IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v20y2019i7d10.1007_s10902-018-0047-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Global, Relational, and Sexual Motivation: A Test of Hierarchical Versus Heterarchical Effects on Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Emilie E. Gravel

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Elke D. Reissing

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Luc G. Pelletier

    (University of Ottawa)

Abstract

The quality of sexual motives is an important predictor of sexual well-being. However, how sexual motives are integrated to psychological functioning beyond the sexual domain remains poorly understood. In this study, we used self-determination theory, the hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and principles of heterarchical conceptual modeling to investigate motivational antecedents and well-being consequences of autonomous and controlled sexual motivation at three levels of psychological functioning: sexual, relational, and global. University students (N = 853; women = 684, men = 169 men; Mage = 19.93, SD = 4.14) completed validated measurement of motivation and well-being at these three levels of psychological functioning. Results revealed that motives for performing everyday behaviors in general (i.e., global motivation) and motives for being in a committed relationship (i.e., relational motivation) predicted the quality of sexual motives. In turn, the quality of sexual motives predicted differences in well-being. Specifically, high autonomous and low controlled sexual motivation were associated with an overall pattern of optimal psychological functioning. Sexual motives predicted global and relational well-being beyond the contribution of global and relational motivation. These results reflect a heterarchical structure, in which sexual motives can operate independently from relational processes, as opposed to a hierarchical structure, in which sexual motives fully depend on relational processes to operate. Thus, the quality of sexual motives is associated with broad personality dispositions, relationship processes, and well-being beyond the sexual domain in complex ways. These results help illuminate for whom and when sexual experiences result in benefits or costs to well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilie E. Gravel & Elke D. Reissing & Luc G. Pelletier, 2019. "Global, Relational, and Sexual Motivation: A Test of Hierarchical Versus Heterarchical Effects on Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2269-2289, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0047-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-0047-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-018-0047-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-018-0047-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0047-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.