The Influence of Self-Expansion on Sexual Desire Among People in Same-Gender Interracial Relationships

Same-gender interracial relationships are more common than mixed-gender interracial relationships, yet remain a vastly understudied population in relationship science. Considering intersectionality theory, people in same-gender interracial relationships are subject to heightened stress due to challenges they face, such as discrimination and societal disapproval stemming from their multiple stigmatized identities. This heightened stress has the potential to decrease perceptions of sexual desire, which is problematic as being motivated to engage in sex with one's partner is an important feature of relationship maintenance. Previous research has focused on self-expansion, a process in which people are motivated to grow through novel activities with their partner, as a way to preserve sexual desire. However, self-expansion has not been tested as a buffer among those in same-gender interracial relationships. In the current pre-registered replication study (N = 205), we predicted and found that people in same-gender interracial relationships who self-expand through engaging in novel activities with their partner reported higher sexual desire than people who did not engage in self-expanding activities with their partner. In addition, participants also reported higher relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction as a result of the self-expanding activities. Overall, these findings are consistent with prior work and generalize previous findings that self-expansion is a meaningful relationship process that can enhance sexual desire and relationship outcomes among those in relationships who experience heightened discrimination and stress.