Factors Related to Sexual Satisfaction in Mainland China‪.‬

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the sexual relationships of married Chinese men and women who were high school graduates living in Beijing and Shanghai. Completed questionnaires were returned by 193 men and 231 women who were unrelated to each other. In general, respondents reported moderate levels of sexual and relationship satisfaction, frequencies of affectionate and sexual behaviour ranging from "2 or 3 times a month" to "once or twice a week", and an average of at least one sexual concern and one sexual problem per person. Contrary to predictions based on the cultural message that sexual pleasure is more important for men than for women, women reported significantly greater sexual satisfaction than did men, and men and women did not differ in their reports of sexual "rewards" or relationship satisfaction. Men reported a significantly greater number of "costs" in their sexual relationship than did women, although women reported more sexual concerns than did men. Men were more likely than women to report that their partner had a sexual problem. These results are discussed in the context of the historical repression of many forms of sexual expression in China, and the potential for enhancement of the sexual relationships of Chinese men and women. AUTHORS' NOTES: This research was conducted in partial completion of the requirements for the doctorate degree of the first author under the supervision of the second author. The authors would like to thank Kelli-an Lawrance for her work in designing the study and for Kang Li and Min Wang for their help with the translation of the questionnaire.