ORIGINAL PAPER
Ecological Models of Sexual Satisfaction among Lesbian/Bisexual
and Heterosexual Women
Alison W. Henderson Æ Keren Lehavot Æ Jane M. Simoni
Received: 31 May 2006 / Revised: 26 March 2008 / Accepted: 8 April 2008 / Published online: 24 June 2008
Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008
Abstract Sexual satisfaction is an integral component of
sexual health and well-being, yet we know little about which
factors contribute to it among lesbian/bisexual women. To
examine a proposed ecological model of sexual satisfaction, we
conducted an internet survey of married heterosexual women
and lesbian/bisexual women in committed same-sex relation-
ships. Structural equation modeling included five final latent
variables for heterosexual women and seven final latent varia-
bles for lesbian/bisexual women. Overall, results indicated that,
for both groups of women, a similar constellation of factors
(depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, sexual func-
tioning, and social support) was related to sexual satisfaction.
In lesbian/bisexual women, internalized homophobia was an
additional factor. Contrary to expectations, the presence of chi-
ldren in the home and a history of childhood sexual abuse did
not contribute significantly to the model for either group. Find-
ings support the idea that gender socialization may influence
sexual satisfaction more than socialization around sexual ori-
entation. Additionally, given that for both groups of women
relationship satisfaction explained a substantial amount of
variance in sexual satisfaction, sexual concerns may be better
addressed at the relationship than the individual level.
Keywords Sexual satisfaction Á Women Á Lesbian Á
Ecological model
Introduction
Sexual satisfaction is an integral component of sexual health
and well-being. Despite its contextual nature, sexual satis-
faction is often considered solely in terms of physiology,
based on the medical model of sexual functioning popu-
larized by Masters and Johnson (1970; see also Rosen &
Leiblum, 1995). Rarely is sexual satisfaction conceptual-
ized, studied, or treated within the context of a relationship.
Moreover, when sexuality is studied in a relational context,
the majority of this research has focused on heterosexual
men and women, most often in the context of marriage.
Research on other relationships is less common, and com-
parable studies using same-sex couples are rare (Clark &
Serovich, 1997; Martell, Safren, & Prince, 2004).
Women, in particular, appear to regard sexuality from a
relational orientation in which sexuality is viewed as one aspect
of an intimate relationship (Waite & Joyner, 2001). Therefore,
an encompassing theory of female sexuality needs to consider
the larger relationship context and it needs to address all
women, not merely heterosexual women. Though the etiology
of sexual orientation remains unknown, especially in women,
we do know that irrespective of gender-atypical experiences,
attitudes, or overt sexual orientation, most children of the same
sex appear to be socialized in a similar manner from birth
through childhood (Bailey, Gaulin, Agyei, & Gladue, 1994).
Studies assessing the association of sexual orientation and
gendered behaviors with sexual variables have found mixed
results. One study found that gender had a greater impact on
sexual attitudes and behaviors than did sexual orientation
(Bailey et al., 1994). In other words, while there were some
differences attributable to the effects of sexual orientation,
lesbian women were more like heterosexual women than gay
men, and gay men responded more like heterosexual men than
lesbian women. Further, in a recent study, similar proportions
A. W. Henderson Á K. Lehavot (&) Á J. M. Simoni
Department of Psychology, University of Washington,
Box 35125, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
e-mail: klehavot@u.washington.edu
123
Arch Sex Behav (2009) 38:50–65
DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9384-3