Thesis (Ph. D.)--Indiana University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-122). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2005.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Applied Science, 2005.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Liberty University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / It is a common phenomenon that women’s sexual desire diminishes in relationships, yet, to date, limited research has been done locally on this topic. International studies indicate that low sexual desire affects more than half of women, and that an even greater proportion of women indicate that they have sexual intercourse with their husbands without they themselves having a desire to do so. In spite of this, there is an expectation in society that couples should continue to have an active sex life. Low sexual desire may lead to distress in the individual or discord in the couple, and in this aspect the practitioner can render a service. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the life-world of women with low sexual desire towards their life-partners, and the extent to which this causes her distress or impedes on her relationship. The objectives of the study thus included providing an overview of models of sexual response, an evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunctions, and an exploration of factors affecting the experience of sexual desire, including the role of social scripts on sexual behaviour. The context for the study is provided by a review of relevant literature, and a qualitative study with a phenomenological interpretative approach was executed. Data gathering focused on a nonprobable purposive sample of ten participants, and used an interview schedule with open-ended questions. Seven themes emerged from the analysis of the data, namely (1) perceptions of sexual desire, (2) experience of sexual desire, (3) experience of sex life without desire, (4) the perceived impact of low desire on the individual or the relationship, (5) personal reasons for decline in desire, (6) relationship factors affecting sexual desire, and (7) the experience of low desire in the socio-cultural context. It was found that ‘desire’ is difficult to conceptualise, that women put a higher premises on the emotional component of desire, and that there is a difference between innate sexual desires and desire that is evoked by stimuli. Reasons for low sexual desire include an array of personal medial, psychological, and life context factors, and in many cases the lack of desire is specific to the present life-partner. Women are especially sensitive to a wide variety of aspects in the relationship and with regards to their partners, and it emerged that even in happy and intimate relationships low sexual desire is experienced. Women experience a loss of emotional intimacy as a result of low sexual desire but do not necessarily feel that their low desire is abnormal. The impact on the relationship is limited mostly because women concede to sex for many reasons, including a need for emotional intimacy. Many strategies, including faking orgasms, are implemented to cope with sexual relationships in the absence of desire. It also appears that social scripts have a big influence on the inception of negative perceptions on sexuality, and generate unreasonable and idealistic expectations of sexual experiences in long-term relationships. Several recommendations flowed from the findings and conclusions. The most important recommendation is that professional people should gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of the phenomenon of low desire in women, in order to render a more effective therapeutic intervention.

Thesis (M.A. (Health Social Science))--Mahidol University, 2006. / LICL has E-Thesis 0012 ; please contact computer services.

Since the late 1990s, researchers have reported a high degree of sexual dysfunction among American women that is associated with significant negative consequences (e.g., reduced quality of life and sexual satisfaction). In addition, sexual satisfaction is a primary factor in marital stability. Because of the widespread impact on both individual well-being and marital relationships, female sexual dysfunction is a significant public health problem. Most research has supported the predominance of psychocultural factors in women's sexual issues. Authenticity, defined by Kernis and Goldman as acting in accord with one's natural inclinations, is associated with increased well-being, but researchers have often overlooked it in the literature on female sexual dysfunction. This study, guided by Kernis and Goldman's authenticity theory, argued that gender culture impairs the ability of women to be authentic in the sexual realm, and, thereby, increases the risk of sexual problems. The purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between authenticity, as measured by The Authenticity Inventory, Version 3, and female sexual dysfunction, as measured by The Female Sexual Function Index and The Female Sexual Distress Scale, Revised, in a group of 55 women attending an online university. The hypothesis was that women with higher rates of dysfunction and/or distress would score lower on authenticity. The results from a regression analysis did not reach significance and failed to confirm the hypothesis; however, there was an association between distress and dysfunction. This study contributes to social change by examining an association between authenticity and female sexual dysfunction that is of help to researchers and therapists working with women in the area of sexual health.

Theoretical part Currently accepted new conceptualization of women's sexual dysfunction is based on the model found in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These classifications are extended and combined interpersonal, contextual, personalpsychological and biological factors. Recent DSM- IV definitions have focused on absence of sexual fantasies and sexual desireprior to sexual activity and arousal, even though the frequencyof this type of desire is known to vary greatly among women without sexual complaints. DSM-IV definitions also focus on genital swelling and lubrication, entities known to correlate poorly with subjective sexual arousal and pleasure. The structure of the new classification is based on the four categories of DSM-IV: disorders of desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. However these categories are newly assigned to the subjective dimension of satisfaction, stress and the presence of disorders during other sexual activities besides intercourse. The dimension lifetime vs. acquired, generalized vs. situational were added, as well as the etiology is taking into account. For clinical work it is important that these changes highlight the significance and importance of psychological, situational...

Theoretical part Currently accepted new conceptualization of women's sexual dysfunction is based on the model found in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These classifications are extended and combined interpersonal, contextual, personalpsychological and biological factors. Recent DSM- IV definitions have focused on absence of sexual fantasies and sexual desireprior to sexual activity and arousal, even though the frequencyof this type of desire is known to vary greatly among women without sexual complaints. DSM-IV definitions also focus on genital swelling and lubrication, entities known to correlate poorly with subjective sexual arousal and pleasure. The structure of the new classification is based on the four categories of DSM-IV: disorders of desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. However these categories are newly assigned to the subjective dimension of satisfaction, stress and the presence of disorders during other sexual activities besides intercourse. The dimension lifetime vs. acquired, generalized vs. situational were added, as well as the etiology is taking into account. For clinical work it is important that these changes highlight the significance and importance of psychological, situational...