Body Image and Sex: A Dyadic Examination of Body Esteem and Sexual Inhibition, Obsession, and Harmony.

How each individual within a relationship views their body may play a role in how they experience their sexual interactions. Previous research found associations between body image and sexual well-being at an individual level, but very little research has examined a dyadic association between body image and sexual and relational well-being. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,177 newlywed couples, this study used an Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) to estimate actor and partner associations between body esteem and relationship satisfaction, using sexual styles - inhibited, obsessed, or harmonious - as potential mediators.