Attachment insecurities and women's sexual function and satisfaction: the mediating roles of sexual self-esteem, sexual anxiety, and sexual assertiveness

Journal of Sex Research
Audrey BrassardPhillip R Shaver

Abstract

We examined the potential role of three mediators--sexual self-esteem, sexual anxiety, and sexual assertiveness--of the association between romantic attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance) and two aspects of women's sexual functioning: sexual function and sexual satisfaction. A sample of 556 women aged 18 to 30 agreed to complete an online series of validated questionnaires assessing attachment insecurities and several aspects of sexual functioning. Lower sexual self-esteem and higher sexual anxiety mediated the associations between attachment anxiety and lower sexual function and satisfaction. Lower sexual self-esteem and higher sexual anxiety also partially mediated the links between attachment-related avoidance and the two sexual functioning variables. Sexual assertiveness, however, did not mediate these associations. A significant interaction between attachment anxiety and avoidance was also found to predict sexual satisfaction, with women high in avoidance and low in anxiety being the least satisfied. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical and clinical implications.

Associated Clinical Trials

References

Aug 1, 1991·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·K Bartholomew, L M Horowitz
Nov 1, 1990·Journal of Abnormal Psychology·E M Palace, B B Gorzalka
Mar 1, 1987·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·C Hazan, P Shaver
Aug 1, 1997·Archives of Sexual Behavior·E Haavio-Mannila, O Kontula
Jan 7, 1998·Archives of Sexual Behavior·A N Elliott, W T O'Donohue
Feb 18, 1999·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·E O LaumannR C Rosen
Feb 29, 2000·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·C A McGahueyR Manber
Feb 13, 2001·Journal of Affective Disorders·M van den Hout, D Barlow
Feb 14, 2002·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology·E A Gates, R P Galask
Jul 20, 2004·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Deborah DavisMichael L Vernon
Dec 8, 2005·Attachment & Human Development·L Alan Sroufe
Oct 25, 2006·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Gurit E BirnbaumAyala Orpaz
Feb 7, 2007·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Jeffry A SimpsonKatherine C Haydon
Mar 21, 2008·Attachment & Human Development·Danielle L Cohen, Jay Belsky
Jan 7, 2009·Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : a Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology·Joshua E MuscatJohn P Richie
Jan 31, 2009·Aging Clinical and Experimental Research·Rahma MungiaJohn P Brown
Oct 13, 2009·The Journal of Sexual Medicine·Sonia Louise DavisonSusan Ruth Davis
Aug 13, 2010·The Journal of Sexual Medicine·Kyle R Stephenson, Cindy M Meston
Nov 3, 2010·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Susan Johnson, Dino Zuccarini
Jan 5, 2011·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Sesen Negash, Seda Sahin
Jan 11, 2011·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Michal GranotYoram Yovell
Apr 27, 2012·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Audrey BrassardPhillip R Shaver
Aug 15, 2012·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Shelly L GableAmy Strachman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 7, 2017·Journal of Sex Research·Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, Ricky Finzi-Dottan
Jun 22, 2018·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Eugenia Cherkasskaya, Margaret Rosario
Apr 28, 2020·Journal of Sex Research·Daphne van de Bongardt, Hanneke de Graaf
Apr 10, 2019·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Isabell Schuster, Barbara Krahé
Feb 7, 2020·Psicologia, Reflexão E Crítica : Revista Semestral Do Departamento De Psicologia Da UFRGS·Rodrigo Ferrer-UrbinaDébora Alejandra Llewellyn-Alvarado
Oct 23, 2020·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Fatemeh LashaniMalihe Nasiri
Jul 3, 2021·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Sonia Tirado-GonzálezVirtudes Pérez-Jover

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
contraception

Software Mentioned

AMOS

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.