Effectiveness of a bibliotherapy intervention for young adult women’s sexual functioning

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of a bibliotherapy intervention (i.e., the reading of a book) among 50 women randomized to read the book (intervention group) or wait to receive the book (wait-list control group). The book examined was “Becoming Cliterate” (Mintz, 2017) which combines feminist analysis and self-help for women’s orgasm difficulties. To examine intervention effectiveness, within group standardized effect sizes with confidence limits were used. In the intervention group, small to large pretest to posttest effect sizes were found for two measures of orgasm, attitudes toward women’s genitals, sexual-body esteem, self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure, arousal, sexual satisfaction, sexual pain, sexual assertiveness, and overall sexual functioning. A small effect size for one of the two orgasm measures was found among the control group. Implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• Bibliotherapy
• self-help
• orgasm
• female

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Juliana Guitelman

Juliana Guitelman is a PhD candidate in counseling psychology at University of Florida. Her research focuses on sexual functioning and the orgasm gap.

Elizabeth A. Mahar

Elizabeth A. Mahar is a PhD candidate in social psychology at University of Florida. Her research focuses on sexual satisfaction, sexual functioning, and sexual and romantic relationships.

Laurie B. Mintz

Laurie Mintz, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Florida. She is also a licensed psychologist in private practice in Gainesville, Florida. She is also the author of two popular press books aimed at empowering women sexually, a Tired Woman’s Guide to Passionate Sex and Becoming Cliterate.

Hope E. Dodd

Hope Dodd is a second year doctoral student in the Industrial-Organizational psychology program at the University of Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida.