Associations between couples' emotional expressions and communication during sexual problem discussions and relationship and sexual satisfaction over one year

Discussing sexual issues is critical for relationship and sexual satisfaction, but many couples find these discussions to be threatening and avoid them. Therefore, it is important to understand factors that enhance outcomes when couples do take the risk to talk about sexual problems. I examined whether constructive communication behaviours observed during sexual problem discussions mediated associations between emotional expressions (EEs) and relationship and sexual satisfaction over one year in 108 mixed-gender couples. Individuals who expressed more positive emotions (warmth, excitement, humour) communicated more constructively, and individuals who expressed more negative externalizing (frustration, anger, contempt) and negative internalizing (sadness, anxiety) emotions communicated less constructively. With some exceptions, EEs also predicted relationship and sexual satisfaction within and across partners, but individuals' communication was not associated with their relationship satisfaction or their own or partner's sexual satisfaction. However, as predicted, individuals' communication behaviours mediated associations between EEs and partners' relationship satisfaction over one year. Unexpectedly, individuals' communication behaviours did not mediate associations between EEs and their relationship satisfaction or either partner's sexual satisfaction over one year. In sum, constructive communication during sexual problem discussions fosters relationship satisfaction over time, but EEs may be especially potent when it comes to fostering sexual satisfaction. Regardless of how couples communicate about sex, those who create a positive emotional context may be especially likely to experience more satisfying sexual relationships over time.