Interoception and sexual response in women with low sexual desire

<div><p>Sexual concordance is defined as the association between genital response and self-reported sexual arousal. Though one might predict a strong association between sexual concordance and awareness of other internal physiological sensations (termed <i>interoception)</i>, past research on sexually healthy women has not found these different domains to be related. The aim of the present study was to test the association between interoception and sexual concordance in a clinical sample of women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD). Fifty-two women with SIAD completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), a validated self-report measure of interoception, and completed a heart-beat accuracy test, an objective measure of interoception. They also participated in a laboratory-based assessment of physiological sexual arousal and self-reported sexual arousal while viewing an erotic film. Mental and physiological arousal were correlated at <i>r</i> = 0.27 (range -0.80 to 0.95). There was no significant association between sexual concordance and women’s heartrate awareness. However, five aspects of interoceptive awareness (noticing, emotional awareness, self-regulation, body-listening, and trusting), were predictive of <i>lower</i>, and one aspect (not-distracting) was predictive of <i>higher</i> sexual concordance. We discuss the findings in relation to the role of emotions and arousal states in the interoception-sexual concordance relationship.</p></div

Interaction between subjective sexual arousal and the not-distracting scale for the prediction of genital sexual arousal (centered variables).

<p>Interaction between subjective sexual arousal and the not-distracting scale for the prediction of genital sexual arousal (centered variables).</p

Series of multiple linear regression analyses predicting genital (VPA) and subjective (SSA) sexual arousal.

<p>Series of multiple linear regression analyses predicting genital (VPA) and subjective (SSA) sexual arousal.</p

Interoceptive awareness and sexual arousal measurements during erotic stimulus presentation.

<p>Interoceptive awareness and sexual arousal measurements during erotic stimulus presentation.</p

Nonparametric bivariate correlations (Kendal’s tau) between different sexual arousal measurements and interoceptive awareness.

<p>Nonparametric bivariate correlations (Kendal’s tau) between different sexual arousal measurements and interoceptive awareness.</p

Interaction between genital sexual arousal and the emotional awareness scale for the prediction of subjective sexual arousal (centered variables).

<p>Interaction between genital sexual arousal and the emotional awareness scale for the prediction of subjective sexual arousal (centered variables).</p

sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455057231199051 – Supplemental material for Higher perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic increased menstrual dysregulation and menopause symptoms

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455057231199051 for Higher perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic increased menstrual dysregulation and menopause symptoms by Romina Garcia de leon, Alexandra Baaske, Arianne Y. Albert, Amy Booth, C. Sarai Racey, Shanlea Gordon, Laurie W. Smith, Anna Gottschlich, Manish Sadarangani, Angela Kaida, Gina S. Ogilvie, Lori A. Brotto and Liisa A.M. Galea in Women’s Health</p

sj-docx-2-whe-10.1177_17455057231199051 – Supplemental material for Higher perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic increased menstrual dysregulation and menopause symptoms

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-whe-10.1177_17455057231199051 for Higher perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic increased menstrual dysregulation and menopause symptoms by Romina Garcia de leon, Alexandra Baaske, Arianne Y. Albert, Amy Booth, C. Sarai Racey, Shanlea Gordon, Laurie W. Smith, Anna Gottschlich, Manish Sadarangani, Angela Kaida, Gina S. Ogilvie, Lori A. Brotto and Liisa A.M. Galea in Women’s Health</p