When and for Whom Is Sex Most Beneficial? Sexual Motivation in Romantic Relationships

Satisfying sexual encounters are important for the quality of couples' relationships, but maintaining sexual desire and connection over time in a relationship is challenging. Theory and research on sexual motivation can inform when sex is associated with benefits in relationships and when it detracts from satisfaction, as well as who is more likely to maintain sexual desire and satisfaction over the course of time in a romantic relationship. People differ in their reasons or goals for engaging in sex with a romantic partner and their motivation to meet their partner's sexual needs, and this has important implications for their experience of desire and satisfaction. This review of research on sexual motivation seeks to summarize the key findings in this area and highlight themes that provide insight into how couples can reap the most benefits from sex and keep their sexual spark alive over time. Implications for future research and clinical applications are discussed.