Abstract
Objective:
To gain insight into the relationship between sexual self-consciousness and sex drive in men and women.
Study Design:
This study was set up in a cross-sectional design, using a random survey.
Background:
Based on observations in pelvic physiotherapy practice, it seemed that there might be a link between sexual self-consciousness, the way we appraise ourselves in sexual situations, and an underlying general process of sexual functioning, sex drive.
Methods and Measures:
Of 600 randomly selected people from the general population in the Netherlands, a total of 149 men and 213 women between the ages of 18 and 76 years participated in the study. The survey used the Sexual Self-consciousness Scale with subscales of embarrassment and self-focus and the Sex Drive Scale. Analysis of variance was used to test differences in mean scores. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test the influence of sexual self-consciousness on sex drive, with age as a covariate.
Results:
Sexual self-consciousness was a significant predictor for sex drive scores. When sexual embarrassment scores increased, sex drive scores decreased in both men and women. When sexual self-focus scores increased, sex drive scores also increased in women, but not in men.
Conclusions:
The relationship between sex drive and sexual self-consciousness in men and women is negatively influenced by embarrassment. With regard to self-focus, only sex drive in women is positively affected. These findings could have implications for treatment in settings such as pelvic physiotherapy practice where sexual problems are often presented.
To gain insight into the relationship between sexual self-consciousness and sex drive in men and women.
Study Design:
This study was set up in a cross-sectional design, using a random survey.
Background:
Based on observations in pelvic physiotherapy practice, it seemed that there might be a link between sexual self-consciousness, the way we appraise ourselves in sexual situations, and an underlying general process of sexual functioning, sex drive.
Methods and Measures:
Of 600 randomly selected people from the general population in the Netherlands, a total of 149 men and 213 women between the ages of 18 and 76 years participated in the study. The survey used the Sexual Self-consciousness Scale with subscales of embarrassment and self-focus and the Sex Drive Scale. Analysis of variance was used to test differences in mean scores. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test the influence of sexual self-consciousness on sex drive, with age as a covariate.
Results:
Sexual self-consciousness was a significant predictor for sex drive scores. When sexual embarrassment scores increased, sex drive scores decreased in both men and women. When sexual self-focus scores increased, sex drive scores also increased in women, but not in men.
Conclusions:
The relationship between sex drive and sexual self-consciousness in men and women is negatively influenced by embarrassment. With regard to self-focus, only sex drive in women is positively affected. These findings could have implications for treatment in settings such as pelvic physiotherapy practice where sexual problems are often presented.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2-7 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2018 |