V felt a deep sense of connection and attachment with a sexual partner in They often met for sex over a week and found a space where they could be vulnerable with a stranger. While V wanted to proceed with the connection, it was only physical for their partner, which led them to parting ways. It still hurts V when they think about this experience.
Also read: Why we need to talk to our children about sex. Sex is a complex activity involving various personal and interpersonal factors, and it can often be an overwhelming experience. With the emergence of dating apps and the commodification of pleasure, it has become easier for us to meet new people by downloading an app, sharing locations, and forming sexual relationships.
But what happens postsex can often leave us bewildered and wondering about our choices. It is especially so when we develop feelings of attachment towards our casual sex or no-strings-attached partners. In a society where sex remains taboo, and there lies discomfort in discussing these experiences, it may often make us feel alone.
Though the scale was developed based on the binary of males and females, there were significant overlaps, with "feeling connected to a partner" being a common factor on both scales.
According to the study, feeling connected with a partner is an interpersonal dimension related to a sense of closeness and emotional connection with the other and satisfaction found through physical intimacy. For women, it comes with a sense of being loved. The study suggests that these experiences can be diverse, complex, and sometimes dysphoric. What are the reasons behind these feelings of connection and attachment after sex? How can we manage it when they are not reciprocated?
