3% identified as gay, lesbian, or homosexual, 9% identified as bisexual, and 3% identified as other or do not know. A majority of participants (95%) reported being involved in a different sex couple, while 5% of participants reported being involved in a same sex couple. Finally, 54% of participants identified as white or Caucasian. <br>
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All participants first completed a self-report background survey. Then, participants were offered the opportunity to complete a 28-day daily diary study and given screening questions to ensure their understanding of the requirements of the daily diary study. Of the 216 participants who completed the background survey, 132 participated in the daily diary portion of the study. <br>
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At background, we assessed demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, relationship length, partner gender, and relationship status), hyperfemininity, hypermasculinity, ambivalent sexism, long-term relationship sex norms, subjective relationship sex norms, rape myth acceptance, alcohol expectations regarding sex and aggression, attraction to unconventional sex and sexual aggression, sexual self-disclosure, token resistance, experiences of nonconsensual sexual behavior (general), relational interdependent self-construal, perceived power, experiences of unwanted sexual behavior and blame, self-esteem, positive and negative affect, perceived relationship quality, communal strength, perceived partner responsiveness, sexual communal strength, approach and avoidance motivations for sex, relationship attachment, experiences of nonconsensual sexual behaviors (with current romantic partner), sexual narcissism, and personality. <br>
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At the daily level, all participants first completed face valid items of relationship satisfaction and commitment. Then, participants reported whether or not their partner approached them to engage in sexual activity. If participants reported that they were approached by their partner for sexual activity, they completed assessments of partner sexual interest, sexual desire (before engagement in sexual activity), disclosure, partner awareness, partner sexual coercion, obligation, and whether or not they engaged in the sexual activity with their partner. If sexual activity was engaged in, participants were further asked to report their approach motivation, avoidance motivation, sexual desire (during the sexual activity), disclosure, partner awareness, sexual satisfaction, perceived harm, own preventability, partner preventability, intent, blame, own and partner consumption of alcohol/drugs, and own and partner intoxication. If sexual activity was not engaged in, participants completed the same assessments reported below. <br>
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If participants reported that they were not approached by their partner for sexual activity, they completed face-valid assessments of perceived partner relationship satisfaction, perceived partner commitment, sexual fantasy, sexual arousal, infidelity, lack of energy, guilt, irritability, power, assertiveness, positive affect, similarity to partner, problems in relationships (due to self and partner), extent to which problems are perceived as likely to change, own and partner blame for problems, ability to resolve conflict, motivation to resolve conflict, perceptions of partner liking towards self, motivation to treat partner well, and perceptions of ability to do whatever they want in their relationship.