015 Sexual Self-schemas and Identification of Nonconsensual Sexual Experiences: Implications for Sexual Functioning

Abstract

Many women with nonconsensual sexual experiences (NSEs) do not identify their experiences with common sexual violence labels, such as sexual abuse, sexual assault, or rape. Yet, research has suggested that there is an association between identification with these labels and sexual well-being (Rellini & Meston, 2007; Vaillancourt-Morel et al., 2016). The current study examined a mechanism through which identification of NSEs may influence women’s sexual functioning: integration of the experience into their sexual schemas. Women with NSE histories who identify their experiences with these labels (identifiers; n = 305), women who do not identify their experiences with these labels (non-identifiers; n = 176), and women without NSE histories (n = 337) took part in an online study on sexual well-being. Women first completed measures about their NSEs and their sexual functioning, and then wrote continuously for 20 minutes about their sexuality and sexual self. These essays were analyzed using Meaning Extraction Method to extract relevant sexual self-schema themes (Stanton et al., 2015). Finally, the relationship between these schema themes and sexual function was assessed among the three groups of women.