Self-actualization and sexual permissiveness, satisfaction, prudishness, and drive among female undergraduates

The relationship between self-actualization and aspects of female sexuality was examined. Ninety-five white, single female undergraduates from a regional southeastern state university volunteered as subjects. Three questionnaires were administered: the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), Eysenck's Inventory of Attitudes to Sex, and a two-item religiosity measure. The data were analyzed via correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analysis which employed religiosity, age, major, grade, residence (on/off campus), and the order of test presentation as covariates. The results indicated that, when the effects of the covariates were controlled, there was a significant relationship between self-actualization and sexual permissiveness, sexual satisfaction and prudishness. Although self-actualization and sexual libido were significantly correlated, self-actualization did not account for a significant portion of the variance in sexual libido after the effects of the covariates were controlled. Implications for future research include using different populations to investigate the relationship between self-actualization and sexual attitudes and behaviors, using different measures of self-actualization to investigate its relationship to sexual attitudes and behaviors, and examining the relationship between self-actualization and other aspects of sexuality.