Sexual trust is an important factor that affects how partners interact and respond to each other's needs during intimate moments. This trust can be defined as a belief that one's partner will not intentionally inflict emotional, physical, or sexual harm while being affectionate or engaged in romantic behaviors like cuddling or kissing. Trust allows partners to feel safe and comfortable sharing themselves physically and emotionally without fear of judgment or retribution. In this way, it helps couples overcome negative effects such as withdrawal, perceived rejection, or betrayal.
Withdrawal refers to the sudden end or loss of interest in a relationship or sexual engagement. When a partner suddenly withdraws from their partner due to stressors such as work, children, family members, or financial issues, they may experience feelings of abandonment, anxiety, and anger. Sexual trust can help alleviate these feelings because it provides assurance that even if your partner isn't available right now, they still value you deeply and are invested in the relationship. Withdrawal can have a ripple effect on the relationship, causing partners to doubt their worthiness, leading them to further withdraw from their partner until there is nothing left.
With healthy communication practices and strong sexual trust, partners can work through these difficult times together instead of drifting apart.
Perceived rejection occurs when one partner interprets a lack of attention or response from another as intentional disinterest or rejection. These perceptions often result from unmet expectations about the frequency or quality of interactions between partners.
If a man expects his wife to initiate sex every day but she rarely does so, he may feel rejected and withdraw from her physically and emotionally. A robust sense of sexual trust can provide reassurance that any perceived rejection is not personal or malicious but rather based on external factors. This allows both partners to openly discuss their needs and desires without fear of judgment or retribution.
Relational betrayal happens when a partner violates the boundaries set within a romantic relationship by engaging in activities like cheating, lying, abuse, manipulation, or infidelity. The resulting feelings of betrayal lead to emotions such as distrust, anger, hurt, fear, and shame. Without healthy sexual trust, partners may become distant or aggressive towards each other. They may believe their partner has no respect for them or will continue to take advantage of them. In this case, the couple must focus on repairing the damage done to build trust again. They should communicate openly, honestly, and directly about what happened and how it affected them. This helps create an atmosphere where both partners feel safe to express themselves freely and be vulnerable with each other.
How does sexual trust buffer couples against negative effects of withdrawal, perceived rejection, or relational betrayal?
Although studies have indicated that sexual trust can be beneficial for romantic relationships, there is limited research examining how it impacts relationship outcomes when partners experience distressing situations such as withdrawal, perceived rejection, or betrayal. This literature review discusses empirical findings on the topic by exploring various theoretical perspectives and methodologies employed in past research.