Jessica S Tutino1, Allison J Ouimet2, Krystelle Shaughnessy1. 1. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON, Canada. 2. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON, Canada. Electronic address: Allison.Ouimet@uOttawa.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent research findings suggest that women who report high anxiety sensitivity (AS; the fear of physiologic sensations associated with anxiety) also report increased sexual dysfunction and decreased sexual satisfaction. Moreover, findings suggest that maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) can contribute to the relation between AS and psychological distress, thereby indirectly influencing sexual outcomes. Identifying relations among these variables and how they specifically relate to sexual outcomes could be vital for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. As such, a comparison of different models of sexual outcomes that encompass psychological and sexual risk factors is needed. AIM: To compare four psychological models of women's sexual outcomes in a cross-sectional sample and specifically to investigate whether psychological factors (ie, AS, ER, psychological distress) uniquely or jointly predict related, but distinct, sexual outcomes in women: sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of sexual activity. METHODS: Women (N = 316) completed an online survey that included the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Sexual Quality of Life Scale-Female, Female Sexual Function Index, and Sexual Experiences Questionnaire-Female. OUTCOMES: Outcome variables included women's self-reported sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of sexual activity. RESULTS: Path analysis models demonstrated that psychological factors predicted orgasm, sexual pain, sexual quality of life, and frequency of partnered sexual activity in women but predicted sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, and frequency of solitary sexual activity to a lesser degree. We found that ER significantly accounted for the relation between AS and psychological distress through mediation and moderation pathways. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: Clinicians would benefit from incorporating psychological risk factors in their assessment and interventions of women's sexual concerns. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This is the first study to compare models of women's sexual lives using indicators of mental and sexual health. However, our study was limited to a cross-sectional sample of young women in one university setting. CONCLUSIONS: AS, ER, and psychological distress are related to sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of partnered sexual activity in young women. Psychological risk factors should be taken into consideration to better understand women's sexual lives. Tutino JS, Ouimet AJ, Shaughnessy K. How Do Psychological Risk Factors Predict Sexual Outcomes? A Comparison of Four Models of Young Women's Sexual Outcomes. J Sex Med 2017;14:1232-1240.
BACKGROUND: Recent research findings suggest that women who report high anxiety sensitivity (AS; the fear of physiologic sensations associated with anxiety) also report increased sexual dysfunction and decreased sexual satisfaction. Moreover, findings suggest that maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) can contribute to the relation between AS and psychological distress, thereby indirectly influencing sexual outcomes. Identifying relations among these variables and how they specifically relate to sexual outcomes could be vital for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. As such, a comparison of different models of sexual outcomes that encompass psychological and sexual risk factors is needed. AIM: To compare four psychological models of women's sexual outcomes in a cross-sectional sample and specifically to investigate whether psychological factors (ie, AS, ER, psychological distress) uniquely or jointly predict related, but distinct, sexual outcomes in women: sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of sexual activity. METHODS:Women (N = 316) completed an online survey that included the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Sexual Quality of Life Scale-Female, Female Sexual Function Index, and Sexual Experiences Questionnaire-Female. OUTCOMES: Outcome variables included women's self-reported sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of sexual activity. RESULTS: Path analysis models demonstrated that psychological factors predicted orgasm, sexual pain, sexual quality of life, and frequency of partnered sexual activity in women but predicted sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, and frequency of solitary sexual activity to a lesser degree. We found that ER significantly accounted for the relation between AS and psychological distress through mediation and moderation pathways. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: Clinicians would benefit from incorporating psychological risk factors in their assessment and interventions of women's sexual concerns. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This is the first study to compare models of women's sexual lives using indicators of mental and sexual health. However, our study was limited to a cross-sectional sample of young women in one university setting. CONCLUSIONS:AS, ER, and psychological distress are related to sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of partnered sexual activity in young women. Psychological risk factors should be taken into consideration to better understand women's sexual lives. Tutino JS, Ouimet AJ, Shaughnessy K. How Do Psychological Risk Factors Predict Sexual Outcomes? A Comparison of Four Models of Young Women's Sexual Outcomes. J Sex Med 2017;14:1232-1240.
Authors: Franklin Soler; Reina Granados; Ana I Arcos-Romero; Cristóbal Calvillo; Ana Álvarez-Muelas; María Del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes; Nieves Moyano; Juan Carlos Sierra Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-30 Impact factor: 3.390