The Relationship Between Sexual Functioning and Sexual Concordance in Women

Abstract

Previous research using clinical samples has shown a positive relationship between women’s sexual functioning and sexual concordance (i.e., agreement between genital and subjective sexual arousal). We further examined this relationship using concurrent measures of vaginal, clitoral, and subjective sexual responses in a community sample of women (N = 64, with 59.4% and 34.1% reporting sexual desire and/or arousal difficulties, respectively). Contrary to studies using clinical samples, sexual desire and arousal difficulties were associated with stronger sexual concordance, specifically when changes in subjective arousal predicted changes in genital responses. The subjective experience of arousal may be particularly important in influencing genital responses in women with sexual desire and arousal difficulties compared to unaffected women.

Notes

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Additional information

Funding

Funding for the research described was provided by grants awarded to Meredith L. Chivers from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Queen's University Senate Advisory Research Council and postdoctoral fellowships awarded to Kelly D. Suschinsky from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Queen's University Senate Advisory Research Council.