Cognitions, Emotions, and Sexual Response: Analysis of the Relationship among Automatic Thoughts, Emotional Responses, and Sexual Arousal

Abstract

The relationship between automatic thoughts and emotions presented during sexual activity and their correlation with sexual arousal was investigated. A total of 491 individuals (163 women and 232 men without sexual problems and 47 women and 49 men with a DSM-IV diagnosis of sexual dysfunction) completed the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ; Nobre and Pinto-Gouveia, Journal of Sex Research, 40, 368-382, 2003). Results indicated several significant correlations among automatic thoughts, emotions, and sexual arousal. Erection concern thoughts in the men and failure/disengagement thoughts and lack of erotic thoughts in the women presented the most significant negative correlations with sexual arousal. Additionally, sadness and disillusion were positively related to these negative cognitions and negatively associated with sexual arousal in both sexes. On the other hand, pleasure and satisfaction were negatively associated with the above-mentioned negative cognitions and positively associated with subjective sexual arousal in both men and women. Overall, findings support the hypothesis that cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions are closely linked and suggest a mode typical of sexual dysfunction composed of negative automatic thoughts, depressive affect, and low subjective sexual arousal.

Non-Erotic Thoughts, Attentional Focus, and Sexual Problems in a Community Sample

“…Therefore, not only is the ability to dismiss distracting thoughts important in predicting sexual problems, but the ability to then refocus attention on erotic cues during sexual activity appears to be an important factor in the development and persistence of sexual difficulties. In a similar vein, Purdon and Watson (2010) found that refocusing on the erotic aspects of the situation was a more effective strategy for managing NETs than attempting to suppress them, and Nobre and Pinto-Gouveia (2008a) found that more erotic thoughts predicted better subjective sexual arousal. These results also supports cognitivebehavioral and mindfulness-based interventions for sexual problems that attempt to alter one's negative response to distracting NETs and facilitate attentional focus on sexual cues during sexual activity (e.g., Brotto, Basson & Luria, 2008).…”

“…Given that the measure for women contained different thought categories and items than for men, a comparison between genders on thought content was not possible. Nevertheless, women and men who met DSM-IV criteria for a sexual dysfunction reported more negative distracting thoughts on the SMQ during sexual activity than did those without sexual dysfunction (Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2008b) and more frequent thoughts were associated with greater negative affect (Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2006, 2008a. Purdon and Holdaway (2006) and Purdon and Watson (2010) noted that, to date, no studies had simply examined the content of self-reported thoughts during sexual activity with a partner.…”

“…It is possible that those in a community sample in long-term relationships may report a different range of thought content given that the context of a committed relationship has been reported to be important in determining the factors that enhanced or inhibited subjective sexual arousal in women (Graham, Sanders, Milhausen, & McBride, 2004) and men (Janssen, McBride, Yarber, Hill, & Butler, 2008). Furthermore, only one study to date has directly examined the relationships among NETs, mood state, and sexual problems during sexual activity (Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2008a), and given the limitations of their NET measure noted above, this approach may not reflect the full range of NETs that have the potential to interfere with sexual functioning in women and men.…”

Non-Erotic Thoughts and Sexual Functioning

“…In men, thoughts about performance, the anticipation of failure, negative attitudes towards sexuality, and the impact of age on sexual functioning were predicted to be associated with poorer sexual functioning. Women and men who met DSM-IV criteria for a sexual dysfunction indeed reported more negative distracting thoughts during sexual activity than did those without sexual dysfunction (Nobre & PintoGouveia, 2008b) and more frequent thoughts were associated with greater negative affect (Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2006, 2008a.…”

Male Infertility and Its Impact on Women’s Sexual Behaviors: Need Attention to Psychological Problem as A Psychological Rehabilitation

“…The relationship of sexual behaviors and dysfunction with sexual beliefs has been studied. Many research works have showed the relationship between infertility and the sense of ineffectiveness, sexual inactivity and marital incompatibility, and negative self-beliefs or sexual dysfunction beliefs [15][16][17][18][19].…”