Flexibility, persistence, and success in sex therapy

The predictive utility of patient flexibility as a moderator of persistence and benefit from sex therapy was examined. In addition to a direct self-report flexibility scale, 21 couples completed psychometric measures of sexual and marital compatibility before undergoing a modified Masters and Johnson sexual retraining regimen. Following treatment the 15 continuing pairs filled out the same satisfaction inventories and, along with their male and female cotherapists, made posttherapy ratings of change on sex-specific personal and marital criteria. Flexibility proved to be a strikingly effective discriminator of remainers from early terminators and demonstrated promise as a predictor of favorable sex therapy outcome. Results are discussed in terms of the need to identify and prepare rigid individuals who cannot easily accommodate the relatively directive and value-laden features of sexual retraining.