Do Demand-Withdrawal Communication Patterns During Sexual Conflict Predict Couples' Relationship Satisfaction, Sexual Satisfaction, and Sexual Distress? An Observational and Prospective Study

Sexual conflict is common, yet it is one of the most challenging topics for couples because it provokes more negative emotions relative to other conflicts. Such challenges might prompt couples to rely on less adaptive sexual communication styles. Communication patterns during sexual conflict - such as demand-withdrawal - have received little attention, and studies that do exist relied on self-report measures. Demand-withdrawal communication refers to when one partner exerts pressure to talk about a problem while the other withdraws, and is associated with poorer psychological and relationship well-being. In an observational dyadic study, we examined associations between demand-withdrawal patterns during a sexual conflict and sexual and relationship outcomes concurrently and over time. Couples (N = 151, Mage = 31.92, SDage = 9.07) in long-term relationships completed measures of relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and sexual distress at baseline (T1) and 12 months later (T2). One week after T1, they engaged in an in-lab discussion of an important sexual conflict, coded by trained observers for degree of demand-withdrawal. Individuals in a couple who were observed to display higher demand-withdrawal reported lower relationship and sexual satisfaction and higher sexual distress at T1, as well as lower relationship satisfaction at T2. Effects were not moderated by gender. Findings demonstrate the relevance of demand-withdrawal patterns during sexual conflict.