Abstract

Tiefer, Hall, and Tavris (2002) described factors comprising four categories of female sexual function. They suggested that unique factors need to be examined to understand sexual function in women. Socio-cultural, political, or economic factors, partner and relationship factors, psychological factors, and medical factors were described as aspects of women’s lives that can be the source of sexual dysfunction. In a previous study, Merrell (2007) utilized Tiefer et al’s (2002) four factor model of sexual functioning to examine female sexual functioning looking specifically at body shame, relationship satisfaction, positive and negative affect, sexual self-schema, and overall health. Based on the results of this study, research regarding female sexual functioning should take into account how a woman feels about her body (body shame), her level of emotional and sexual intimacy, how she views herself as sexual person (sexual self schema), her level of negative or positive affect, and reported feelings of overall health. The current study expanded upon the previous study by examining the variables feminism, sexual guilt, and sex education with the previously studied variables body shame, relationship satisfaction, sexual self-schema, positive and negative affect, and overall health-as predictors of female sexual function. The hypotheses were: Body shame, sexual guilt, and negative affect will be negatively associated with sexual function; and positive attitudes toward feminism and the women’s movement, identification with feminism, comprehensive sex education, satisfaction with sex education, relationship satisfaction, sexual self-schema, positive affect, and overall health will be positively associated with women’s sexual function. Cohen (1992) suggested that 117 women needed to participate in this study to attain a medium effect size with power = .80. Participants completed the Approval Motive scale to control for social desirability (Crowne & Marlowe, 1964), Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (McKinley & Hyde, 1996), Attitudes Toward Feminism and the Women’s Movement (FWM) Scale (Fassinger, 1994), Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory (Mosher, 1998), Sex Education Inventory (Bennett & Dickinson, 1998), Intimacy Scale (Walker & Thompson, 1983), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS: Watson, Clark, & Tellegan, 1988), Sexual Self-Schema Scale (Anderson & Cyranowski, 1994), Short Form 6-item General Health Survey (Ware, et al., 1992), Female Sexual Function Index (Rosen et al., 2000), and demographic items. Data attained from these scales was analyzed using correlations and multiple regression. Based on the results of this study, research regarding female sexual functioning should take into account how a woman feels about her body (body shame), feminism, satisfaction with sexual education, sexual guilt, and level of emotional and sexual intimacy. This research indicates that female sexual functioning should be examined utilizing a holistic approach that focuses of both physiological and psychological components to understanding female sexual functioning.

LLU Discipline

Clinical Psychology

Department

Clinical Psychology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Gloria Cowan

Second Advisor

Ivanna Guthrie Heater

Third Advisor

Jason Owen

Fourth Advisor

Janet Sonne

Fifth Advisor

Geraldine Stahly

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Level

M.A.

Year Degree Awarded

2009

Date (Title Page)

9-2009

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Sexual disorders; Sex (Psychology); Sex -- Health aspects; Interpersonal relations; Psychology, Applied; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological; Female -- psychology; Women's Health; Sexual Behavior -- psychology; Personal Satisfaction; Regression Analysis

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xi; 170

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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