Are sexual problems a form of internalizing psychopathology? A structural equation modeling analysis.

Sexual dysfunctions, depression, and anxiety disorders have high rates of comorbidity. The aim of this study was to empirically evaluate an expanded model of internalizing psychopathology (Krueger, 1999) that includes sexual problems, based on these patterns of comorbidity. Responses to an online survey from a sexually active community sample (n = 563) were analyzed using structural equation modeling to compare the fit of four alternative models for males and females. An expanded model of the internalizing spectrum that included sexual problems was a good fit for the pattern of interrelationships in the female data. However, the weak relationships between the observed variables in the male data meant that none of the models provided an adequate fit for men. This study offers preliminary evidence for the utility of a model of the internalizing spectrum that includes sexual problems for women, which could facilitate a better understanding of the role of common underlying psychopathological processes between disorders and offer a first step towards effective diagnosis and treatment. Future research should focus on clinical and representative samples, using other measurement methods.