Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effects of Increasing Neutral Distraction on Sexual Responding of Women With and Without Sexual Problems

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This study examined the influence of distraction on genital and subjective sexual responses of women with (N=20) and without (N=21) sexual problems. Female-produced erotic film fragments were presented to induce sexual response and a vaginal photoplethysmograph was used to measure genital sexual responding. Subjective sexual arousal was assessed in real time using a rotating button and, retrospectively, with visual analogue scales. Distraction load was manipulated through different verbal instructions on how to deal with pairs of digits. The results revealed an equally strong impeding effect of distraction on genital sexual responses and on subjective sexual responses when these were measured retrospectively in women with and without sexual problems. However, distraction did not affect subjective sexual responses when these were measured in real time. The implications of the finding that distraction equally affects women with and without sexual problems are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Questionnaire data are available from the first author upon request.

REFERENCES

  • Abrahamson, D. J., Barlow, D. H., & Abrahamson, L. S. (1989). Differential effects of performance demand and distraction on sexually functional and dysfunctional males. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 98, 241–247.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abrahamson, D. J., Barlow, D. H., Sakheim, D. K., Beck, J. G., & Athanasiou, R. (1985). Effects of distraction on sexual responding in functional and dysfunctional men. Behavior Therapy, 16, 503–515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, A. E., Haynes, S. N., & Brayer, M. A. (1985). Cognitive distraction in female sexual arousal. Psychophysiology, 22, 689–696.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D. H. (1986). Causes of sexual dysfunction: The role of anxiety and cognitive interference. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 140–148.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basson, R., Leiblum, S., Brotto, L., Derogatis, L., Fourcroy, J., Fugl-Meyer, K., et al. (2003). Definitions of women's sexual dysfunction reconsidered: Advocating expansion and revision. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 24, 221–229.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basson, R., McInnes, R., Smith, M. D., Hodgson, G., & Koppiker, N. (2002). Efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate in women with sexual dysfunction associated with female sexual arousal disorder. Journal of Women's Health and Gender Based Medicine, 11, 367–377.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berman, J. R., Berman, L. A., Lin, H., Flaherty, E., Lahey, N., Goldstein, I., et al. (2001). Effect of sildenafil on subjective and physiologic parameters of the female sexual response in women with sexual arousal disorder. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 27, 411–420.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brotto, L. A., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2002). Genital and subjective sexual arousal in postmenopausal women: Influence of laboratory-induced hyperventilation. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 28, 39–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., Rieger, G., Latty, E., & Bailey, J. M. (2004). A sex difference in the specificity of sexual arousal. Psychological Science, 15, 736–744.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, A. N., & O'Donohue, W. T. (1997). The effects of anxiety and distraction on sexual arousal in a nonclinical sample of heterosexual women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 26, 607–624.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Everaerd, W., Laan, E. T. M., Both, S., & van der Velde, J. (2000). Female sexuality. In L. T. Szuchman & F. Muscarella (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on human sexuality (pp. 101–146). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagan, P. J., Schmidt, C. W., Wise, T. N., & Derogatis, L. R. (1988). Sexual dysfunction and dual psychiatric diagnoses. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 29, 278–284.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fugl-Meyer, A. R., Branholm, I. B., & Fugl-Meyer, K. S. (1991). Happiness and domain-specific life satisfaction in adult northern Swedes. Clinical Rehabilitation, 5, 25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geer, J. H., & Fuhr, R. (1976). Cognitive factors in sexual arousal: The role of distraction. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 44, 238–243.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamann, S., Herman, R. A., Nolan, C. L., & Wallen, K. (2004). Men and women differ in amygdala response to visual sexual stimuli. Nature Neuroscience, 7, 411–416.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartman, U., Heiser, K., Rüffer-Hesse, C., & Kloth, G. (2002). Female sexual desire disorders: Subtypes, classification, personality factors and new directions for treatment. World Journal of Urology, 20, 79–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E., Everaerd, W., Spiering, M., & Janssen, J. (2000). Automatic processes and the appraisal of sexual stimuli: Toward an information processing model of sexual arousal. Journal of Sex Research, 37, 8–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. S. (1974). The new sex therapy: Active treatment of sexual dysfunctions. Oxford: Brunner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E., Everaerd, W., van Aanhold, M., & Rebel, M. (1993). Performance demand and sexual arousal in women. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 31, 25–35.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E., van Driel, E., & van Lunsen, R. (2003). Seksuele reacties van vrouwen met een seksuele opwindingsstoornis op visuele seksuele stimuli. Tijdschrift voor Seksuologie, 26, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E. T. M., & Everaerd, W. (1995). Determinants of female sexual arousal: Psychophysiological theory and data. Annual Review of Sex Research, 6, 32–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E. T. M., Everaerd, W., & Evers, A. (1995a). Assessment of female sexual arousal: Response specificity and construct validity. Psychophysiology, 32, 476–485.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E. T. M., Everaerd, W., van Bellen, G., & Hanewald, G. (1994). Women's sexual and emotional responses to male- and female-produced erotica. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 23, 153–169.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E. T. M., Everaerd, W., van der Velde, J., & Geer, J. H. (1995b). Determinants of subjective experience of sexual arousal in women: Feedback from genital arousal and erotic stimulus content. Psychophysiology, 32, 444–451.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lecrubier, Y., Sheehan, D. V., Weiller, E., Amorim, P., Bonora, I., Sheehan, K. H., et al. (1997). The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). A short diagnostic structured interview: Reliability and validity according to the CIDI. European Psychiatry, 12, 224–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1970/1981). Human sexual inadequacy. Boston: Little, Brown.

