Potential Mechanisms Through Which Sexual Sanctification May Influence Sexual Outcomes: Sexual Mindfulness, Sexual...

Sanctification theory posits that normal aspects of life can take on special meaning or significance beyond the ordinary. One way that people may experience the sacred and connect with the divine is through sexuality. Sexual sanctification has been connected to beneficial sexual outcomes. However, current literature is lacking on clarifying the mechanisms through which sexual sanctification may lead to those outcomes. In this study, we looked at the dyadic data of 452 heterosexual committed couples who have been in a relationship for at least two years. Structural equation modeling was used to assess possible pathways through which sexual sanctification related to sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion including sexual mindfulness, sexual intercourse frequency, sexual communication, and orgasmic consistency. Sexual sanctification had statistically significant associations with all four mechanisms for females but not for males; however, sexual intercourse frequency did not have a significant relationship with either sexual outcome. Communication was the strongest mechanism through which sexual sanctification influenced sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion, followed by orgasmic consistency and then sexual mindfulness. These findings indicate the importance of sexual communication and orgasmic consistency as mechanisms for sexual sanctification and positive sexual outcomes.