An article in popular women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan, recently revealed a startling admission from its readers: 86% of respondents reported pretending orgasm during intercourse with a partner (Kylstra, 2011). Despite its apparent frequency, there is yet to be a study conducted investigating the relationship between pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction (Ippolito, 2012). Sexual satisfaction is linked with important facets of life such as overall relationship satisfaction and general wellbeing. The present study examines the relationship between experiencing orgasm, pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction. Participants were Eastern Washington University college students recruited via an online survey website (Qualtrics), and who completed the Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory (Pinney, Gerrard & Denney, 1987) via the Sona Research Management System online. Questions regarding sexual practices, frequencies of sexual behaviors, relationship status and finally, frequency of and reasons for pretending orgasm were also included in the online survey. It was hypothesized that pretending orgasm would be negatively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction, and that experiencing orgasm would be positively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction. Results from the study supported both hypotheses. Some additional significant findings regarding relationship status and pretending orgasm as well as partner satisfaction and gender differences were also observed.
","abstract_html":"<p>An article in popular women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan, recently revealed a startling admission from its readers: 86% of respondents reported pretending orgasm during intercourse with a partner (Kylstra, 2011). Despite its apparent frequency, there is yet to be a study conducted investigating the relationship between pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction (Ippolito, 2012). Sexual satisfaction is linked with important facets of life such as overall relationship satisfaction and general wellbeing. The present study examines the relationship between experiencing orgasm, pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction. Participants were Eastern Washington University college students recruited via an online survey website (Qualtrics), and who completed the Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory (Pinney, Gerrard & Denney, 1987) via the Sona Research Management System online. Questions regarding sexual practices, frequencies of sexual behaviors, relationship status and finally, frequency of and reasons for pretending orgasm were also included in the online survey. It was hypothesized that pretending orgasm would be negatively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction, and that experiencing orgasm would be positively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction. Results from the study supported both hypotheses. Some additional significant findings regarding relationship status and pretending orgasm as well as partner satisfaction and gender differences were also observed.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Twiss, Chelsea"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS) in Psychology: Clinical","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Theresa Martin","Russell Kolts","Tracey McHenry"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:13:29Z","subjects":["Sexual satisfaction","orgasm","pretending orgasm","faking orgasm","relationships","evolutionary theory","Psychiatry and Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":["Access is available to all users"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.ewu.edu/theses/229","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Theresa Martin","Russell Kolts","Tracey McHenry"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Twiss, Chelsea"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS) in Psychology: Clinical"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Sexual satisfaction","orgasm","pretending orgasm","faking orgasm","relationships","evolutionary theory","Psychiatry and Psychology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Access is available to all users"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.ewu.edu/theses/229"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["An article in popular women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan, recently revealed a startling admission from its readers: 86% of respondents reported pretending orgasm during intercourse with a partner (Kylstra, 2011). Despite its apparent frequency, there is yet to be a study conducted investigating the relationship between pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction (Ippolito, 2012). Sexual satisfaction is linked with important facets of life such as overall relationship satisfaction and general wellbeing. The present study examines the relationship between experiencing orgasm, pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction. Participants were Eastern Washington University college students recruited via an online survey website (Qualtrics), and who completed the Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory (Pinney, Gerrard & Denney, 1987) via the Sona Research Management System online. Questions regarding sexual practices, frequencies of sexual behaviors, relationship status and finally, frequency of and reasons for pretending orgasm were also included in the online survey. It was hypothesized that pretending orgasm would be negatively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction, and that experiencing orgasm would be positively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction. Results from the study supported both hypotheses. Some additional significant findings regarding relationship status and pretending orgasm as well as partner satisfaction and gender differences were also observed.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Examining sexual satisfaction and pretending orgasm"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Theresa Martin","Russell Kolts","Tracey McHenry"],"dc:creator":["Twiss, Chelsea"],"dc:description.abstract":["An article in popular women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan, recently revealed a startling admission from its readers: 86% of respondents reported pretending orgasm during intercourse with a partner (Kylstra, 2011). Despite its apparent frequency, there is yet to be a study conducted investigating the relationship between pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction (Ippolito, 2012). Sexual satisfaction is linked with important facets of life such as overall relationship satisfaction and general wellbeing. The present study examines the relationship between experiencing orgasm, pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction. Participants were Eastern Washington University college students recruited via an online survey website (Qualtrics), and who completed the Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory (Pinney, Gerrard & Denney, 1987) via the Sona Research Management System online. Questions regarding sexual practices, frequencies of sexual behaviors, relationship status and finally, frequency of and reasons for pretending orgasm were also included in the online survey. It was hypothesized that pretending orgasm would be negatively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction, and that experiencing orgasm would be positively correlated with overall sexual satisfaction. Results from the study supported both hypotheses. Some additional significant findings regarding relationship status and pretending orgasm as well as partner satisfaction and gender differences were also observed.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dc.ewu.edu/theses/229"],"dc:rights":["Access is available to all users"],"dc:subject":["Sexual satisfaction","orgasm","pretending orgasm","faking orgasm","relationships","evolutionary theory","Psychiatry and Psychology"],"dc:title":["Examining sexual satisfaction and pretending orgasm"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS) in Psychology: Clinical"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:13:29Z"}