Turning On and Turning Off: A Focus Group Study of the Factors That Affect Women's Sexual Arousal

Abstract

The aim of this study was to inform the development of a questionnaire to assess a woman's tendency to respond with sexual excitation/inhibition in different situations. Nine focus groups, involving 80 women (M age = 34.3 years; range, 18-84), were conducted. Women described a wide range of physical (genital and nongenital), cognitive/emotional, and behavioral cues to arousal. The relationship between sexual interest (desire) and sexual arousal was complex; sexual interest was reported as sometimes preceding arousal, but at other times following it. Many women did not clearly differentiate between arousal and interest. Qualitative data on the factors that women perceived as "enhancers" and "inhibitors" of sexual arousal are presented, with a focus on the following themes: feelings about one's body; concern about reputation; unwanted pregnancy/contraception; feeling desired versus feeling used by a partner; feeling accepted by a partner; style of approach/initiation; and negative mood. The findings can help inform conceptualizations of sexual arousal in women.

Validation of the Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men

“…The items were related to the eight categories identified in the previous focus group study (Graham et al, 2004): self (e.g., mood, body image, general health, concern regarding reputation); partner (e.g., physical appearance, personality); relationship dynamics/interaction (e.g., relationship quality); elements of the sexual interaction (e.g., timing, communication); setting (e.g., romantic, novel); sexual or erotic stimuli (e.g., fantasy, visual images); sexual and reproductive health (e.g., contraception, STDs); and alcohol/drug use. Two items were added to create versions of questions that would be appropriate for men.…”

“…In recent years, however, others have conceptualized arousal as the outcome of physiological, psychological, and behavioral processes (Janssen, Everaerd, Spiering, & Janssen, 2000) and developed models to describe the processes that lead to sexual arousal in men and women (Bancroft, 1999;Bancroft & Janssen, 2000;Graham, Sanders, Milhausen, & McBride, 2004). For example, the dual control model of sexual response suggests that sexual arousal depends upon the relative activation of sexual excitation (SE) and sexual inhibition (SI), separate and independent systems (Bancroft, 1999;Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).…”

“…Secondly, it is also possible that different inhibitory mechanisms may be evident in women. Specifically, inhibitory patterns may be better developed in women (Bjorklund & Kipp, 1996), women may be less variable in their tendency for inhibition than men (Bancroft, 1999), and inhibition may occur earlier on in a sexual interaction among women than among men (Graham et al, 2004;Tolman, 2001).…”

“…In response to these potential limitations of the SIS/SES measure for use with women, Graham, Sanders, and Milhausen (2006) developed a questionnaire grounded in women's experiences of factors affecting their sexual arousal, with items derived from a focus group study 5 (Graham et al, 2004). Items reflected the wide range of factors which women indicated could impact their arousal at any given time, including: level of self-confidence; body image; mood or emotional state; physical condition (e.g., energy level, illness); partner characteristics (e.g., attractiveness, personality, intellect, and talent); relationship dynamics; elements of the sexual interaction (e.g., partner skill, setting); sexual or erotic stimuli; hormones; fertility, contraception and STD concerns; and alcohol and drug use.…”

“…A recent focus group study on factors or 6 situations that facilitate or interfere with men's sexual arousal supports this (Janssen, McBride, Yarber, Hill, & Butler, 2008). Following the focus group methodology used in the Graham et al (2004) study, Janssen et al asked 50, primarily heterosexual, men ranging in age from 18 to 70 years to describe factors that inhibit or enhance their sexual arousal. As found in women, men reported that feeling good about themselves and feeling desired by their partner facilitated their arousal.…”