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Sexuality in Couples

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Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy
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Sexuality in Couples

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Couples and sexuality; Sex and Couples

Introduction

Sexuality, broadly, refers to gender and sexual identities, sexual pleasure and intimacy, and reproduction and is influenced by intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systemic factors and is an integral component of overall well-being. In the context of a couple, sexuality encompasses internal reactions and relational components that influence the experience and expression of sexuality. For the purposes of this entry, couples will be defined as marital, cohabitational, romantic or sexual partners, with an acknowledgement that couples can also include non-monogamous relationships and diverse permutations of partnership. Furthermore, sexuality in a couple includes the process of seeking out, initiating, and sustaining activity in a romantic or sexual context across the lifespan. Sexual expression can be influenced by physical health, mental health, relationship quality, access to partners,...

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Correspondence to Noelany Pelc .

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© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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Pelc, N., Abbott, D. (2019). Sexuality in Couples. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_420

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