2006. Fertility Cycle Patterns in Motives for
Sexual Behavior.
Personality-and-Social-Psychology-Bulletin. Vol 32(12) Dec 2006, 1659-1673.
Three studies examined the relationship between fertility, as indexed by
day in cycle or salivary estradiol levels, and reported motives for sexual
intercourse. Data from university and community samples in both cross-sectional
and repeated-measures designs showed that sex-for-intimacy motives are endorsed
significantly less by women who are relatively more fertile or show higher
salivary estrogen levels. Sex for enhancement, self-affirmation, and partner
approval also declined, although the data were less consistent. The remaining
motives (coping and power) showed no consistent patterns across fertility
status. Results suggest that sexual motives are rooted partly in woman's biology
and are discussed in terms of plausible evolutionary mechanisms that might
promote female "choosiness" at midcycle. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA,
all rights reserved) (journal abstract)