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Sexual Communication and Satisfaction in Queer Relationships: A Dyadic Approach
Meike Sorg1, Ina Marie Reindl1, Tobias Greitemeyer1
1Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck.
Journal of Sex Research
|March 10, 2026
Summary
High-quality sexual communication and self-disclosure significantly boost sexual satisfaction in queer relationships. Relationship satisfaction is also enhanced, particularly through the quality of communication, benefiting both partners.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Sexual communication is crucial for relationship satisfaction, but its specific role in queer relationships is under-researched.
- Queer couples face unique challenges and norms that may influence sexual communication dynamics.
- Existing research often overlooks the dyadic nature of communication and satisfaction in diverse partnerships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between three dimensions of sexual communication (self-disclosure, quality, frequency) and sexual and relationship satisfaction in queer couples.
- To examine these associations using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to understand individual and partner effects.
- To explore potential mediating pathways between sexual communication, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Dyadic study involving 112 queer couples.
- Utilized the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) for statistical analysis.
- Assessed three dimensions of sexual communication: sexual self-disclosure, quality, and frequency.
Main Results:
- Sexual self-disclosure and communication quality positively predicted sexual satisfaction for both actors and partners, and relationship satisfaction for actors.
- Communication frequency was linked to sexual satisfaction but not relationship satisfaction.
- When analyzed together, only communication quality significantly predicted actors' sexual and relationship satisfaction, with no partner effects observed.
Conclusions:
- High-quality sexual communication is a key factor for sexual and relational well-being in queer relationships.
- Findings extend current sexual communication models by focusing on queer partnerships and highlighting dyadic influences.
- Both instrumental and expressive pathways suggest that sexual and relationship satisfaction mutually reinforce each other, mediated by communication quality.
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