The effects of the brief sexual enhancement program on sexual knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and sexual and marital satisfaction

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a three-hour sexual enhancement program, the BSEP, on the level of sexual knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and sexual and marital satisfaction on normal, or non-dysfunctional, couples. The literature suggested that there was a need for research delineating which elements of a sexual enhancement program were essential. The BSEP utilized the presentation of information as the element most easily standardized. It was comprised of 10 sex education films. Each film represented a major element common to other sexual enhancement programs. A total of 30 married couples (N = 60) participated in this study. The experimental group, composed of 16 couples, and the control group, 14 couples, completed the following instruments: The Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Test (SKAT), the Sexual Interaction Inventory (SII), and the Marital Satisfaction Scale, Form C (MSS-C). Testing was accomplished 6 days prior to the experimental group members' participation in the BSEP. Two weeks later, both groups reconvened for post-testing. At the completion of the post-testing, the control group experienced the BSEP. A split-pilot factorial 2 x 2 x 2 design was utilized to study the research hypotheses. There were twelve dependent variables: Sexual knowledge, heterosexual relationships attitudes, sexual myths, attitudes towards autoeroticism, frequency dissatisfaction, self-acceptance, mean level of pleasure experienced, perceptual accuracy of partner's desires, mate acceptance, total level of sexual satisfaction, frequency of sexual behaviors, addition of new behaviors, and marital satisfaction. Each variable was treated individually with an analysis of variance with repeated measures over sex and trials. Findings indicated that the BSEP was effective in decreasing the number of sexual myths held by subjects. There were significant increases in the level of satisfaction experimental couples had regarding the range of their sexual activities with their mate. There was also a significant increase in the amount of sexual interaction in the experimental group.