The Influence of Personality and Coping on Female Sexual Function: A Population Survey

Abstract

Introduction Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common disorder with limited data investigating relationships with psychological influences, such as personality traits and coping mechanisms. Aim To investigate the relationship and impact of personality traits and coping strategies on female sexual function. Methods A web-based survey was distributed to a sample of women representative of the area’s demographic distribution. Main Outcome Measures Participants completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Ten Item Personality Index (TIPI), and the Brief COPE. Results Five hundred twenty-six females responded. The mean total FSFI score was 24.56 (SD 6.77) with lowest scores in the desire domain. Personality scores were similar to published normative values. Subjects displaying stronger tendencies for introversion (r = 0.246, P < 0.001), not being open to new experiences (r = 0.159, P = 0.008), and emotional instability (r = 0.244, P < 0.001) were found to have significantly worse sexual function. Conscientiousness was significantly associated with better desire, orgasm, satisfaction, and total FSFI score (P = 0.029, P = 0.002, P = 0.005, P = 0.003). Moreover, the utilization of negative coping strategies such as self-blame, self-distraction, and behavioral disengagement, significantly correlated with poor sexual function (r = −0.298, P < 0.001, r = −0.360, P < 0.001, r = −0.398, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Personality and coping are linked to sexual function with introversion, not being open to new experiences, emotional instability, and the utilization of negative coping strategies being significantly associated with poor sexual function. Women presenting with sexual function complaints may need further evaluation of their personality and coping strategies in order to mitigate any negative impact of these tendencies.

Extraversion and Neuroticism in Sexually Dysfunctional Men Suffering from Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Studies have found that higher levels of Neuroticism and lower levels of openness relate to poorer sexual functioning in men and women [6,8,54,55]. Such results are more consistent with Kurpisz and collaborators and with Allen et al that suggest a role of high Neuroticism and Low Extraversion in erectile difficulties [53,50].…”

“…In North American and European samples, higher levels of Neuroticism, and lower levels of Extraversion and openness, have been found to relate to poorer sexual functioning [6,50,54,55].…”

Pilates for Better Sex: Changes in Sexual Functioning in Healthy Turkish Women After Pilates Exercise

“…In particular, extraversion, openness to new experiences, emotional stability, and utilization of positive coping mechanisms were associated with better sexual function (Crisp et al, 2014). Moreover, in a very recent study, it was concluded that changes in female sexual response are closely tied to day-to-day fluctuations in happiness, enthusiasm, calmness, and fear.…”

Temperament and character dimensions, marital adjustment, and sexual satisfaction in couples with sexual dysfunction (eng)

“…It can be said that in couples with SD, women partners have significantly higher cautious, shyness, skepticism, and pessimism, but lower responsibility, purposefulness, skillfulness, and self-esteem. In literature, certain personality traits in women are seen as risk factors to develop SD (21,46). Different results are encountered in very few studies made with TCI.…”

“…In studies conducted in clinical sampling with Five-Factor Model, it is found out that a relationship is found in women between sexual problems and higher neuroticism and lower extraversion (19), while neuroticism is the best distinguishing factor between men with and without SD (20). In studies conducted in nonclinical sampling, neuroticism and extraversion were found to be the variables best predicting the attitude to sexuality (14), and the variables of introversion, not being open to new experiences, emotional instability and neuroticism in women, and the variable of neuroticism in men were regarded to be risk factors for developing SD (21,22). These studies showed that sexual arousal and orgasm difficulties in women are strongly related to higher neuroticism and lower extraversion and orgasmic infrequency is strongly related to introversion, emotional instability and not being open to new experiences.…”