The Relationship Between Body Image and Domains of Sexual Functioning Among Heterosexual, Emerging Adult Women
نویسندگان
چکیده
INTRODUCTION Research suggests that body image affects sexual functioning, but the relationship between specific types of body image (evaluative, affective, and behavioral) and domains of sexual functioning (desire, arousal, and orgasm) has not been investigated. AIM To determine whether, and to what degree, body image concerns (evaluative, affective, and behavioral) influence aspects of women's sexual functioning (desire, arousal, and orgasm). METHODS Eighty-eight sexually active women in heterosexual romantic relationships completed surveys assessing evaluative, affective, and behavioral body image and sexual functioning. Body composition data also were collected using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sexual functioning was assessed using the desire, arousal, and orgasm subscales of the Female Sexual Functioning Index. RESULTS Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that poor evaluative, affective, and behavioral body image were detrimental to women's sexual functioning. Specifically, dissatisfaction with one's body predicted decrements in desire (β = -0.31, P < .05) and arousal (β = -0.35, P < .01). Similarly, feeling that others evaluate one's body negatively predicted decrements in desire (β = 0.22, P < .05) and arousal (β = 0.35, P < .01). Feeling negatively about one's appearance predicted decrements in arousal (β = 0.26, P < .05). Negative thoughts and feelings about one's body during a sexual encounter (body image self-consciousness) predicted decrements in arousal (β = -0.37, P < .01) and orgasm (β = -0.25, P < .05). CONCLUSION Findings from this study suggest important linkages between body image and sexual functioning constructs and indicates that interventions to improve body image could have concomitant benefits related to sexual experience.
منابع مشابه
O-22: The Relationship between Sexual Satisfaction and Body Image in Women
Background: Sexual satisfaction is the fundamental role in success of family foundation. sexual satisfaction is the one of the most important components of life’s satisfaction. that influence on couples’ health. Although sexual function is related to sexual satisfaction but this factor cant be recognized as the only influential factor and the other factors include relational and emotional varia...
متن کاملO-14: Spouse Image of Body and Sexual Function :A Comparison of Fertile and Infertile Women
Background: One of the body image concepts is spouse image of body. It has an important role in selfesteem, relationship satisfaction and women's sexual health. That is, women with more positive spouse image of body may be more confident that their partners will continue to accept them and thus have more sexual function. This study therefore aimed to compare the relationship of spouse imag...
متن کاملOnm-4: Body Mass Index and Sexual Function and Infertility in Women: A Cross- Sectional Survey
Background Infertility as the bitterest life experience can affect sexual function. Also, infertility is a reproductive health problem. Many studies showed that agitation, stress, depression, marital dissatisfaction and sexual dysfunction are psychological outcomes resulted from infertility. There are many factors influencing the female sexual function, one of them is body mass index. The prese...
متن کاملDisordered Eating Patterns and Sexual Self-Esteem in Married Women: The Mediating Role of Body Image Concern
Introduction: The contemporary psychology is looking for numerous mediators and risk factors that may exacerbate the marital relationship with regard to the consequences of disordered eating patterns in general and sexual satisfaction in particular. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of body image concern in the relationship between disordered eating patterns and se...
متن کاملThe Relationship between Sexual Satisfaction and Genital Self-image in Infertile Women
Background & aim: In most cases, infertility can have a profound impact on sexual relationship. In such a condition, individuals often have unpleasant feelings towards their bodies, lose their self-confidence, feel depressed and frustrated, and experience decreased sexual desire. Therefore, we sought to investigate the relationship between sexual satisfaction and genital self-image among infert...
متن کامل