Background Recent research findings suggest that women who report high anxiety sensitivity (AS; the fear of physiologic sensations associated with anxiety) also report increased sexual dysfunction and decreased sexual satisfaction. Moreover, findings suggest that maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) can contribute to the relation between AS and psychological distress, thereby indirectly influencing sexual outcomes. Identifying relations among these variables and how they specifically relate to sexual outcomes could be vital for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. As such, a comparison of different models of sexual outcomes that encompass psychological and sexual risk factors is needed. Aim To compare four psychological models of women’s sexual outcomes in a cross-sectional sample and specifically to investigate whether psychological factors (ie, AS, ER, psychological distress) uniquely or jointly predict related, but distinct, sexual outcomes in women: sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of sexual activity. Methods Women (N = 316) completed an online survey that included the Anxiety Sensitivity Index–3, Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Sexual Quality of Life Scale–Female, Female Sexual Function Index, and Sexual Experiences Questionnaire–Female. Outcomes Outcome variables included women’s self-reported sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of sexual activity. Results Path analysis models demonstrated that psychological factors predicted orgasm, sexual pain, sexual quality of life, and frequency of partnered sexual activity in women but predicted sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, and frequency of solitary sexual activity to a lesser degree. We found that ER significantly accounted for the relation between AS and psychological distress through mediation and moderation pathways. Clinical Translation Clinicians would benefit from incorporating psychological risk factors in their assessment and interventions of women’s sexual concerns. Strengths and Limitations This is the first study to compare models of women’s sexual lives using indicators of mental and sexual health. However, our study was limited to a cross-sectional sample of young women in one university setting. Conclusions AS, ER, and psychological distress are related to sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, and frequency of partnered sexual activity in young women. Psychological risk factors should be taken into consideration to better understand women’s sexual lives.

Background: There is a debate among researchers and clinicians regarding whether the judicious use of safety behaviours (SBs) during exposure therapy is helpful or detrimental. Central to this debate is the premise that SBs may interfere with one’s ability to gather disconfirmatory evidence. Aims: No study to date has assessed how SB use may impact cognitive mechanisms implicated during an exposure-like task. We investigated multiple cognitive, emotional, psychophysiological and behavioural underpinnings of exposure with and without SBs. Method: Speech anxious participants (n = 111) were randomly assigned to deliver an evaluated speech with or without SBs. Self-reported anxiety ratings and psychophysiological arousal measures were recorded at baseline, in anticipation of the speech, and following the speech. Measures of working memory, ability to gather disconfirmatory evidence, speech duration, objective and subjective speech performance, and speech task acceptability were administered. Results: There were no differences between conditions on working memory, self-reported anxiety, psychophysiological arousal, ability to gather disconfirmatory evidence, speech duration, or objective and subjective speech performance. All participants were able to gather disconfirmatory evidence. However, condition did influence willingness to deliver future speeches. Our sample was largely female undergraduate students, and we offered only a small number of specific safety behaviours. Conclusions: Judicious SB use may not necessarily be detrimental, but clients may believe them to be more helpful than they actually are.

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Researchers have seldom compared how various psychological factors relate to men's sexual health. We sought to identify whether and how psychological risk factors (i.e. anxiety sensitivity, emotion regulation, psychological distress) predict men's sexual health (i.e. functioning, sexual quality of life, frequency of sexual activity). Men ( N = 306) completed an online survey measuring emotional, psychological, and sexual outcomes. Comparisons of four path analysis models suggested that psychological risk factors are related to some but not all sexual health markers. We will highlight the factors that may place young men at risk for developing mental and sexual health difficulties.

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