ORIGINAL PAPER
The effect of PERMA well-being on sexual satisfaction: empirical evidence from Mexico
1
Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Guaymas, Mexico
Submission date: 2025-06-10
Final revision date: 2026-01-29
Acceptance date: 2026-03-05
Online publication date: 2026-04-30
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Most research on the relationship between well-being and sexual satisfaction has focused on hedonic or eudaimonic well-being. In contrast, the PERMA model integrates both axes of this phenomenon. In addition, Latin American samples are underrepresented in sexuality research. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the direct relation between PERMA well-being and subjective sexual satisfaction in a Mexican sample.
Participants and procedure:
This research was a quantitative, non-experimental cross-sectional study and included 237 people from a northwest state in Mexico. The scales implemented were Subjective Sexual Satisfaction and PERMA-Profiler. The database was downloaded and adapted for analysis through SPSS and AMOS. Five analyses were performed: a) confirmatory factor analysis, b) Cronbach’s alpha, c) descriptive and data distribution statistics, d) correlation matrix, and e) structural equation model.
Results:
According to the correlation matrix, subjective sexual satisfaction presents significant associations with PERMA well-being (.21, p < .01). In addition, the structural equation model (SEM) indicated that PERMA well-being presents a positive and direct relation with sexual satisfaction (.31, p < .01).
Conclusions:
As expected, well-being was directly associated with sexual satisfaction, suggesting that higher perceived well-being may contribute to increased sexual satisfaction. These results provide evidence of the close relationship between these two constructs.
Most research on the relationship between well-being and sexual satisfaction has focused on hedonic or eudaimonic well-being. In contrast, the PERMA model integrates both axes of this phenomenon. In addition, Latin American samples are underrepresented in sexuality research. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the direct relation between PERMA well-being and subjective sexual satisfaction in a Mexican sample.
Participants and procedure:
This research was a quantitative, non-experimental cross-sectional study and included 237 people from a northwest state in Mexico. The scales implemented were Subjective Sexual Satisfaction and PERMA-Profiler. The database was downloaded and adapted for analysis through SPSS and AMOS. Five analyses were performed: a) confirmatory factor analysis, b) Cronbach’s alpha, c) descriptive and data distribution statistics, d) correlation matrix, and e) structural equation model.
Results:
According to the correlation matrix, subjective sexual satisfaction presents significant associations with PERMA well-being (.21, p < .01). In addition, the structural equation model (SEM) indicated that PERMA well-being presents a positive and direct relation with sexual satisfaction (.31, p < .01).
Conclusions:
As expected, well-being was directly associated with sexual satisfaction, suggesting that higher perceived well-being may contribute to increased sexual satisfaction. These results provide evidence of the close relationship between these two constructs.
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