Mindfulness and daily sexual function: a dyadic diary study.

People who are more sexually mindful—paying non-judgmental attention during sex—report better daily sexual function, but this benefit does not extend to their romantic partner. In a 28-day daily diary study of 141 couples, baseline sexual mindfulness predicted an individual's own higher daily sexual function but showed no partner effects. The findings suggest that sexual mindfulness supports present-moment awareness in daily sexual interactions, largely as an individual process, and provide empirical support for mindfulness-based sex therapies.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Difficulties with sexual function are common with implications for couples' psychological and relationship well-being. Sexual mindfulness (ie, non-judgmental present-moment awareness during sexual activity) has been positively linked to sexual function in cross-sectional studies, but associations in the context of couples' daily lives are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine if higher levels of baseline sexual mindfulness predict one's own and one's partner's daily sexual function. In a dyadic daily diary study, an inclusive sample of 141 couples completed a measure of sexual mindfulness at baseline and reported on their sexual function daily, on days of sexual activity, for 28 days. Daily sexual function was assessed with the Monash Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire. Higher sexual mindfulness at baseline was associated with one's own, but not one's partner's, higher daily sexual function. Targeting sexual mindfulness in sex therapy may promote an individual's own daily sexual function. This study employed a daily diary assessment of sexual function, which reduces recall biases and promotes ecological validity. We were limited by not having a daily measure of sexual mindfulness, rather we focused on a trait-like assessment of sexual mindfulness. Sexual mindfulness may support present-moment awareness in day-to-day sexual interactions, thus promoting daily sexual function. This may be largely an individual process, as there were no partner effects, although it is relevant that higher sexual mindfulness was not associated with drawbacks for partner sexual function. These findings provide empirical support for mindfulness therapies for sexual function.