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Current Sexual Health Reports
Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports 3/2017

01-09-2017 | Integrating the Psychosocial (B McCarthy, R Segraves and A Clayton, Section Editors)

Recent Findings on Women’s Motives for Engaging in Sexual Activity

Authors: Cindy M. Meston, Amelia M. Stanton

Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports | Issue 3/2017

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Motives for engaging in sex are complex, and the assessment of these motives offers unique insights into women’s sexual function and overall sexual well-being. In this review, we summarize the most recent literature on reasons for sexual activity among women and comment on the relationship between sexual motives and sexual function with particular attention to sexual interest/arousal.

Recent Findings

Recent work has focused on the effects of relationship type and attachment on sexual motives, differences in motives based on sexual orientation, and the association between sexual motives and sexual function. Contextual factors that impact women’s reasons for having sex are also assessed, and the findings of these studies are interpreted with a clinical lens. The authors conclude that the valence of women’s reasons for having sex, and the associations that women have with certain reasons, influences the likelihood that any one motive is linked to increased desire.

Summary

Women’s motives for engaging in sexual activity are complex, heterogeneous, and influenced by several important domains. Clinical and research implications are discussed. Future research that expands upon these recent findings and more thoroughly addresses the relationship between sexual function and sexual motivations, as well as other clinical phenomena, is warranted.
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Metadata
Title
Recent Findings on Women’s Motives for Engaging in Sexual Activity
Authors
Cindy M. Meston
Amelia M. Stanton
Publication date
01-09-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Sexual Health Reports / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 1548-3584
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3592
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0114-5

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