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Abstract
Relational and Bodily Experiences Theory has contributed to female sexual desire. We aimed to add evidence to RBET by examining an integrative model of sexual body self-representations, sexual desire, and sexual functioning. The sample consisted of 278 heterosexual Spanish-speaking women. The model showed that some dimensions from body self-representations such as sexual self-efficacy, pleasure from the partner, and self-reflection were part of a Dyadic Context, while solitary desire and pleasure from the self were comprised of Solitary Context. The sexual subjectivity dimensions from the Dyadic Context, predicted satisfaction, dyadic desire for the partner, low pain, and orgasm, while Solitary Context only predicted orgasm in a negative direction. These results are relevant for both future research and clinical practice, since it is shown that the dimensions of sexual subjectivity, such as self-efficacy, pleasure from the partner, and sexual self-esteem have an impact on the sexual functioning of women.
Lay Summary
This paper adds evidence to the RBET by providing a greater knowledge of female sexual desire and the role that body self-representations play on it. In contrast to previous research on this topic, our study contributes to better understand the implications of the RBET for female sexual functioning. Therefore, our results may guide future research and clinical practice.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Nieves Moyano
Nieves Moyano, PhD, is a doctor in Psychology and a teacher and researcher at the Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. Her email is: [email protected]. Nieves Moyano has extensive experience in topics related to research in sexual fantasies, sexual health, sexual functioning, sexual attitudes, evaluation, and sexual therapy.
María del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes
María del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes, PhD, is a doctor in Psychology and a teacher and researcher at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain. Her email is: [email protected]. María del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes has extensive experience in topics related to research on sexual satisfaction, sexual functioning, sexual attitudes, evaluation, and sexual therapy.