Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between sexual functioning, psychological wellbeing and body image in a gender dependent manner. Methods: We recruited a sample of 201 university students (males: n¼102; females: n¼99) and we administered them the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB) and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Results: A first comparison of means revealed that females show more pathological scores in body image and sexual functioning compared to males (Figure 1). Regression analysis revealed that in males, personal growth and environmental mastery of PWB has a protective role against sexual problems (b¼-305; p¼.04 and b¼-431; p¼.005, respectively). Autonomy of PWB protects from sexual dissatisfaction (b¼-238; p¼.046) and self-acceptance contrasts the non-sensuality (b¼-475; p¼.01). Interestingly, depersonalization scale of BUT is negatively related to impotence scale of GRISS (b¼-368; p¼.03). In females, we found a predictive role of avoidance scale of BUT on total score and infrequence scales of GRISS (b¼271; p¼.006 and b¼266; p¼.02, respectively), while self-acceptance of PWB is protective on total score of GRISS(b¼-.587; p¼.0001). Instead GSI of BUT predicts sexual problems as assessed with total score of GRISS (b¼3.521; p¼.002). Interestingly, weight phobia of BUT protects from sexual dissatisfaction (b¼-.727; p¼.02) and self-acceptance of PWB also protects from sexual avoidance (b¼-.571; p¼.003). Environmental mastery protects by vaginismus (b¼-.352; p¼.001) and anorgasmia (b¼-.331; p¼.03), while purpose in life predicts vaginismus (b¼-.339; p¼.03). Conclusion: In our sample the young women showed major problems in terms of sexual functioning and body image compared to males. Moreover, in males, sexual health mainly depends from psychological wellbeing. Instead, in women several phases of sexual response are affected by a negative body image and a general negative self-esteem. These results highlights gender differences with many clinical implications for the sexual therapies.
THE INFLUENCE OF BODY IMAGE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING ON SEXUAL FUNCTIONING ASSESSED ACCORDING TO A GENDER PERSPECTIVE
CIOCCA, G.;PALMIERO, M.;PICCARDI, L.;LIMONCIN, E.;
2019-01-01
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between sexual functioning, psychological wellbeing and body image in a gender dependent manner. Methods: We recruited a sample of 201 university students (males: n¼102; females: n¼99) and we administered them the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB) and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Results: A first comparison of means revealed that females show more pathological scores in body image and sexual functioning compared to males (Figure 1). Regression analysis revealed that in males, personal growth and environmental mastery of PWB has a protective role against sexual problems (b¼-305; p¼.04 and b¼-431; p¼.005, respectively). Autonomy of PWB protects from sexual dissatisfaction (b¼-238; p¼.046) and self-acceptance contrasts the non-sensuality (b¼-475; p¼.01). Interestingly, depersonalization scale of BUT is negatively related to impotence scale of GRISS (b¼-368; p¼.03). In females, we found a predictive role of avoidance scale of BUT on total score and infrequence scales of GRISS (b¼271; p¼.006 and b¼266; p¼.02, respectively), while self-acceptance of PWB is protective on total score of GRISS(b¼-.587; p¼.0001). Instead GSI of BUT predicts sexual problems as assessed with total score of GRISS (b¼3.521; p¼.002). Interestingly, weight phobia of BUT protects from sexual dissatisfaction (b¼-.727; p¼.02) and self-acceptance of PWB also protects from sexual avoidance (b¼-.571; p¼.003). Environmental mastery protects by vaginismus (b¼-.352; p¼.001) and anorgasmia (b¼-.331; p¼.03), while purpose in life predicts vaginismus (b¼-.339; p¼.03). Conclusion: In our sample the young women showed major problems in terms of sexual functioning and body image compared to males. Moreover, in males, sexual health mainly depends from psychological wellbeing. Instead, in women several phases of sexual response are affected by a negative body image and a general negative self-esteem. These results highlights gender differences with many clinical implications for the sexual therapies.Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
