Emotion Regulation and Sexual Motivation Associated with Faking Orgasm Among Hungarian Women

Meskó, Norbert and Csányi, Edit and Inhóf, Orsolya and Zsidó, András N. (2025) Emotion Regulation and Sexual Motivation Associated with Faking Orgasm Among Hungarian Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH. ISSN Print 1931-7611 Online 1931-762X (Submitted)

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Abstract

Faking an orgasm is a common yet psychologically multifaced phenomenon in women’s sexual lives, with implications for emotional well-being and relational dynamics. This study investigated the psychological correlates of faking orgasm, focusing on emotion regulation difficulties and sexual motivations. A sample of 425 Hungarian women completed self-report measures assessing emotion regulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale), sexual motivation (Hungarian Short Form of the Reasons for Having Sex Questionnaire), and motives for faking orgasm (Faking Orgasm Scale). Network analysis and multiple linear regressions revealed that faking orgasm was significantly associated with non-acceptance of emotions, impulse control problems, and lack of emotional clarity. In addition, specific sexual motivations—such as partner reassurance, emotional coping, and conflict avoidance—emerged as strong predictors. Notably, these associations were more pronounced in the context of vaginal intercourse than oral sex, suggesting context-specific motivational and emotional dynamics. Central variables across models included coping-related sexual motivation and core deficits in affect regulation. These findings highlight the role of faking orgasm as a strategic behavior shaped by both individual emotional difficulties and relational motives. The results have implications for clinical interventions by emphasizing the importance of fostering emotional awareness, enhancing sexual communication, and addressing relational expectations in therapeutic work with women and couples. Future research should further explore real-time emotional processes and sociocultural factors influencing orgasm-faking behavior.

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