  • Meston, C. M. (2005). The effects of state and trait self-focused attention on sexual arousal in sexually functional and dysfunctional women. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • Meston, C. M., & Gorzalka, B. B. (1996). Differential effects of sympathetic activation on sexual arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 582–591.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michael, A., & O'Keane, V. (2000). Sexual dysfunction in depression. Human Psychopharmacology in Clinical Experience, 15, 337–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morokoff, P. J., & Heiman, J. R. (1980). Effects of erotic stimuli on women with and without sexual problems: Multiple measures before and after sex therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 18, 127–137.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, M. B., & Hyde, J. S. (1993). Gender differences in sexuality: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 29–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palace, E. M., & Gorzalka, B. B. (1990). The enhancing effects of anxiety on arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 403–411.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palace, E. M., & Gorzalka, B. B. (1992). Differential patterns of arousal in women with and without sexual problems: Physiological and subjective components of sexual response. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 21, 135–159.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Posner, M. I., & Rossman, E. (1965). Effect of size and location of informational transforms upon short-term retention. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 70, 496–505.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Przybyla, D. P. J., & Byrne, D. (1984). The mediating role of cognitive processes in self-reported sexual arousal. Journal of Research in Personality, 18, 54–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R., Brown, C., Heiman, J., Leiblum, S., Meston, C. M., Shabsigh, R., et al. (2000). The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): A multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 26, 191–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, J., & Golombok, S. (1985). The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 24, 63–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, J., & Golombok, S. (1986). The GRISS: A psychometric instrument for the assessment of sexual dysfunction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 15, 157–165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiner-Engel, P., Schiavi, R. C., Smith, H., & White, D. (1981). Sexual arousability and the menstrual cycle. Psychosomatic Medicine, 43, 199–214.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Segal, W. A., Pirnazar, J. R., Arens, M., & Pepose, J. S. (2001). Disinfection of Goldmann tonometers after contamination with hepatitis C virus. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 131, 184–187.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Segraves, K. B., & Segraves, R. T. (1991). Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: Prevalence and comorbidity in 906 subjects. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 17, 55–58.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, D. V., Lecrubier, Y., Sheehan, K. H., Janavs, J., Weiller, E., Keskiner, A., et al. (1997). The validity of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) according to the SCID-P and its reliability. European Psychiatry, 12, 232–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slob, A. K., Bax, C. M., Hop, W. C. J., Rowland, D. L., & van der Werf ten Bosch, J. J. (1996). Sexual arousability and the menstrual cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 21, 545–558.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slob, A. K., Ernste, M., & van der Werff, J. J. (1991). Menstrual cycle phase and sexual arousability in women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 20, 567–577.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spiering, M., Everaerd, W., & Laan, E. (2004). Conscious processing of sexual information: Mechanisms of appraisal. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 33, 369–380.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinman, D. L., Wincze, J. P., Sakheim, D. K., Barlow, D. H., & Mavissakalian, M. (1981). A comparison of male and female patterns of sexual arousal. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 10, 529–547.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ter Kuile, M. M., van Lankveld, J. J. D. M., & Kalkhoven, P. (1999). The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS): Psychometric properties within a Dutch population. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 25, 59–71.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van der Velde, J., & Everaerd, W. (2001). The relationship between involuntary pelvic floor muscle activity, muscle awareness and experienced threat in women with and without vaginismus. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 39, 395–408.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Lankveld, J. J. D. M., & ter Kuile, M. M. (1999). The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS): Predictive validity and construct validity in a Dutch population. Personality and Individual Differences, 26, 1005–1023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Lankveld, J. J. D. M., & van den Hout, M. A. (2004). Increasing neutral distraction inhibits genital but not subjective sexual arousal of sexually functional and dysfunctional men. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 549–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Lankveld, J. J. D. M., Weijenborg, P. T. M., & ter Kuile, M. M. (1996). Psychologic profiles of and sexual function in women with vulvar vestibulitis and their partners. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 88, 65–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vroege, J. A., Zeijlemaker, B. Y. W., & Scheers, M. M. (1998). Sexual functioning of adult patients born with meningomyelocele. European Urology, 34, 25–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, J. P., Hoon, E., & Hoon, P. W. (1976). Physiological responsivity of normal and sexually dysfunctional women during erotic stimulus exposure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 20, 445–451.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, J. P., Venditti, E., Barlow, D. H., & Mavissakalian, M. (1980). The effects of a subjective monitoring task in the physiological measure of genital response to erotic stimulation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 9, 533–545.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wouda, J. C., Hartman, P. M., Bakker, R. M., Bakker, J. O., van de Wiel, H. B. M., & Weijmar Schultz, W. C. M. (1998). Vaginal plethysmography in women with dyspareunia. Journal of Sex Research, 35, 141–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Thanks are expressed to Marcel van den Hout for his valuable comments on an earlier draft of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Elske Salemink M.A.

  2. Pompe Kliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands and Department of Medical, Clinical, and Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld Ph.D.

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Elske Salemink M.A.

Authors
  1. Elske Salemink M.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elske Salemink M.A..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Salemink, E., van Lankveld, J.J.D.M. The Effects of Increasing Neutral Distraction on Sexual Responding of Women With and Without Sexual Problems. Arch Sex Behav 35, 175–186 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-005-9014-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-005-9014-2

Key words

Search

Navigation