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Lookup NU author(s): Jan Havlicek, Emerita Professor Marion Petrie
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Hormonal fluctuation across the menstrual cycle explains temporal variation in women's judgment of the attractiveness of members of the opposite sex. Use of hormonal contraceptives could therefore influence both initial partner choice and, if contraceptive use subsequently changes, intrapair dynamics. Associations between hormonal contraceptive use and relationship satisfaction may thus be best understood by considering whether current use is congruent with use when relationships formed, rather than by considering current use alone. In the study reported here, we tested this congruency hypothesis in a survey of 365 couples. Controlling for potential confounds (including relationship duration, age, parenthood, and income), we found that congruency in current and previous hormonal contraceptive use, but not current use alone, predicted women's sexual satisfaction with their partners. Congruency was not associated with women's nonsexual satisfaction or with the satisfaction of their male partners. Our results provide empirical support for the congruency hypothesis and suggest that women's sexual satisfaction is influenced by changes in partner preference associated with change in hormonal contraceptive use.
Author(s): Roberts SC, Little AC, Burriss RP, Cobey KD, Klapilova K, Havlicek J, Jones BC, DeBruine L, Petrie M
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Psychological Science
Year: 2014
Volume: 25
Issue: 7
Pages: 1497-1503
Print publication date: 01/07/2014
Online publication date: 12/05/2014
Acceptance date: 25/03/2014
ISSN (print): 0956-7976
ISSN (electronic): 1467-9280
Publisher: Sage
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797614532295
DOI: 10.1177/0956797614532295
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