TY - JOUR
T1 - Does Pregnancy Play a Role? Association of Body Dissatisfaction, Body Appearance Cognitive Distraction, and Sexual Distress
AU - Pascoal, Patrícia M.
AU - Rosa, Pedro J.
AU - Coelho, Soraia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 International Society for Sexual Medicine
PY - 2019/4
Y1 - 2019/4
N2 - Introduction: Pregnancy is characterized by physical, hormonal, and psychological changes that can affect women's sexuality, and, for those who are in a dyadic relationship, it also affects the couple's sexual relationship. On the other hand, the pregnancy state can function as a protective factor for body dissatisfaction as women embrace a new phase of the life cycle when body changes, namely more body volume, are expected. Aim: To examine whether the effect of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress is mediated by cognitive distraction with the appearance of the body and to test a moderated mediation model of the impact of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress, with pregnancy used as the moderating factor. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 87 cisgender heterosexual women (50.6% pregnant; n = 44), aged between 25 and 40 years old (mean = 31.93; SD = 3.46) involved in an exclusive and committed dyadic relationship completed a web-based questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: Validated measures consisted of a validated general measure of body dissatisfaction (global body dissatisfaction scale), sexual distress (adapted from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles), and cognitive distraction based on body appearance during sexual activity (body appearance cognitive distraction scale). Results: Results indicated that body dissatisfaction and sexual distress are related, but they are fully mediated by cognitive distraction. The mediation effect of cognitive distraction did not differ significantly by pregnancy status, after controlling for the trimester of pregnancy. Clinical Implications: This study advances our understanding of sexuality during pregnancy by evaluating sexual distress and establishing that it is a clinically relevant variable related to body dissatisfaction that deserves attention from healthcare providers. Strength & Limitations: This preliminary study uses a robust method of data analysis to test a theory-based cognitive model of sexual distress in pregnant women; however, no causality can be established. Conclusion: The data highlights that pregnancy may not be a protective factor for the impact of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress. Pascoal PM, Rosa PJ, Coelho S. Does Pregnancy Play a Role? Association of Body Dissatisfaction, Body Appearance Cognitive Distraction, and Sexual Distress. J Sex Med 2019;16:551–558.
AB - Introduction: Pregnancy is characterized by physical, hormonal, and psychological changes that can affect women's sexuality, and, for those who are in a dyadic relationship, it also affects the couple's sexual relationship. On the other hand, the pregnancy state can function as a protective factor for body dissatisfaction as women embrace a new phase of the life cycle when body changes, namely more body volume, are expected. Aim: To examine whether the effect of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress is mediated by cognitive distraction with the appearance of the body and to test a moderated mediation model of the impact of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress, with pregnancy used as the moderating factor. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 87 cisgender heterosexual women (50.6% pregnant; n = 44), aged between 25 and 40 years old (mean = 31.93; SD = 3.46) involved in an exclusive and committed dyadic relationship completed a web-based questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: Validated measures consisted of a validated general measure of body dissatisfaction (global body dissatisfaction scale), sexual distress (adapted from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles), and cognitive distraction based on body appearance during sexual activity (body appearance cognitive distraction scale). Results: Results indicated that body dissatisfaction and sexual distress are related, but they are fully mediated by cognitive distraction. The mediation effect of cognitive distraction did not differ significantly by pregnancy status, after controlling for the trimester of pregnancy. Clinical Implications: This study advances our understanding of sexuality during pregnancy by evaluating sexual distress and establishing that it is a clinically relevant variable related to body dissatisfaction that deserves attention from healthcare providers. Strength & Limitations: This preliminary study uses a robust method of data analysis to test a theory-based cognitive model of sexual distress in pregnant women; however, no causality can be established. Conclusion: The data highlights that pregnancy may not be a protective factor for the impact of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress. Pascoal PM, Rosa PJ, Coelho S. Does Pregnancy Play a Role? Association of Body Dissatisfaction, Body Appearance Cognitive Distraction, and Sexual Distress. J Sex Med 2019;16:551–558.
KW - Body Dissatisfaction
KW - Cognitive Distraction
KW - Moderated Mediation
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Sexual Distress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062408053&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.01.317
DO - 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.01.317
M3 - Article
C2 - 30852110
AN - SCOPUS:85062408053
SN - 1743-6095
VL - 16
SP - 551
EP - 558
JO - Journal of Sexual Medicine
JF - Journal of Sexual Medicine
IS - 4
ER -