Virtual Reality Could Help Assess Sexual Aversion Disorder

ABSTRACT

Virtual reality (VR) may improve our understanding of sexual dysfunctions’ manifestations, although research in this area remains limited. This study assessed the potential use of a VR Behavior Avoidance Test (VR-BAT) as a tool for examining the clinical features of Sexual Aversion Disorder (SAD): the experience of fear, disgust, and avoidance when facing sexual cues/contexts. A sample of 55 adults (≥ 18y) with (n = 27) and without SAD (n = 28) completed a self-report measure of sexual avoidance. Their anxiety, disgust, electrodermal activity, heart rate, and visual and behavioral avoidance were then examined during two VR-BATs involving sexual or non-sexual stimuli. Mixed repeated measures ANOVAs, t-tests, and correlational analyses were performed. Results showed that individuals in the SAD group reported greater anxiety and disgust compared to their non-SAD counterparts during the sexual stimuli condition. Sexual avoidance scores were largely positively related to anxiety and disgust during the VR sexual condition, and moderately negatively related to the time spent touching the virtual character’s genitals. This study is important given the prevalence of sexual difficulties, such as SAD, and the new research avenues offered by emerging technologies, like VR.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Société et Culture (reference: 2022-NP296263) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (reference: 430-2019-00791) for financially supporting this research project and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for supporting the research activities of Simon Dubé and Valérie Lapointe. The authors also wish to thank Cloé Canivet and Tania Deshaies for their assistance during recruitment and data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Société et Culture [2022-NP296263]; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [430-2019-00791].