Latinas and Sexual Health: Correlates of Sexual Satisfaction

Background and Purpose: Latinas/os are one of the fastest growing and most heterogeneous populations in the US. One in 5 women in the US are Latina; by 2060, Latinas will compose 1/3 of the female population. While factors impacting undesirable consequences of sexual activity for Latinas have been well documented, experiences with sexual satisfaction and pleasure in the broader context of sexual health remains understudied. This study uses critical frameworks to investigate correlates of sexual satisfaction for Latinas. We support shifting away from a pervasive focus on sexuality as solely risk based to embracing the importance of pleasure, intimacy and desire within social work scholarship.  

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of Wave IV data from the 2008 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) study. The conceptual frameworks for this paper are nested in Intersectionality, Latina Critical Race Theory and Reproductive Justice perspectives; combining critical and intersectional methodologies within a quantitative paradigm. Wave IV includes a sample of 287 adult Latina women identifying as Mexican (56.9%), Chicana (6.7%), Cuban (4.2%), Puerto Rican (13.8%), Central and South American (11.7%) and/or “other” (12.9%), with some identifying as multi-racial. The mean age is 38 years. ANOVA analyses explored group differences regarding sexual satisfaction. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses investigated significant associations between sexual satisfaction and socioeconomic factors, sexual health behavior and non-sexual relationship variables.

Results: Thirty four percent of Latinas in this sample reported some college, 25% reported a bachelor’s degree or higher; 45% reported annual household income over $50,000,  66% reported having health insurance and 92.6% identified as heterosexual. No significant differences existed amongst Latina ethnic subgroups with regards to sexual satisfaction (p>.05) or number of lifetime vaginal sex partners (p>.05). Bivariate correlations revealed no statistically significant associations between sexual satisfaction and SES or sexual satisfaction and sexual behavior, but showed statistically significant correlations with relationship satisfaction. Regression analyses revealed that relationship satisfaction was most associated with sexual satisfaction, even when controlling for income, education and religion (B=.71, t=4.80, p<.001); higher relationship satisfaction leads to more sexual satisfaction for Latinas.

Conclusions and Implications: This study illuminates factors that impact sexual satisfaction for Latinas. The sample included educated Latinas with decent income and high rates of health insurance, contrasting with traditional studies of low SES Latinas. Having satisfactory (non-sexual) experiences with one’s partner leads to sexual satisfaction. This study demonstrates that respectful and strong interpersonal romantic relationships are necessary to achieve sexual satisfaction for Latinas, which impacts overall wellbeing. Health promotion programs for Latinas should focus on enhancing interpersonal relationships based on mutual respect and care from culturally relevant approaches. Intersectionality and Latina Critical Race Theory provide useful guidance on incorporating strengths based, person centered and sex positive frameworks into sexual health education, research and health promotion work. These theoretical approaches center Latina identities and inform interpretation of findings without perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Latinas, Latina culture or sexuality. We argue that social work’s social justice values positon the field to make valuable contributions to the field of sexuality.