An Erotic Skylight: Sexual Fantasies in the Portuguese Youth Under the Reflection of Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

Envisioning sexual fantasies as any image or mental settingthat is sexually exciting or erotic for the individual, the present work aims to study the nature of the relationship between sexual fantasies and gender, sexual orientation, and some of the different dimensions of psychological well-being, such as life satisfaction and satisfaction with sex life. The present study was developed through a sample of 569 participants, aged between 18 and 29 years old, obtained by completing a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Wilson’s Sexual Fantasies Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Satisfaction with Sex Life Scale. The findings revealed that, although there are no statistically significant gender differences concerning the sex drive, there were differences in Exploratory content, favoring the male gender, and BDSM, emphasized by the female gender in comparison. The occurrence of cross-orientation fantasies was also verified, proving to be significant for the heterosexual group for the item “Being much sought after by the same-sex” with women reporting more frequently than men. There was also a significant mediation between Satisfaction with Life and Intimate Fantasies, through Satisfaction with Sex Life. These results reinforce the breadth that sexual fantasies have, both in areas closer to sexual expression (e.g., gender, sexual orientation) and in more peripheral areas (e.g., psychological well-being), proving that sexual fantasies – and their capacity for arousal – relate to one’s psychological well-being.