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Faculdade de Psicologia da Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação
da Universidade de Coimbra
Intimacy and sexual desire in couple relationships:
The paradox of couple differentiation
Luana Cunha das Neves Teixeira Ferreira
Supervisors: Isabel Narciso, PhD & Rosa Novo, PhD
Interuniversity Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology: Family Psychology and Intervention
December 19th, 2013
Couple sexuality: neglected research
theme
Desire & Intimacy:essential to couple
satisfaction
Individual; college–age
samples
Focus on sexual frequency and other
narrow variables
Lack of studies investigating associations
Definition and assessment problems regarding construct.
Clinical models of couple therapy: Increase emotional intimacy and desire will follow
Intimacy increases ? (Acker & Davies, 1992, Baumeister &
Bratslavsky, 1999)
Sexual desire decreases
(Basson, 2002; Regan & Bersheid, 1999)
Theoretical Framework
Ferreira, L. C., Narciso, I., & Novo, R. F. (2012). Intimacy, sexual desire and differentiation in couplehood: A theoretical and methodological review. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 38(3), 263–80.
?
Can ‘too much intimacy’ dampen desire?
No studies addressing these
models
Differentiation of self (DoS): The ability to maintain a sense of autonomy while in a deep
intimate relationship
How can differentiation of self contribute to the understanding of the association
between intimacy and desire?
Why do healthy couples with high emotional intimacy also report low desire?
Ferreira, L. C., Narciso, I., & Novo, R. F. (2012). Intimacy, sexual desire and differentiation in couplehood: A theoretical and methodological review. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 38(3), 263–80.
Theoretical Framework
Initial question
How are the processes of
intimacy and differentiation of self
defined and articulated,
and in which ways do they associate with
sexual desire and couple satisfaction?
GenderCohabitation
duration ChildrenAge
Post-positivism
Eco-systemic theory
Social construccionism
Systemic complexity
Social experienceLanguage Language
Sensitizing concepts
Lived reality
Patterns
Chaos
Context Networks
Circularity
Multiverse reality
Communication
Information
HeuristicsDevelopment
Interaction
Conceptual Framework
Couples Individuals in a couples relationship
Joint couple interview:Intimacy; Sexual desire Differentiation of
self; Trajectories; Inter-relationships
Intimacy
N=428
Self report Questionnaire:Intimacy (MSIS); Differentiation of self (DSI-R);
Sexual desire (HISD); Couples satisfaction (EASAVIC)
Desire & Differentiation
Couple Discrepancies
Predictive models
Qualitative studies Quantitative studies
N=33
Validation studies
N=492
Methodological Framework
Qualitative studies
Qualitative analysis: Constructivist grounded theory
Study 1
Ferreira, L. C., Narciso, I., & Novo, R. F. (2013). Authenticity, work and change: A qualitative study on couple intimacy Families, Relationships and Societies, 2 (3), 339-354.
How is intimacy defined by couples who are reflecting together on their experience of intimacy?
Which influences do they perceive as impacting their couple intimacy ?
COUPLE INTIMACY
Methods
• Constructivist grounded theory• Semi-structured, joint interviews• N=33 couples
Study 1 + Study 2
COUPLE INTIMACYSelected results
What is couple intimacy ?
Authenticity
TrustSharing
autonomy
understanding
priva
cy
COUPLE INTIMACY
Work
Limits
Change
Selected resultsWhat factors are perceived as
impacting intimacy?
Work schedule (-)
Feeling rewarded (+)
Boundaries with subsystems (-)
(children, family of origin)
Routine (-)
New experiences (+)
Study 2
Ferreira, L. C., Fraenkel. P., Narciso, I., & Novo, R. F. Is committed desire intentional? A qualitative exploration of sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples (submitted)
How do couples perceive the articulation and development of sexual desire and differentiation of
self through the couple relationship?
Which factors do couples perceive as influencing desire and differentiation processes and trajectories?
SEXUAL DESIRE AND DIFFERENTIATION
Desire factors
• Enhancing:• Change• Autonomy• Ease
• Disturbing:• Stress• Conflict• Children
Desire strategies
• Innovation• Effort• Sharing• Autonomy
Differentiation strategies
• Fostering personal interests
• Investing in a positive connection
• Enhancing personal integrity
Selected results
SEXUAL DESIRE AND DIFFERENTIATIONSelected results
Quantitative studies
Quantitative measures
Variable Self-report measureCronbach
Alpha α
Intimacy Miller Social Intimacy Scale - MSIS
Miller & Lefcourt (1982), PV: Ferreira, Narciso & Novo (2010)
.92
Sexual desire Hurlbert Index of sexual Desire - HISD
Hurlbert & Apt (1992); PV: Ferreira, Narciso & Novo (2010)
.95
Differentiation of self (DoS)
Differentiation of Self Inventory Revised - DSI-R
Skowron & Friedlander (1998); PV: Relvas et al.(2013)
.95
Couple satisfaction
Scale for the Evaluation of Satisfaction in areas of Couple Life - EASAVIC
Narciso & Costa (1996)
.97
Study 3
Ferreira, L. C., Narciso, I., Novo, R. F., & Pereira, C. Partner’s similarity in differentiation of self contributes to higher couple sexual desire: A quantitative dyadic study. (submitted)
How are differences and similarities between the
partners related to gender and to individual levels
of sexual desire, differentiation of self and couple
satisfaction?
DYADIC ASSOCIATIONS OF INTIMACY, DESIRE, DIFFERENTIATION AND COUPLE SATISFACTION
Methods• Quantitative analysis: • t-tests, correlations• multi-level hierarchical linear analysis • 2 levels: couple and individual
• Self-report questionnaires (MSIS; DSI-R; HISD)• N=33 couples
S 1
S 2S 1
Individual level
Couple level
Individual score (e.g., sexual desire)
Couple discrepancy score(i.e., Desire discrepancy score)
Couple average score(i.e., Couple average desire)
(S 1 + S 2) ÷ 2 │ S 1 - S 2│
DYADIC ASSOCIATIONS OF DESIRE, DIFFERENTIATION AND COUPLE SATISFACTION
Partners within a couple will show less discrepancy of DoS than unrelated individuals
Women will have the same chances of being the lower desire partners as men
Couple discrepancy regarding DoS will be inversely associated with individual desire
Average couple desire and DoS will be positively associated with average couple satisfaction.
Women reported lower desire than men
Similarity hypothesis not supported
Confirmed hypothesis
Satisfaction Desire + DoS
Hyp
othe
sis
Confirmed hypothesis
DoS similarity DesireDoS similarity predicted desire
DYADIC ASSOCIATIONS OF DESIRE, DIFFERENTIATION (DOS)AND COUPLE SATISFACTIONSelected results
DYADIC ASSOCIATIONS OF DESIRE, DIFFERENTIATION AND COUPLE SATISFACTIONSelected results: Multi-level analysis
The couple discrepancy of DoS negatively predicted individual sexual desire, even after controlling for sex and other variables.
Study 4
Ferreira, L. C., & Novo, R. F., Narciso, I., & Pereira, C. Predictors of sexual desire and couple satisfaction: Intimacy and differentiation of self in couple relationships. (submitted)
How can sexual desire and intimacy explain the
potential contributes of differentiation of self for
couple satisfaction?
How do these relationships associate with gender?
PREDICTING SEXUAL DESIRE AND COUPLE SATISFACTION
Methods
• Qualitative analysis: • Structural equation modeling with latent variables• Multi-group analysis
• Self report questionnaires (MSIS; DSI-R; HISD; EASAVIC)
• N= 428 individuals in a committed relationship
Proposed model
PREDICTING SEXUAL DESIRE AND COUPLE SATISFACTIONSelected results
Alternative model
PREDICTING SEXUAL DESIRE AND COUPLE SATISFACTIONSelected results
Better representation of the psychological process involving the relationship between DoS and couple satisfaction.
PREDICTING SEXUAL DESIRE AND COUPLE SATISFACTIONSelected results
n men = 174
PREDICTING SEXUAL DESIRE AND COUPLE SATISFACTIONMulti-group analysis
n women = 264
Main contributes
• Empirically-based dimensional definition of intimacy • Strong perception of impact of the multiple subsystems• Diversity of sexual desire trajectories• Couples perception of differentiation of self processes and
trajectory• Structural role of DoS in desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction• Central role of sexual desire as a predictor of intimacy and
satisfaction
Research
Main contributes
Clinical
• Couples agentic posture (strategies vs spontaneity)• Integration of sharing and autonomy• Role of authenticity• Relevance on a dyadic perspective regarding desire issues in
couplehood. • Awareness of fusion might trigger the couple’s promotion of DoS
• Assessment: Work stress related factors in intimacy and desire• Prevention: Turning points in desire, intimacy and DoS
trajectories
Selected limitations
Cross-sectional study
Convenience samples• Low diversity sample: White, well-educated, heterosexual• Mostly satisfied couples• No assessment of psychopathology or therapeutic intervention
Quantitative studies• Multicollinearity; Interdependence• Lack of sub-scale analysis• DSI-R issues with the assessment of both high and low DoS• MSIS targeted love and affection dimensions of intimacy
Qualitative studies: Joint interview
Future studies
Longitudinal analysis of trajectories:
Diary records
Clinical samples:
Couples referred for therapy
Quantitative studies:
Actor partner interdependence models
Therapeutic processes of DoS, desire and intimacy:
Observational strategies
Balance between autonomy & togetherness• Risk regulating systems: self-protection vs connectedness goals • Interpersonal neurobiology
Faculdade de Psicologia da Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação
da Universidade de Coimbra
Intimacy and sexual desire in couple relationships:
The paradox of couple differentiation
Luana Cunha das Neves Teixeira Ferreira
Supervisors: Isabel Narciso, PhD & Rosa Novo, PhD
Interuniversity Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology: Family Psychology and Intervention
December 19th, 2013
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