Keywords
first sexual partner
premarital sexual experiences
sexual initiation
How to Cite
Abstract
The quality of marital relationships, including emotional bond, communication, and the perceived compatibility of partners, has long been of interest to researchers. Among the various factors influencing relationship quality, premarital sexual experiences are increasingly recognized. Due to the scarcity of research on this topic within the population of Polish spouses, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between the number of sexual partners and the type of first sexual partner (spouse, former romantic partner, non-romantic partner) and the quality of marital relationships among young adults, specifically regarding bond, communication, and perceived partner match. The study also explored the relationship between the quality of the marital relationship and regret over initiating sexual activity with someone other than the spouse. The study involved 306 married individuals (153 women and 153 men) aged 20 to 35. The research was conducted using a diagnostic survey in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Three standardized psychometric tools were used (the Marital Bond Scale by Józef Szopiński, the Marital Communication Questionnaire by Maria Kaźmierczak and Mieczysław Plopa, and the Marital Match Questionnaire by Jan Rostowski and Mieczysław Plopa), along with an author-developed questionnaire. The results showed that women who had sexual experiences exclusively with their spouse scored significantly higher in the areas of bonding and marital compatibility than women whose sexual initiation occurred with a non-romantic partner, as well as those with a higher number of sexual partners. As the number of sexual partners increased, women reported lower levels of emotional connection, intimacy, and self-fulfillment, and higher levels of spouse devaluation and relationship disappointment. Among men, no statistically significant relationships were found. For women, regret about sexual initiation with someone other than the spouse correlated with a lower sense of marital compatibility. The results obtained allow us to conclude that premarital sexual experiences may have a long-term impact on the quality of marital relationships, especially among women.
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