A recent study from the University of Minnesota reveals that while women may find others attractive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are unsatisfied in their relationships unless they are sexually bored.
Researchers surveyed 1,155 Portuguese women, aged 18 to 66, in long-term relationships to examine the link between sexual boredom, desire, and satisfaction.
The study, led by Leonor de Oliveira, a postdoctoral fellow at the university’s Eli Coleman Institute for Sex and Gender Health, found that sexual boredom plays a significant role in determining both sexual and relationship satisfaction.
“Boredom acts as a kind of bridge, connecting low sexual desire to unhappiness in these areas,” de Oliveira told PsyPost.
About one-third of sexual satisfaction and over a quarter of relationship satisfaction were attributed to sexual boredom.
Women experiencing less sexual boredom reported higher levels of satisfaction in their relationships and sex lives.
De Oliveira emphasised that boredom is a natural signal that change or excitement is needed, noting, “We all feel bored at times, and sex is no exception.”
The research also examined sexual desire for non-partners.
Contrary to popular belief, attraction to someone outside the relationship doesn’t automatically mean dissatisfaction unless sexual boredom is present.
Feeling desire for one’s partner was strongly linked to higher satisfaction, while attraction to others only affected satisfaction when paired with sexual boredom.
De Oliveira clarified, “Attraction to others didn’t have a direct effect on satisfaction by itself. The key factor was sexual boredom.”
Despite its potential negative impact, sexual boredom isn’t necessarily detrimental.
Instead, it can serve as a prompt for growth and communication.
“Boredom signals the need for novelty or engagement, often requiring vulnerable conversations about sexual preferences,” de Oliveira said.
She highlighted the importance of addressing sexual needs with one’s partner, even though these discussions can be challenging.
“Boredom is not the problem, but the difficulty in discussing our sexual needs might be,” she added.
IOL Lifestyle