Sexual Functioning and Sexual Satisfaction Among Women Who Report a History of Childhood and/or Adolescent Sexual Abuse

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, and predictor variables (experiential avoidance, relationship violence, relationship satisfaction, anger, and psychological distress) in 22 women reporting a history of childhood and/or adolescent sexual abuse. Sexual satisfaction correlated significantly with all predictor variables. Sexual functioning correlated significantly with relationship violence only. Interestingly, sexual satisfaction and sexual functioning were not significantly correlated. Two hierarchical regression equations, using sexual satisfaction and sexual functioning as dependent variables and using the same predictor variables, were tested. Results suggest that different factors may account for sexual satisfaction and sexual functioning and more research is needed to clarify this relationship.