Associations between satisfaction with one's own and partner's body and relationship outcomes

Body dissatisfaction has been consistently associated with sexual and relationship dissatisfaction; however, much less is known about the association between satisfaction with the partner's body and relationship outcomes. Our aim was to examine the mediating role of sexual satisfaction in the associations between one's satisfaction with one's own and partner's body and relationship satisfaction. Two hundred and thirty‐one cohabiting heterosexual couples completed questionnaires online. The results of path analyses within an actor–partner interdependence model revealed that, for women, there was a significant negative indirect effect of body dissatisfaction on their own relationship satisfaction through their sexual satisfaction. For men, dissatisfaction with their partner's body was negatively related to their own relationship satisfaction with no significant indirect effect through sexual satisfaction. The present study extends previous research using dyadic analyses to test an integrative model that includes satisfaction with one's own and one's partner's body, which relates to sexual and relationship satisfaction in heterosexual couples. By broadening our understanding of body image issues within romantic relationships according to gender, we deepen our knowledge of personal relationships.