Emotions During Sexual Activity: Differences Between Sexually Functional and Dysfunctional Men and Women

Abstract

The present study investigated the differences in emotional response to automatic thoughts presented during sexual activity between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women. A total of 376 participants (160 women and 120 men without sexual problems and 47 women and 49 men with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of sexual dysfunction) completed the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ male and female versions; P. J. Nobre & J. Pinto-Gouveia, 2000) and measures of sexual functioning: The International Index of Sexual Function (IIEF; R. C. Rosen et al., 1997), and The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; R. C. Rosen et al., 2000). The SMQ is a combined measure constituted by three interdependent subscales: Automatic Thought subscale (AT), Emotional Response subscale (ER), and Sexual Response subscale (SR). Emotions were assessed by the ER subscale, where participants endorsed emotional reactions (worry, sadness, disillusion, fear, guilt, shame, anger, hurt, pleasure, satisfaction) to a list of automatic thoughts (AT subscale) that may occur during sexual activity. Results showed that both men and women with sexual dysfunction had significantly less positive emotional reactions to automatic thoughts during sexual activity. Sexually dysfunctional men had significantly more emotions of sadness, disillusion, and fear, and less pleasure and satisfaction, compared to men without sexual problems. Women with sexual dysfunction had significantly less pleasure and satisfaction, and more sadness, disillusion, guilt, and anger. Findings were congruent with recent studies indicating that emotions related to depressed affect (sadness, disillusion, lack of pleasure) as opposed to negative emotions (mostly related to anxiety) were stronger correlates of sexual dysfunction.

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

“…Additionally, women with sexual dysfunction tend to present significantly more sexual abuse thoughts, failure/disengagement thoughts, and lack of erotic thoughts relative to their functional counterparts. Regarding emotional response during sex, Nobre and Pinto-Gouveia (2006c) have corroborated most studies on the role of emotions during sexual activity, indicating that affective states closely related to depressive mood (sadness, disillusion, guilt, lack of pleasure, and satisfaction) were strongly associated with sexual dysfunction in men and women, whereas emotions typical of anxiety states (worry, fear) appeared to be relatively independent from sexual functioning.…”

20201218

“…Sexual anxiety has long been thought to play an important role in the sexual dysfunction of both men and women (Aluja, 2004;Beggs, Calhoun, & Wolchik, 1987;Hensel, Fortenberry, O'Sullivan, & Orr, 2011), and at extreme levels can become a clinically disordered experience leading to sexual dysfunction and requiring therapeutic attention (e.g., Everaerd & Dekker, 1982;Mccabe, 1992;Munjack, 1984;Nemetz, Craig, & Reith, 1978;White, Fichtenbaum, & Dollard, 1967). Sexual guilt has been implicated in decreased sexual drive and satisfaction and increased sexual dysfunction (Cado & Leitenberg, 1990;Darling, Davidson, & Passarello, 1992;Galbraith, 1969;Merrell, 2009;Morokoff, 1985;Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2006;Woo, Brotto, & Gorzalka, 2011), and less sexual behavior including sexual intercourse (Love, Sloan, & Schmidt, 1976). Considering lower sexual frequency has been found to be related to higher rates of divorce (Yabiku & Gager, 2009) the presence of sexual guilt could create marriage instability.…”

Cognitive Schema Factors in Opioid Substance Abuser Men with Sexual Dysfunction

“…18,24,25 Findings suggest the existence of specific cognitive schemas underlying sexual dysfunction and raise the question whether a more general cognitive organization could be proposed as a core vulnerability factor for sexual problems.…”

“…23 In an attempt to extend Beck's 15 theory to sexual dysfunctions, 20 Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia have shown that men with sexual dysfunction endorsed more negative and personal meanings (incompetence schemas) than sexually healthy controls, when confronted with potential unsuccessful sexual conditions. NobrePintoGouveia 24 proposed that dysfunctional beliefs act as predisposing factors for the activation of negative cognitive schemas in specific negative sexual situations (e.g. a sporadic failure in erection).…”

“…20 A negative cycle could be established by the continuous interplay between negative thoughts and emotions, preventing the cognitive processing of erotic stimuli, and maintaining individual's poor sexual functioning. 18,24,25 Findings suggest the existence of specific cognitive schemas underlying sexual dysfunction and raise the question whether a more general cognitive organization could be proposed as a core vulnerability factor for sexual problems.…”