Skip to main content
Log in

The Relationship Between Sexual Quality of Life, Happiness, and Satisfaction with Life in Married Turkish Women

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The quality of sexual life is based on a physical, relational, and emotional assessment of an individual. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sexual quality of life, happiness, and satisfaction with life. The research comprised of 204 women, aged between 18 and 63. The average age of participants was 31.98. In this study, the sexual quality of life questionnaire-female, Oxford happiness questionnaire-short form, and satisfaction with life scale were used as data collection tools. The findings indicated that the sexual quality of life in women has a positive relationship with happiness and satisfaction with life. Therefore, sexual quality of life is a significant predictor of happiness and satisfaction with life. It also explains 19 % of the variance concerning happiness and 25 % of the variance regarding satisfaction with life. As a result, the findings obtained from the present study show that the sexual quality of life in women is important in relation to happiness and satisfaction with life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Argyle, M., Martin, M., Crossland, J.: Happiness as a function of personality and social encounters. In: Forgas, J.P., Innes, J.M. (eds.) Recent advances in social psychology: an international perspective, pp. 189–203. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Diener, E.: Subjective well-being. Psychol. Bull. 95, 542–575 (1984)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., Diener, E.: The benefit of frequent positive affect: does happiness lead to success? Psychol. Bull. 131, 803–855 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hooghe, M.: Is sexual well-being part of subjective well-being? An empirical analysis of belgian (flemish) survey data using an extended well-being scale. J. Sex Res. 49, 264–273 (2012)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Şahin, N.H., Batıgün, A.D., Pazvantoğlu, E.A.: Cinsel işlevlerdeki sorunlarda kişilerarası tarz, kendilik algısı ve öfkenin rolü (the role of interpersonal style, self perception and anger in sexual dysfunction). Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi 23(1), 18–25 (2012). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  6. Balon, R.: In pursuit of (sexual) happiness and well-being: a response. J. Sex Marital Ther. 34, 298–301 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Higgins, J.A., Mullinax, M., Trussell, J., Davidson, K., Moore, N.B.: Sexual satisfaction and sexual health among university students in the United States. Am. J. Public Health 101(9), 1643–1654 (2011)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rosen, R.C., Bachmann, G.A.: Sexual well-being, happiness, and satisfaction, in women: the case for a new conceptual paradigm. J. Sex Marital Ther. 34, 291–297 (2008)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Stephenson, K.R., Meston, C.M.: Differentiating components of sexual well-being in women: are sexual satisfaction and sexual distress independent constructs? J Sex Med. 7, 2458–2468 (2010)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tufan, A.E., Yaluğ, İ.: “Aşk” fenomeni ve sevgi ilişkilerinin nörobiyolojisi (“love” phenomenon and neurobiology of love relations). Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar 2(4), 443–456 (2010). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  11. Symonds, T., Boolell, M., Quirk, F.: Development of questionnaire on sexual quality of life in women. J. Sex Marital Ther. 31, 385–397 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Tuğut, N., Gölbaşı, Z.: Cinsel Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği- Kadın Türkçe versiyonunun geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması (a validity and reliability study of Turkish version of the sexual quality of life questionnaire-female). Cumhuriyet Medical Journal. 32, 172–180 (2010). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  13. Byers, E.: Relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction: a longitudinal study of individuals in long-term relationships. J Sex Res. 42, 113–118 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sprecher, S.: Sexual satisfaction in premarital relationships: associations with satisfaction, love, commitment, and stability. J Sex Res. 39, 190–196 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Trudel, G.: Sexuality and marital life: results of a survey. J. Sex Marital Ther. 28, 229–249 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ventegodt, S.: Sex and the quality of life in Denmark. Arch. Sex. Behav. 27, 295–307 (1998)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Davison, S.L., Bell, R.J., LaChina, M., Holden, S.L.: Davis SR. : the relationship between self-reported sexual satisfaction and general well-being in women. J Sex Med. 6, 2690–2697 (2009)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Taleporos, G., McCabe, M.P.: The impact of sexual esteem, body esteem, and sexual satisfaction on psychological well-being in people with physical disability. Sex. Disabil. 20, 177–183 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Holmberg, D., Blair, K., Phillips, M.: Women’s sexual satisfaction as a predictor of wellbeing in same-sex versus mixed-sex relationships. J. Sex Res. 47, 1–11 (2010)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. İncesu, C.: Cinsel işlevler ve cinsel işlev bozuklukları (Sexual function and sexual disfunction). Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi. 3, 3–13 (2004). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  21. Moore, N.B., Davidson Sr, J.K.: Guilt about first intercourse: an antecedent of sexual dissatisfaction among college women. J. Sex Marital Ther. 23(1), 29–46 (1997)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Yaşar, H., Özkan, L., Tepeler, A.: Kadınlarda cinsel fonksiyon bozukluklarında güncel yaklaşım (Current approach to sexual disfunctions in women). Klinik ve Deneysel Araştırmalar Dergisi. 1(3), 235–240 (2010). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  23. Horne, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M.J.: Female sexual subjectivity and well-being: comparing late adolescents with different sexual experiences. Sex. Res. Social Policy 2(3), 25–40 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Duyan, V., Duyan, G.: Turkish social work students’ attitudes toward sexuality. Sex Roles 52, 697–706 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Özmen, H.E.: Cinsel mitler ve cinsel işlev bozuklukları (sexual myths and sexual disfunction). Psikiyatri Dünyasi. 2, 49–53 (1999). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  26. Oksuz, E., Malhan, S.: Prevalence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction in Turkish women. J. Urol. 175, 654–658 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Diener, E., Emmons, R.A., Larsen, R.J., Griffin, S.: The satisfaction with life scale. J. Pers. Assess. 49, 71–75 (1985)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Yetim, Ü.: Kişisel projelerin organizasyonu ve örüntüsü açısından yaşam doyumu (Organization of projects individual and the pattern life satisfaction in terms of). Yayınlanmamış doktora tezi, Ege Üniversitesi, İzmir (1993). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hills, P., Argyle, M.: The Oxford happiness questionnaire: a compact scale for the measurement of psychological well-being. Personality Individ. Differ. 33, 1073–1082 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Doğan, T., Çötok, A.N.: Oxford mutluluk ölçeği kısa formunun Türkçe uyarlaması: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması (adaptation of the short form of the oxford happiness questionnaire into Turkish: a validity and reliability study). Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi. 4, 165–172 (2011). [in Turkish]

