Abstract
Sexual distress is a core characteristic of sexual dysfunction; however, little is known about its correlates. In the current study, we aimed to contribute to the understanding of both sexual distress and its positive counterpart, sexual pleasure, by taking a transdiagnostic approach to sexual distress using two types of repetitive negative thinking: worry and rumination. Because sexual activity mostly occurs in a dyadic context, we also looked at the potential mediating effect of co-worry and co-rumination, and we used them as mediators. Our preliminary exploratory quantitative study used a cross-sectional design, with a sample of 206 partnered heterosexual people. We used path analysis with parallel mediation, with structural equation modelling being performed using lavaan designed for R environment. Overall, our results show that repetitive negative thinking is associated with both sexual distress and sexual pleasure, and that neither co-rumination nor co-worry mediates these associations. The exception is the indirect effect of rumination on sexual pleasure that is mediated by co-rumination. These results demonstrate that a transdiagnostic approach to sexual distress is a new field worth exploring, and they contribute to establishing the relevance of a cognitive approach to sexual dysfunction.
Highlights
Mental health studies have been characterised by a shift from a categorical to a dimensional approach
The results show that both worry and rumination have a significant direct effect on sexual distress, and this is consistent with previous research that has highlighted the role that cognitive factors have on sexual dysfunction
Due to the theoretical framing of the study as being dyadic, and the complexity that the inclusion of different relationship structures would have brought to the data analysis, people in non-committed relationships and people involved in consensual non-monogamic relationships were excluded from the research. This innovative study aimed to establish whether transdiagnostic factors characterised by repetitive negative thinking were associated with sexual distress and its counterpart, sexual pleasure, using a mediation model that used co-worry and co-rumination as mediators
Summary
Mental health studies have been characterised by a shift from a categorical to a dimensional approach This change has resulted from empirical evidence that has clearly shown comorbidity in diagnoses to be the rule, not the exception. Such evidence has demonstrated that a categorical approach, based on the dichotomy of existence or absence of a diagnosis, fails to grasp the underlying dimensions of some mental disorders [1]. These underlying dimensions are processes [2] that are common to different mental health problems and include perseverative cognitions, or repetitive negative thinking, such as rumination and worry [3]. Research has demonstrated that these underlying dimensions frequently explain high levels of personal distress that are experienced.
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