The role of sex life in romantic relationships for relationship satisfaction The questionnaire of sexual experience in close relationships

Research on romantic relationships has rarely investigated the role of sex. Therefore a questionnaire measuring the Sexual experience along the two dimensions of physical and affective attraction has been developed. The results describe the fit between sexual experience and expectations as experienced by the participants. In a study with 1,583 participants. the questionnaire was proven reliable. Male participants reported suffering from not receiving enough attention within the physical domain. In a cross-sectional analysis, physical attraction was accorded a diminishing importance with increasing age of the participants. Affective attraction had an impact on relationship satisfaction. Affective attraction is an aspect of sex life which may be typical for sex in close relationships only. The effect of both dimensions of experiencing sex in close relationships on relationship satisfaction will be discussed with respect to age and gender effects.