The Impacts of Alexithymia and Sexual Distress on Sexual Functioning Among Portuguese Women

IF 0.6 Q4 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

European Journal of Mental Health Pub Date : 2023-01-01 DOI:10.5708/ejmh.18.2023.0002

Celina Ribeiro, H. Pereira

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Recognizing own’s emotions seems to have an important role regarding not only our overall well-being, but also our sexual functioning. Aims: The aim of this study is to analyze the association or impact of alexithymia on female sexual functioning. Methods: 459 Portuguese women, with a mean age of 34.57 years (SD = 10.27), ranging from 18 to 65 years, completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Female Sexual Distress Scale – Revised (FSDS-R) and, additionally, completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), indicating if and when a sexual relationship occurred in the last month. Results: The results showed that higher levels of alexithymia were associated with worse sexual functioning and higher levels of sexual distress. Higher levels of sexual distress were associated with worse sexual functioning. It was possible to establish a significant linear regression model between dimensions of alexithymia (difficulties in identifying feelings and difficulties in describing feelings) and sexual distress in sexual functioning; the variables together explained about 45.2% of sexual functioning in these women. Conclusions: The results emphasize the relevance of alexithymia’s dimensions in sexual functioning concerning women with or without sexual dysfunction, since they present themselves as significant predictors. Professionals working in women’s sexual health should take this into account for more effective assessment and intervention in matters concerning sexual health.

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述情障碍和性痛苦对葡萄牙妇女性功能的影响

认识到自己的情绪似乎不仅对我们的整体健康有重要作用，而且对我们的性功能也有重要作用。目的:本研究的目的是分析述情障碍与女性性功能的关联或影响。方法:459名年龄在18 - 65岁之间的葡萄牙女性，平均年龄34.57岁(SD = 10.27)，完成多伦多述情障碍量表(TAS-20)、女性性困扰量表-修订(FSDS-R)，并完成女性性功能指数(FSFI)，显示最近一个月是否发生过性关系以及何时发生过性关系。结果:述情障碍水平越高，性功能越差，性困扰水平越高。性困扰程度越高，性功能越差。在述情障碍(识别情感困难和描述情感困难)维度与性功能中的性困扰维度之间可以建立显著的线性回归模型;这些变量加在一起解释了这些女性45.2%的性功能。结论:研究结果强调述情障碍的维度与性功能的相关性，涉及有或无性功能障碍的女性，因为它们是重要的预测因素。从事妇女性健康工作的专业人员应考虑到这一点，以便更有效地评估和干预与性健康有关的事项。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Mental Health PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

0.70

自引率

14.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Mental Health, an open-access, peer reviewed, interdisciplinary, professional journal concerned with mental health, personal well-being and its supporting ecosystems that acknowledge the importance of people’s interactions with their environments, established in 2006, is published on 280 pages per volume in English and German by the Semmelweis University Institute of Mental Health. The journal’s professional oversight is provided by the Editor-in-Chief and an international Editorial Board, assisted by an Advisory Board. The semiannual journal, with issues appearing in June and December, is published in Budapest. The journal aims at the dissemination of the latest scientific research on mental health and well-being in Europe. It seeks novel, integrative and comprehensive, applied as well as theoretical articles that are inspiring for professionals and practitioners with different fields of interest: social and natural sciences, humanities and different segments of mental health research and practice. The primary thematic focus of EJMH is the social-ecological antecedents of mental health and foundations of human well-being. Most specifically, the journal welcomes contributions that present high-quality, original research findings on well-being and mental health across the lifespan and in historical perspective.