In the regressions, we standardize the Big Five variables to have a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. This allows a straightforward interpretation of the results. The influence of a personality trait can be interpreted in terms of a one standard deviation change in the score for this trait.

For example, a one standard deviation increase in the extraversion score is associated with a 5 percentage point higher likelihood of reporting one of the two highest categories of the 5-point scale for expressing preferences during sex

Column 1 of Table 3 shows my latest blog post the key results on own sexual satisfaction. Footnote 8 The determinants of sexual satisfaction are estimated by using the random effects ordered logit model. Footnote 9 The random effects model accounts for the cross-period correlation of individual-specific error terms. Furthermore, we cluster the standard errors at the individual level using the Huber-White sandwich estimator. All of the five personality variables take significant coefficients. Extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness are significantly positive determinants of sexual satisfaction while neuroticism is a significantly negative determinant. The results are not only statistically significant, but also quantitatively meaningful. A one standard deviation increase in the neuroticism score is associated with a 7 percentage point lower likelihood of reporting one of the three highest categories of the 11-point Likert scale for sexual satisfaction. Given that we have 43% of observations in these categories, this implies a decrease of 16%. A one standard deviation increase on the scale for conscientiousness increases the likelihood of reporting one of the three highest satisfaction categories by about 5 percentage points. Taking again into account that there are 43% of observations in these categories, this implies an increase of 12%. The marginal effects of agreeableness, openness, and extraversion are 3, 2, and 1 percentage points, respectively.

As suggested by our theoretical considerations, a person’s personality traits may not only influence his or her own sexual satisfaction, but also the partner’s sexual satisfaction. In order to examine the influence of a person’s personality on the partner’s sexual satisfaction, we use interviewees’ self-assessments and estimate the determinants of being a good sex partner and fulfilling the partner’s sexual needs and desires. Columns 2 and 3 provide the key results of the ordered logit regressions. The estimations show no significant association between agreeableness and the two indicators of the partner’s sexual satisfaction. Extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness are significantly positive determinants of being a good sex partner and fulfilling the partner’s sexual needs and desires. Neuroticism is a significantly negative determinant. These influences are also quantitatively meaningful. For example, a one standard deviation increase on the scale for conscientiousness is associated with a 6 percentage point higher likelihood of reporting one of the two highest categories of the 5-point scale for being a good sex partner. Given that we have 64% of observations in the two highest categories, this implies an increase in the likelihood by 9%.

Sexual communication

In order to examine possible transmission channels, we now turn to the link between personality traits and sexual communication. Table 4 presents the key results of ordered logit regressions on the determinants of expressing preferences during sex and expressing sexual needs and desires in general. Extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness are positive determinants of the two indicators of sexual communication whereas agreeableness and neuroticism are negative determinants. Again, the influences are not only statistically significant, but also quantitatively meaningful. Given that we have 73% of observations in the two highest categories, this implies an increase in the likelihood by 7%.