Date of Award

Summer 8-1990

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology

Committee Director

Thomas F. Cash

Committee Member

Louis H. Janda

Committee Member

Robin J. Lewis

Committee Member

Barbara A. Winstead

Committee Member

Delanyard L. Robinson

Call Number for Print

Special Collections; LD4331.P69H36

Abstract

This study examined the relationships of body-image attitudes and sexual attitudes, experiences, and functioning in a college population. Sixty-five males and 120 females completed a variety of established self-report measures assessing the constructs under study, as well as two new measures developed in this study. The new measures included (1) The Sexual Experiences and Problems Survey for self-assessment of difficulties in sexual functioning, and (2) The Body Exposure in Sexual Activities Questionnaire to measure self-consciousness and avoidance of body exposure in sexual contexts. Analyses were performed in the data of those predominantly heterosexual subjects who reported a history of sexual activity. Results supported the internal consistency, discriminant validity, and convergent validity of the study's measures.

For both sexes, more negative body-image affect, in general and in sexual contexts per se, was associated with a narrower variety of sexual experiences in the past six months and with less sexual satisfaction. Among females, such negative body-image affect was related to lower rates of experiencing orgasm. Body-exposure anxiety in sexual situations was also associated with narrower prior sexual experiences and lower levels of sexual drive among both sexes. For females, negative, in-situ body-image affect correlated with more frequent sexual difficulties.

A quasi-clinical group of females who reported a high frequency of sexual difficulties, as compared to a control group with a low frequency of sexual difficulties, evaluated their appearance less positively and reported greater avoidance of and self- consciousness regarding body exposure in sexual situations. Even more specifically, a quasi-clinical group of females with frequent orgasmic difficulties, as compared to a no problem control group, reported significantly higher body-exposure anxiety in sexual situations. A final exploratory analysis indicated that women who reported childhood sexual abuse currently experienced more negative evaluations of and less investment in their physical appearance.

The present findings point to the importance of body-image attitudes in relation to sexual functioning and behavior. Further research should examine these variables in the assessment and treatment of clinical populations.

Comments

A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculties of Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology through the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology.

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ISBN

9798208508084

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