1.
Maathz, Pernilla, et al.
(author)
Psychological Inflexibility as a Predictor of Sexual Functioning Among Women with Vulvovaginal Pain : A Prospective Investigation
2020
In: Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.). - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1526-2375 .- 1526-4637. ; 21:12, s. 3596-3602
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
ObjectivePersistent vulvovaginal pain affects many women and often has adverse effects on sexual functioning. Psychological inflexibility related to pain is associated with distress and functional disability across different types of chronic pain conditions, but little is known about the role of psychological inflexibility in vulvovaginal pain. The present study examines psychological inflexibility related to pain as a predictor of sexual functioning over time among women with vulvovaginal pain.MethodsQuestionnaires including measures of psychological inflexibility, pain severity, and sexual functioning were administered to female university students at two points in time. One hundred thirty women with vulvovaginal pain responded to the questionnaire at baseline and at follow-up after 10 months. A multiple regression model was used to explore psychological inflexibility and pain severity as predictors of sexual functioning at follow-up.ResultsHigher levels of psychological inflexibility and more severe pain at baseline were associated with poorer sexual functioning 10 months later. In analysis adjusting for baseline levels of sexual functioning, psychological inflexibility was the only significant predictor of sexual functioning at follow-up.ConclusionsThe findings provide preliminary evidence that psychological inflexibility is associated with sexual adjustment over time among women with vulvovaginal pain and point to the relevance of further examinations of the psychological inflexibility model in the context of vulvovaginal pain.
2.
Maathz, Pernilla, et al.
(author)
Women, Painful Sex, and Mindfulness
2022
In: Mindfulness. - : Springer Nature. - 1868-8527 .- 1868-8535. ; 13:4, s. 917-927
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
Objectives: Mindfulness-based approaches to treatment of sexual dysfunction associated with vulvar pain appear promising, but little is known about the specific processes of mindfulness in sexual interactions or if mindfulness may be of particular benefit to women who experience pain associated with sexual activity. This study aimed to examine the associations between sexual mindfulness and sexual function and distress among women who currently experience pain with sexual activity as compared to women who do not. Methods: Women over the age of 18 were invited to complete an online survey, including measures of mindfulness in sexual activity, pain associated with sexual activity, sexual function, and sexual distress. Of the participants, 134 (42.1%) were experiencing pain and 184 (57.9%) were pain free.Results: Higher levels of mindfulness during sexual activity were associated with greater sexual functioning and less sexual distress both among women with and without pain. However, the associations between Observing skills and sexual functioning among women with pain was weaker if the capacity for nonreactivity was low. Sexual mindfulness contributed significantly to the explanation of sexual function and distress in both groups. Of the mindfulness facets, Acting with awareness consistently contributed, beyond the other facets, to the explanation of sexual outcomes.Conclusions: The capacity to stay mindful in sexual interactions appear to be important to sexual functioning both among women who experience pain with sexual activity and among women who do not. These findings encourage further examination of the role of mindfulness and its facets in sexual outcomes.
