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The relationship between negative mood and sexuality in heterosexual college woman and men

The relationship between negative mood and sexuality in heterosexual college woman and men
The relationship between negative mood and sexuality in heterosexual college woman and men
Negative mood states, such as depression and anxiety, are typically associated with decreased sexual interest and arousal. However, there is also some evidence that depressed or anxious mood may increase sexual interest or arousal in some individuals. In this study, 663 female college students (mean age = 18.9 years, SD = 1.21) answered questions regarding the effects of anxious and depressed mood on sexual interest and arousal and completed trait measures of sexual excitation and inhibition, anxiety, and depression. The majority of women reported decreased sexual interest and response when feeling depressed or anxious; a minority (about 10%) of women, however, reported increased sexual interest/response during anxious and depressed mood. This sample of women was compared to a sample of 399 college-aged men. In general, men were more likely than women to report increased sexual interest during negative mood states. Of the variables explored, propensity for sexual excitation was the strongest predictor of the relationship between negative mood and sexuality in women. Individual differences in the effects of negative mood may prove relevant to our understanding of a variety of topics, including risky and compulsive sexual behavior and sexual dysfunction.
0022-4499
136-143
Lykins, Amy D.
8f205cff-5f82-4f79-9f3b-12f4f1456d51
Janssen, Erick
65bc29b2-0975-4841-842d-22049eb356e6
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Lykins, Amy D.
8f205cff-5f82-4f79-9f3b-12f4f1456d51
Janssen, Erick
65bc29b2-0975-4841-842d-22049eb356e6
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8

Lykins, Amy D., Janssen, Erick and Graham, Cynthia A. (2006) The relationship between negative mood and sexuality in heterosexual college woman and men. The Journal of Sex Research, 43 (2), 136-143. (PMID:16817060)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Negative mood states, such as depression and anxiety, are typically associated with decreased sexual interest and arousal. However, there is also some evidence that depressed or anxious mood may increase sexual interest or arousal in some individuals. In this study, 663 female college students (mean age = 18.9 years, SD = 1.21) answered questions regarding the effects of anxious and depressed mood on sexual interest and arousal and completed trait measures of sexual excitation and inhibition, anxiety, and depression. The majority of women reported decreased sexual interest and response when feeling depressed or anxious; a minority (about 10%) of women, however, reported increased sexual interest/response during anxious and depressed mood. This sample of women was compared to a sample of 399 college-aged men. In general, men were more likely than women to report increased sexual interest during negative mood states. Of the variables explored, propensity for sexual excitation was the strongest predictor of the relationship between negative mood and sexuality in women. Individual differences in the effects of negative mood may prove relevant to our understanding of a variety of topics, including risky and compulsive sexual behavior and sexual dysfunction.

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Published date: May 2006
Organisations: Psychology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 206859
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/206859
ISSN: 0022-4499
PURE UUID: e46ec9f3-1e06-46e2-9d8c-4f1edbd5c5ec
ORCID for Cynthia A. Graham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7884-599X

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Date deposited: 11 Jan 2012 16:33
Last modified: 21 Mar 2024 02:47

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Contributors

Author: Amy D. Lykins
Author: Erick Janssen

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