The relation between sociosexual orientation, muscle performance and disgust sensitivity. A preliminary correlational study.

BACKGROUND: Sociosexual orientation (SO), muscle performance (MP), and disgust sensitivity (DS) play a crucial role in sexual life. Previous research reported a relationship between SO and muscle strength, but the association across these variables has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between SO, MP, and DS.

METHODS: Seventy-two subjects (age: 49.7 ± 13.7 years, 38 F) participated in the study. The SO, MP and DS were evaluated using a Sexual Attitude Scale (SAS), a revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), a body composition analysis, handgrip test (HG), a Standing Long jump test (SLJ), a Body Odor Disgust Scale (BODS) and Three Domains of Disgust scale (TDDS).

RESULTS: A strong evidence in favor of a positive association between SO and MP (r = .52, BF10 = 29), an inconclusive evidence for a negative correlation between SO and DS (r = -.37, BF10 = 2) and a moderate evidence in favor of the absence of a relationship between MP and DS (r = .001, BF01 = 5) was found using a Bayesian hypothesis testing approach (Bayes Factor).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher MP is associated with a greater tendency to have occasional relationships and multiple sexual partners, in both genders. MP-related self-esteem and perceived vulnerability may be involved in mating behaviors. We speculate that the sexual hormones might mediate the relationship among these variables. Future studies are warranted to explore this hypothesis.