The Mediating Role of Emotional and Sexual Intimacy in the Relationship Between Sexual Satisfaction and Health-Related Quality of Life in Couples.

Authors

Alice Santos, Inês M Tavares

Published in

Journal of marital and family therapy. Volume 52. Issue 4.

Abstract

Sexual satisfaction has been consistently associated with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and emotional and sexual intimacy have been identified as key relational processes in romantic relationships. However, less is known about whether intimacy explains the association between sexual satisfaction and HRQoL in couples. This study examined the mediating roles of sexual and emotional intimacy using data from 107 couples who completed self-report measures online. Analyses were conducted using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model. Results revealed a significant positive actor effect of sexual satisfaction on HRQoL, whereas no partner effects emerged. Sexual satisfaction was positively associated with both forms of intimacy at the actor level. However, sexual intimacy did not significantly mediate the association between sexual satisfaction and HRQoL. Emotional intimacy showed tentative evidence of an indirect effect. Overall, findings suggest that this association is primarily intrapersonal, with emotional intimacy representing a modest pathway linking sexual satisfaction to well-being.

PMID:
42928705
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 26 Oct 2026.

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