Global self-esteem and sexual self-esteem as predictors of sexual communication in intimate relationships.(Report)

Abstract: The goal of the present study was to examine the possible links between global self-esteem and sexual self-esteem, and their links to sexual communication in relationships. It was hypothesized that while there is a positive relationship between global self-esteem and communication in intimate relationships, sexual self-esteem will be a unique predictor of communication. Analyses of the responses of 74 individuals indicated that sexual self-esteem is a distinct, although contributing, aspect of global self-esteem and that sexual communication differs from general communication. Furthermore, while it was found that high levels of both global and sexual self-esteem predicted a higher ability to communicate about satisfying sexual behaviours with a partner, hierarchical regressions demonstrated that sexual self-esteem was a unique predictor of sexual communication over and above the contribution of global self-esteem. These results suggest that global self-esteem may be too broad a construct to predict one's ability to discuss sexual needs with a partner, and that future research may benefit from using measures of sexual self-esteem when researching sexual communication in intimate relationships.

Introduction

Research has shown that higher levels of communication between partners are associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction (Cupach & Comstock, 1990; MacNeil & Byers, 1997; Wheeless, Wheeless, & Baus, 1984). MacNeil and Byers (2005) showed that sexual self-disclosure, one aspect of communication with a partner, enhances sexual satisfaction in dating couples and that the sexes show both similarities and differences in prospective pathways between sexual self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction. Given the importance of communication in sexual satisfaction in couples, the factors associated with a person's ability to communicate with a partner about sexuality are of interest as these are not well understood. Global self-esteem (Ferroni & Taffe, 1997; Larson, Anderson, Holman & Niemann, 1998) and sexual self-esteem (Rosenfeld, 2004) are thought to reflect characteristics that facilitate sexual communication within relationships. However, greater clarity is needed about the relation between global self-esteem and sexual self-esteem and about the relation of each measure to sexual communication in relationships. The present study explores these themes.

Background

The literature defines global self-esteem as "a positive or negative attitude toward the self" (Rosenberg, 1965, p. 30) and researchers have identified it as an essential component for healthy sexual functioning (Hally & Pollack, 1993) and an integral part of one's personal self (Branden, 1969). Sexual self-esteem, defined as "[one's] affective reactions to [their] subjective appraisals of [their] sexual thoughts, feelings, and behaviours" (Zeanah & Schwarz, 1996, p. 3) has been viewed as separate from, although a contributing component of, global self-esteem.