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

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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.

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Notes

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

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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

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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.

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  1. Elske Salemink M.A.
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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

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

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