Sexual vs. Nonsexual Currently Most Upsetting Trauma: A Fresh Look at Attenuation of Sexual Response, Alcohol Intoxication, and Post-Traumatic Stress

Abstract

This study examined the dependence of sexual response (vaginal pulse amplitude [VPA] and subjective sexual arousal) on alcohol intoxication (.10% breath alcohol concentration [BrAC] versus no alcohol) and the nature of a woman's currently most upsetting traumatic event (C-MUTE), whether it was sexual (e.g., rape) or nonsexual (e.g., combat). Self-reported sexual outcomes were also compared by C-MUTE type. A total of 117 women completed background measures and either drank alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages. They were shown erotic films and their VPA was assessed. A two (sexual versus nonsexual C-MUTE) by two (.10% BrAC versus no alcohol) analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that, controlling for post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, women with a sexual C-MUTE showed lower percent VPA change than women with a nonsexual C-MUTE. No significant effects were found for subjective sexual arousal. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that women with a sexual C-MUTE reported more frequent anxiety and inhibition during partnered sex and more frequent lack of vaginal lubrication versus women with a nonsexual C-MUTE. There was no significant interaction between C-MUTE and alcohol intoxication. Whether a woman is currently upset by past sexual victimization may influence current sexual difficulties. Attenuated VPA may be attributable to the sexual nature of a C-MUTE as opposed to general trauma exposure.

Sexual Functioning and Satisfaction Among College Survivors of Sexual Violence: Examining PTSD Symptoms and Sexual Schemas

“…The decision to focus on women survivors of sexual violence was made based on prior research demonstrating high rates of PTSD in this sample (e.g., Faravelli et al, 2004; Turchik et al, 2012) as well as a dearth of literature in examining the association between PTSS and sexual dysfunctions in women exposed to sexual violence in late adolescence/adulthood. It should be noted that studies that have compared sexual versus nonsexual traumatic events have found higher rates of sexual dysfunction and PTSS in those with a sexual traumatic event (Bird et al, 2018; DiMauro et al, 2018). Thus, it appears that survivors of sexual violence may be particularly vulnerable to both PTSS and sexual dysfunctions, and therefore these findings may be specific to female survivors of sexual violence and may not generalize to other trauma samples or to PTSS’s association with sexual dysfunctions more generally.…”

Interpersonal Trauma and Sexual Function and Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Negative Affect Among Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma

“…Indeed, results from two epidemiological studies observed that a history of sexual violence was associated with poorer sexual function in women (Kadri et al, 2002; Laumann et al, 1999). When sexual traumas were compared to non-sexual traumas, a smaller civilian study observed that those who experienced sexual traumas reported greater sexual dysfunction relative to those who experienced non-sexual traumas (Bird et al, 2018). Preliminary research from a small pilot study conducted in women SM/Vs supports these trends: specifically, sexual traumas were associated with higher distress and lower sexual function relative to non-sexual traumas (DiMauro et al, 2018).…”