The use of sexual humor in romantic relationships: Description, valence and association with sexual satisfaction.

This article investigates the use of sexual humour within romantic relationships and its associations with relational humour, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. Based on data from 196 adults in relationships of at least four months, the study found that sexual humour—encompassing inside jokes, physical humour, innuendo, affectionate teasing, and humour to ease awkward moments—is commonly used and generally perceived positively by partners. Positive relational humour by both self and partner predicted more frequent and positively valenced sexual humour, while partner negative relational humour was linked to lower relationship and sexual satisfaction. Importantly, positive perceptions of sexual humour uniquely predicted sexual satisfaction beyond the effects of general relationship satisfaction and relational humour, suggesting sexual humour may play a distinctive role in sexual well-being. The study highlights sexual humour’s potential to facilitate comfort, connection, and communication about sensitive sexual topics, while noting limitations related to sample diversity and the correlational design.