Self-esteem can boost sexual well-being — and vice versa

A long-term study by the Universities of Zurich and Utrecht has confirmed a dynamic correlation between self-esteem and sexual satisfaction. The results provide valuable insights into the long-standing questions of whether better sex makes you feel better, whether feeling better makes you have better sex, or both.

Various theories suggest that people with higher self-esteem tend to have more satisfying sexual relationships and that these two factors influence each other. However, little research has been done on how this interaction develops over time.

A new study based on a nationally representative sample of over 11,000 German adults provides some interesting insights. The study, published today in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletinwas conducted by scientists from the universities of Zurich (UZH) and Utrecht, who analyzed 12 years of data on people’s self-esteem and sexual experiences.

Long-term study shows mutual effect

“People with higher self-esteem are not only more likely to engage in sexual activity, but are also more satisfied with their sexual experiences,” explain lead authors Elisa Weber and Wiebke Bleidorn from the Faculty of Psychology at UZH.

There were also significant correlations over time: changes in sexual satisfaction led to changes in a person’s self-esteem and vice versa. These within-individual associations show that self-esteem and sexual satisfaction can influence each other.

The research findings on the dynamic interaction between self-esteem and sexual well-being are supported by theories that treat self-esteem as a kind of social barometer indicating the extent to which we feel accepted and valued in our relationships with other people.

Positive experiences in social and intimate relationships can increase self-esteem, while negative experiences are interpreted as a warning sign of social rejection and, in the long run, translate into lower self-esteem.

At the same time, people with high self-esteem can better communicate their desires and preferences to their partners, which in the long run translates into greater satisfaction with their sexual life.

Age and gender matter

However, the study also found that the correlations are not uniform across all individuals. Age and gender matter: older people and women tended to show a stronger association between self-esteem and sexual well-being than younger people and men.

Interestingly, relationship status did not seem to matter, as the link between self-esteem and sexual well-being was found to be just as strong among single people as among those in relationships.

Bleidorn says: “The answer to these questions is of great importance. Our results suggest that self-esteem plays an important role in our sexual experience, especially in relation to sexual well-being. At the same time, changes in sexual well-being can also lead to changes in self-esteem.

“The results of this study help us understand the complex relationship between self-esteem and sexual experience and provide important impetus for future research in this area.”