Abstract
Problems related to low sexual desire in women are common clinical complaints, and the aetiology is poorly understood. We investigated predictors of change in levels of sexual desire using a novel network approach, which assumes that mental disorders arise from direct interactions between symptoms. Using population-based data from 1,449 Finnish women, we compared between-subject networks of women whose sexual desire decreased, increased, or remained stable over time. Networks were estimated and analyzed at T1 (2006) and replicated at T2 (2013) using R. Domains included were, among others, sexual functions, sexual distress, anxiety, depression, body dissatisfaction, and relationship status. Overall, networks were fairly similar across groups. Sexual arousal, satisfaction, and relationship status were the most central variables, implying that they might play prominent roles in female sexual function; sexual distress mediated between general distress and sexual function; and sexual desire and arousal showed different patterns of relationships, suggesting that they represent unique sexual function aspects. Potential group-differences suggested that sex-related pain and body dissatisfaction might play roles in precipitating decreases of sexual desire. The general network structure and similarities between groups replicated well; however, the potential group-differences did not replicate. Our study sets the stage for future clinical and longitudinal network modelling of female sexual function.
Highlights
Problems related to low sexual desire are common in women, with approximately one in four adult premenopausal women reporting low sexual desire[1]
We investigate whether a novel network approach might shed further light on the aetiology of low sexual desire in women
We present network estimations which exclude hormonal contraception since hormonal contraception only related to relationship status in the increase group, indicating that women in relationships were more likely to use hormonal contraceptives in the increase group
Summary
Problems related to low sexual desire are common in women, with approximately one in four adult premenopausal women reporting low sexual desire[1]. After experiencing a stressful life event, one could have trouble sleeping, which could lead to difficulties concentrating, which could lead to feelings of worthlessness and sadness, which could exacerbate sleeping problems In such a scenario, the symptoms act on each other in negative feedback loops and individuals might enter a pathological depressive state in which connected symptoms continue to activate each other[15]. The symptoms act on each other in negative feedback loops and individuals might enter a pathological depressive state in which connected symptoms continue to activate each other[15] In this way, the network perspective differs from the biomedical model wherein observed symptoms are assumed to have one, purely biological, latent aetiology and result from one shared causal factor[16]. Individuals with stronger network connections between symptoms are more vulnerable to developing psychopathology: for some people, even one night of poor sleep could have severe consequences for the ability to concentrate the day (i.e., strong connections between symptoms) whereas for other people, one night of poor sleep might not affect the ability to concentrate to any noteworthy extent (i.e., weak connections between symptoms)
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