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hair, F.J., Anderson, E.R., Tatham, L.R., Black, C.W.: Multivariate Data Analysis. Prentice Hall, New Jersey (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Hoyle, R.H.: Structural Equation modeling: Concepts, issues and applications. Sage Publications, Thousands Oaks (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Hu, L., Bentler, P.M.: Cut-of criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Struct. Equ. Model. 6, 1–55 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zehra Golbasi.

Appendix: The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire

Appendix: The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire

Instructions

Below are a number of statements about happiness. Would you please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each by entering a number alongside it according to the following code:

  • 1 = strongly disagree;

  • 2 = moderately disagree;

  • 3 = slightly disagree;

  • 4 = slightly agree;

  • 5 = moderately agree;

  • 6 = strongly agree.

You will need to read the statements carefully because some are phrased positively and others negatively. Don’t take too long over individual questions; there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers and no trick questions. The first answer that comes into your head is probably the right one for you. If you find some of the questions difficult, please give the answer that is true for you in general or for most of the time.

  1. 1.

    I don’t feel particularly pleased with the way I am … (a)

  2. 2.

    I feel that life is very rewarding…

  3. 3.

    I am well satisfied about everything in my life…

  4. 4.

    I don’t think I look attractive … (a)

  5. 5.

    I find beauty in some things…

  6. 6.

    I can fit in everything I want to…

  7. 7.

    I feel fully mentally alert…

  8. 8.

    I do not have particularly happy memories of the past… (a)

Notes. Items marked (a) should be scored in reverse. The sum of the item scores is an overall measure of happiness, with high scores indicating greater happiness.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dogan, T., Tugut, N. & Golbasi, Z. The Relationship Between Sexual Quality of Life, Happiness, and Satisfaction with Life in Married Turkish Women. Sex Disabil 31, 239–247 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-013-9302-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-013-9302-z

Keywords

Navigation