TY - JOUR
T1 - Beliefs About Appearance, Cognitive Distraction and Sexual Functioning in Men and Women
T2 - A Mediation Model Based on Cognitive Theory
AU - Silva, Elizabet
AU - Pascoal, Patrícia M.
AU - Nobre, Pedro
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 International Society for Sexual Medicine
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - Introduction Dysfunctional beliefs about body appearance and cognitive distraction from body appearance during sexual activity have been associated with sexual problems, particularly in women. However, there are no studies examining the interplay between these dimensions and the mechanisms by which they affect sexual functioning. Aim To examine the mediating role of cognitive distraction with body appearance on the relation between beliefs about appearance and sexual functioning. Methods The study sample consisted of 426 heterosexual participants (129 men and 297 women) involved in an exclusive dyadic committed relationship who answered an online questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures The Body Appearance Cognitive Distraction Scale, the Beliefs About Appearance Scale, the International Index of Erectile Function, and the Female Sexual Function Index. Results The findings indicated that cognitive distraction with body appearance fully mediated the relation between beliefs about appearance and sexual functioning in men and women. Conclusion The results support the role of beliefs about appearance and cognitive distraction based on body appearance in predicting sexual functioning, reaffirming the role of cognitive models in explaining sexual functioning in men and women.
AB - Introduction Dysfunctional beliefs about body appearance and cognitive distraction from body appearance during sexual activity have been associated with sexual problems, particularly in women. However, there are no studies examining the interplay between these dimensions and the mechanisms by which they affect sexual functioning. Aim To examine the mediating role of cognitive distraction with body appearance on the relation between beliefs about appearance and sexual functioning. Methods The study sample consisted of 426 heterosexual participants (129 men and 297 women) involved in an exclusive dyadic committed relationship who answered an online questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures The Body Appearance Cognitive Distraction Scale, the Beliefs About Appearance Scale, the International Index of Erectile Function, and the Female Sexual Function Index. Results The findings indicated that cognitive distraction with body appearance fully mediated the relation between beliefs about appearance and sexual functioning in men and women. Conclusion The results support the role of beliefs about appearance and cognitive distraction based on body appearance in predicting sexual functioning, reaffirming the role of cognitive models in explaining sexual functioning in men and women.
KW - Body Image Beliefs
KW - Cognitive Distraction Based on Body Appearance
KW - Mediation
KW - Sexual Functioning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84995390350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.06.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.06.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 27444158
AN - SCOPUS:84995390350
SN - 1743-6095
VL - 13
SP - 1387
EP - 1394
JO - Journal of Sexual Medicine
JF - Journal of Sexual Medicine
IS - 9
ER -