Comarital sexual behavior: individual and relationship variables

This study contrasted the individual and relationship variables of 35 married couples who engage in comarital sexual behavior with 35 married couples who do not. The couples were matched on age, length of marriage, age difference between partners, marital satisfaction, and socioeconomic status. Each couple was administered a battery of personality and relationship measures. In comparison with control subjects, comarital subjects reported a higher need for social approval and more liberal attitudes toward heterosexual behavior. Comarital subjects also reported greater sexual satisfaction and pleasure from their sexual relationship. Comarital couples resolved conflicts less satisfactorily than the control couples; the comarital couples disagreed and interrupted more often and used problem-solving strategies less successfully. Future research should explore the characteristics of couples who engage in different forms of recreational sexual activities.