Non-Erotic Thoughts and Sexual Functioning

Abstract

This study sought to replicate and extend investigations of current models of sexual dysfunction (Barlow, 2002; Janssen, Everaerd, Spiering, & Janssen, 2000) which implicate factors such as spectatoring, failure to use ameliorative strategies, and information processing biases in the development and persistence of sexual difficulties. A sample of 165 (n = 71 men) undergraduates completed measures of sexual dysfunction and relationship satisfaction, and reported on the content and frequency of non-erotic thoughts during sex with a partner (i.e., spectatoring), the emotional impact of non-erotic thoughts, and the strategies used to manage them. They also reported on their main sexual functioning difficulties and the strategies they used to manage those difficulties. Finally, participants were presented with a series of hypothetical sexual scenarios and were asked to report their immediate interpretation of events in the scenario. The content of non-erotic thoughts was similar to previous work (Purdon & Holdaway, 2006), although gender differences in thought content were less pronounced. As in previous research, greater frequency of, and anxiety evoked by, non-erotic thoughts was associated with poorer sexual functioning, but we found that this was over and above relationship satisfaction. Participants both high and low in sexual functioning reported using a variety of strategies to manage their non-erotic thoughts, thought suppression being the least effective, and also used a variety of strategies to manage sexual difficulties. Poorer sexual functioning was associated with more negative interpretations of ambiguous sexual scenarios, but this was mediated by relationship satisfaction. However, positive interpretations were predicted by sexual functioning. Results were discussed in terms of their theoretical and clinical implications.

Non-Erotic Thoughts, Attentional Focus, and Sexual Problems in a Community Sample

“…The range of thought content found in a community sample of women and men would fit well into the NET categories of performance, body concerns, emotional concerns, and external consequences as found in undergraduate samples (Purdon & Holdaway, 2006;Purdon & Watson, 2010). 2.…”

“…This negative experience will enhance anxiety in future sexual situations, and non-erotic thoughts (NETs) relevant to performance will receive attentional priority. Previous research with student samples (Purdon & Holdaway, 2006;Purdon & Watson, 2010) has found that people experience many types of NETs in addition to performance-relevant thoughts, and that, consistent with Barlow's model, the frequency of and anxiety evoked by these thoughts is positively associated with sexual problems. Extending this previous work, the current study found that, in a community sample of women (N = 81) and men (N = 72) in long-term relationships, women were more likely to report body image concerns and external consequences of the sexual activity, while men were more likely to report performance-related concerns.…”

“…Nevertheless, women and men who met DSM-IV criteria for a sexual dysfunction reported more negative distracting thoughts on the SMQ during sexual activity than did those without sexual dysfunction (Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2008b) and more frequent thoughts were associated with greater negative affect (Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2006, 2008a. Purdon and Holdaway (2006) and Purdon and Watson (2010) noted that, to date, no studies had simply examined the content of self-reported thoughts during sexual activity with a partner. They collected qualitative data on the content of thoughts that''interfere with your enjoyment of sexual activity''and identified four categories of distracting thoughts: performance, body image, the emotional consequences of the activity, and the external consequences of the activity (e.g., pregnancy).…”

“…Based on their findings, Purdon and Watson (2010) proposed that thoughts that lead to higher anxiety may be more difficult to suppress and may compromise individuals' ability to refocus on the erotic aspects of the situation. To date, studies have not examined the extent to which subjective sexual difficulties are associated with individuals' ability to dismiss NETs and refocus on erotic aspects of the situation.…”

Non-Erotic Cognitive Distractions During Sexual Activity in Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Young Adults

“…A series of experiments examining the effects of non-erotic cognitive distractions on men's physiological sexual arousal resulted in mixed findings, wherein such distractions sometimes diminished sexual arousal (Abrahamson et al, 1985), sometimes enhanced arousal (Beck & Barlow, 1986), and sometimes varied based on experimental condition (Sakheim et al, 1984). Recent work has provided additional support for Barlow's model of sexual functioning, as a relationship between non-erotic cognitive distractions and sexual dysfunction was revealed (Purdon & Watson, 2011).…”