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Female sexual function varies over time and is dependent on partner-specific factors: a population-based longitudinal analysis of six sexual function domains

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2016

A. Gunst ,
D. Ventus ,
A. Kärnä ,
P. Salo  and
P. Jern
A. Gunst*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
D. Ventus
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
A. Kärnä
Affiliation:
Independent Researcher, Turku, Finland
P. Salo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
P. Jern
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: A. Gunst, Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Assistentinkatu 7, 20014 Turku, Finland. (Email: annika.gunst@utu.fi)
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Abstract

Background

Most studies examining female sexual functions (FSFs) have used cross-sectional designs, not allowing for studying temporal stability and possible relationships between different FSFs over time. Our aim was to study these relationships using a longitudinal approach.

Method

The study sample consisted of 2173 Finnish women from two large-scale, population-based data collections 7 years apart. The Female Sexual Function Index was used. Analyses were further conducted separately for women in different relationship constellations.

Results

Standardized autoregressive paths ranged from 0.136 (sexual satisfaction) to 0.447 (orgasm function) in the full sample, suggesting that most of the variance in FSF was explained by something other than previous function. Orgasm, desire and satisfaction were the strongest predictors of other functions in the full sample and for women in the same relationship at both time points (higher orgasm function predicted higher function in other domains; greater sexual desire and satisfaction predicted lower function in other domains), however, with small effects sizes. For single women, orgasm function and sexual desire were the only significant autoregressive paths. Significant unidirectional cross-domain paths were found for women in the same relationship at both time points. One significant cross-domain path, not confirmed as unidirectional, was found for single women.

Conclusions

FSFs varied considerably over 7 years and relationship status was of importance when assessing temporal stability and cross-domain effects. Our results advocate tailored psychobehavioural treatment interventions for female sexual dysfunctions that take partner-specific factors into account.

Keywords

Female sexual functionlongitudinal studiespopulation studiesrelationshipstemporal stability
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 47 , Issue 2 , January 2017 , pp. 341 - 352
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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