The Relationship Between Negative Mood and Sexuality In Heterosexual College Women and Men

Title
The Relationship Between Negative Mood and Sexuality In Heterosexual College Women and Men
Publication Date
2006
Author(s)
Lykins, Amy
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2930-3964
Email: alykins@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:alykins
Janssen, Erick
Graham, Cynthia
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Routledge
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1080/00224490609552308
UNE publication id
une:8389
Abstract
Negative mood states, such as depression and anxiety, are typically associated with decreased sexual interest and arousal. However, there is also some evidence that depressed or anxious mood may increase sexual interest or arousal in some individuals. In this study, 663 female college students (mean age = 18.9 years, SD = 1.21) answered questions regarding the effects of anxious and depressed mood on sexual interest and arousal and completed trait measures of sexual excitation and inhibition, anxiety, and depression. The majority of women reported decreased sexual interest and response when feeling depressed or anxious; a minority (about 10%) of women, however, reported increased sexual interest/response during anxious and depressed mood. This sample of women was compared to a sample of 399 college-aged men. In general, men were more likely than women to report increased sexual interest during negative mood states. Of the variables explored, propensity for sexual excitation was the strongest predictor of the relationship between negative mood and sexuality in women. Individual differences in the effects of negative mood may prove relevant to our understanding of a variety of topics, including "risky" and "compulsive" sexual behavior and sexual dysfunction.
Link
Citation
Journal of Sex Research, 43(2), p. 136-143
ISSN
1559-8519
0022-4499
Start page
136
End page
143

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink