THE ROLE OF SEXUAL COMMUNICATION IN COUPLES’ SEXUAL OUTCOMES: A DYADIC PATH ANALYSIS Adam C. Jones, W. David Robinson, and Ryan B. Seedall Utah State University In a study of 142 couples, we gathered survey data to show how sexual communication influ- ences sexual and relationship satisfaction as well as sexual and orgasm frequency. In two dyadic data path analyses, we observed the significant paths of influence that sexual commu- nication has on sexual and relationship satisfaction, as well as sexual and orgasm frequency. Our findings revealed greater amounts of sexual communication were associated with increased orgasm frequency in women and greater relationship and sexual satisfaction in both sexes. We also observed important differences in the associations of sexual communica- tion and general communication on satisfaction levels. With these analyses, we expand the current literature to broaden our understanding of the role that sexual communication plays in committed relationships. Sexual issues are among the most prevalent presenting issues in couples’ therapy (Peplau, 2003). Couples’ communication skills may have a large impact on sexual and relational satisfac- tion as well as other contributors to sexual satisfaction (i.e., sexual and orgasm frequency) (Litzin- ger & Gordon, 2005). Recent studies have suggested that couples may experience communication about sexuality differently than other general issues (Mark & Jozkowski, 2013; Rehman et al., 2011a). While many approaches to treating couples’ sexual issues center around sexual explo- ration, relaxation, the use of medication, or improving general communication processes (Metz & McCarthy, 2007), few studies have focused on how couples’ communication about sex impacts sexual relationships. By ignoring couples’ sexual communication, clinicians and researchers may be unintentionally overlooking a key component in improving couples’ sexual relationships and functioning. Under- standing the impact that communication has on these outcomes will help clinicians facilitate increase couple connection (Rehman et al., 2011b). In this study, we examined the ways that sexual communication, separate from general communication, impacts couples’ relationships in order to lay the groundwork for future intervention and clinical parsimony. LITERATURE REVIEW Sexual satisfaction and healthy couple communication have repeatedly been found as two of the most important predictors of relationship satisfaction (Byers, 2005; Litzinger & Gordon, 2005; Yoo, Bartle-Haring, Day, & Gangamma, 2014). While sexual satisfaction can be a complex and difficult construct to define, sexual functioning and relational dynamics are the most common con- tributors to self-reported sexual satisfaction (Pascoal, Narciso, & Pereira, 2014). Researchers and clinicians have assumed that sexual problems can be fixed through improving general communica- tion within relationships (Byers & MacNeil, 1997; Haning et al., 2007). Only recently have researchers begun to examine whether couples’ sexual communication might influence their Adam C. Jones, MS, Doctoral Student, Marriage and Family Therapy, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; W. David Robinson, PhD, Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development, Utah State University, Logan, UT; Ryan B. Seedall, PhD, Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development, Utah State University, Logan, UT. Address Correspondence to Adam C. Jones, Marriage and Family Therapy, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 79409, Lubbock, TX; E-mail: a.jonesy111@gmail.com JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY 1 Journal of Marital and Family Therapy doi: 10.1111/jmft.12282 © 2017 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy