Dating and attachment among single women with multiple sclerosis

The present study investigated the dating experiences of single women living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present research used a mixed methods approach, with the quantitative component examining the role of disability severity, insecure attachment (avoidant and anxious), age, illness duration, depression, body esteem, sexual esteem, and attractiveness on dating experiences among 99 single women living with MS. Participants were recruited through MS societies in Canada and the United States. Regression analyses showed that overall, greater disability severity, longer illness duration, greater insecure attachment, lower sexual esteem and lower perceived attractiveness were predictive of worse dating experiences and more barriers to dating. Dating experiences were similar across ages. The second component of the study consisted of qualitative interviews with 12 women (half in a younger and half in an older age group), which were completed individually by telephone. The qualitative approach borrowed from a phenomenological lens and interviews were coded to explore the dating experiences of the women. Across the younger and older age groups, participants identified barriers to dating, coping strategies, negative cognitions about dating with MS, concerns regarding disclosure of MS, and impact of MS on body and sexual esteem. Some age related differences in dating were noted, such as concerns about pregnancy. The current research highlights the importance of conducting further research into the impact of MS on dating and in exploring potential interventions to help support women many of whom endorsed encountering various barriers to dating when living with MS.

Dating and attachment among single women with multiple sclerosis

The present study investigated the dating experiences of single women living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present research used a mixed methods approach, with the quantitative component examining the role of disability severity, insecure attachment (avoidant and anxious), age, illness duration, depression, body esteem, sexual esteem, and attractiveness on dating experiences among 99 single women living with MS. Participants were recruited through MS societies in Canada and the United States. Regression analyses showed that overall, greater disability severity, longer illness duration, greater insecure attachment, lower sexual esteem and lower perceived attractiveness were predictive of worse dating experiences and more barriers to dating. Dating experiences were similar across ages. The second component of the study consisted of qualitative interviews with 12 women (half in a younger and half in an older age group), which were completed individually by telephone. The qualitative approach borrowed from a phenomenological lens and interviews were coded to explore the dating experiences of the women. Across the younger and older age groups, participants identified barriers to dating, coping strategies, negative cognitions about dating with MS, concerns regarding disclosure of MS, and impact of MS on body and sexual esteem. Some age related differences in dating were noted, such as concerns about pregnancy. The current research highlights the importance of conducting further research into the impact of MS on dating and in exploring potential interventions to help support women many of whom endorsed encountering various barriers to dating when living with MS.

Perceived Physical Attractiveness and Sexual Esteem Among Male and Female Adult

The current study was designed to investigate the relationship of perceived physical attractiveness and sexual esteem among Pakistani women and men. Role of gender and marital status on the study variables was also explored. The sample consisted of 320 adults (130 men and 190 women) with age range of 18 to 35 years. Sample was taken from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire – Appearance Scale MBSRQ-AS (Cash, 2000) was used to measure perceived physical attractiveness. Sexual esteem was measured by the subscale of Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire (Snell, 1998). The findings indicated that Appearance Evaluation, Appearance Orientation, and Body Area Satisfaction were positively correlated to sexual esteem, whereas overweight preoccupation was negatively correlated with sexual esteem. Gender differences on the variables indicated that appearance evaluation was higher among men as compared to females. The moderation analysis showed that the significant negative relationship between overweight preoccupation and sexual esteem in men only, whereas sexual esteem of women was not unaffected through all levels of overweight preoccupation. The study findings provided a better insight into the role played by perceived physical attractiveness and need of sexual esteem among both genders. Findings were discussed in cultural context. Further, implications of the study were considered and discussed.

Sexual functioning, sexual esteem, genital self-image and psychological and relational functioning in women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser syndrome: a case–control study

STUDY QUESTION Do sexual functioning, sexual esteem, genital self-image and psychological and relational functioning in women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome differ from a comparison group of women without the condition? SUMMARY ANSWER In comparison to controls, women with MRKH with a non-surgically or surgically created neovagina did not differ in psychological and relational functioning but reported lower sexual esteem and more negative genital self-image, intercourse-related pain, clinically relevant sexual distress and sexual dysfunction, with sexual esteem levels strongly associated with sexual distress and sexual dysfunction. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies on sexual functioning measured with standardized questionnaires in women with MRKH syndrome compared with women without the condition have yielded contradictory results. Factors associated with sexual functioning in this patient population have rarely been investigated. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Between November 2015 and May 2017, 54 women with MRKH syndrome with a neovagina and 79 age-matched healthy women without the condition were enrolled in this case–control study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS All participants had to be at least 18-years old and had to live in a steady heterosexual relationship. Women with MRKH syndrome were asked to participate by their (former) gynecologists at three university hospitals and by MRKH peer support group. Controls were recruited via advertisement in local newspapers and social media. Standardized questionnaires were administered to assess sexual functioning, sexual esteem, genital self-image and psychological and relational functioning. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Women with MRKH syndrome with a surgically or non-surgically created neovagina reported significantly more pain during intercourse (P < 0.05, d = 0.5), but did not differ in overall sexual functioning from control women. More women with MRKH syndrome reported clinically relevant sexuality-related distress (P < 0.05, odds ratio (OR): 2.756, 95% CI 1.219–6.232) and suffered a sexual dysfunction (P < 0.05, OR: 2.654, 95% CI: 1.088–6.471) in comparison with controls. MRKH women scored significantly lower on the sexual esteem scale (SES) (P < 0.01, d = 0.5) and the female genital self-image scale (FGSIS) (P < 0.01, d = 0.6) than controls. No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding psychological distress, anxiety and depression, global self-esteem and relational dissatisfaction. Sexual esteem was significantly associated with the presence of clinically relevant sexual distress (ß = 0.455, P = 0.001) and suffering a sexual dysfunction (ß = 0.554, P = 0.001) and explained, respectively, 40% and 28% of the variance. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Given the nature of the study focusing on sexual functioning, a potential selection bias cannot be excluded. It is possible that those women with the most severe sexual and/or psychological disturbances did or did not choose to participate in our study. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The study results add new data to the very limited knowledge about psychosexual functioning of women with MRKH syndrome and are of importance for more adequate counseling and treatment of these women. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The research was financially supported by the Dutch Scientific Society of Sexology (Nederlandse wetenschappelijke Vereniging Voor Seksuologie). The funding was unrestricted, and there was no involvement in the conduct of the research. There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Sexual (dys)functioning is related to drive for thinness, not drive for muscularity

Background Negative body image can result in sexual dysfunction for both women and men. Drive for thinness, drive for muscularity and drive for leanness have all been associated with poor body image. However, research to date has not examined which is the strongest predictor of sexual problems in each gender. Methods: The present study used measures of drive for muscularity and drive for thinness simultaneously to predict sexual functioning in both genders. Participants (n = 519) completed measures of drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, sexual esteem, sexual assertiveness, discomfort exposing their bodies during sex and genital satisfaction. The interaction between drive for thinness and drive for muscularity was used to approximate drive for leanness. Results: Drive for thinness, not drive for muscularity (or any combination of the two), predicted men’s and women’s sexual problems. Conclusions: We add to the growing body of literature on the destructive nature of excessive drive for thinness, and highlight that it may be a core factor in promoting and maintaining men’s (as well as women’s) sexual problems.