The human sexuality is quite complex and the interference of different affective states can be wide-ranging. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of emotional factors on sexual function/dysfunction, specifically the way in which trait affect interacts and influence women’s sexual functioning, along with general psychopathology.
A total of 242 women participated in the study (a control sample of 188 women without sexual problems, a sub-clinical sample of 37 women and a clinical sample of 17 women). Participants answered to the PANASX (Watson & Clark, 1994), BSI (Derogatis, 1982), BDI (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961) and FSFI (Rosen et al., 2000).
Findings indicated that women with sexual problems (clinical and sub- clinical groups) presented significantly higher levels of positive trait affect (p < .001), lower levels of negative trait affect (p < . 01) and higher levels of psychopathology [somatization (p < .01), depression (p < .001), anxiety (p < .05), obsessive-compulsive (p < .01)].
Results supported the important role played by emotional factors on women´s sexual functioning, suggesting that trait-affect may act as a vulnerability factor for sexual dysfunction. Women with poor sexual functioning present a significant lack of positive trait affect, higher levels of negative trait affect and psychopathology. They also draw attention to the need of evaluating these dimensions and to include in treatment protocols strategies aimed at its modification.
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: None disclosed
Paper recorded at the 19th WAS World Congress for Sexual Health - Sexual Health & Rights: A Global Challenge Göteborg (Sweden) - June 21 – 25, 2009
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