Emotional dysregulation: concurrent relation to sexual problems among trauma-exposed adult cigarette smokers

J Sex Marital Ther. 2010;36(2):137-53. doi: 10.1080/00926230903554545.

Abstract

Despite the documented association between trauma exposure and sexual problems (sexual dissatisfaction and sexual functioning), only a paucity of studies have investigated possible mechanisms underlying this association. The present study tested the role of emotion dysregulation in regard to levels of sexual dissatisfaction and functioning among a sample of 43 trauma-exposed cigarette smokers (17 women; M(age) = 20.20, SD = 10.87). When controlling for negative affectivity, type of trauma (sexual vs. nonsexual), daily smoking rate, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and anxiety sensitivity, emotion dysregulation provided an independent and unique contribution to sexual dissatisfaction but not to sexual function. These preliminary findings suggest that emotion dysregulation may be more important to understanding certain sexual problems (dissatisfaction) among cigarette-smoking trauma survivors than previously recognized, and this topic is, therefore, worthy of further investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / epidemiology*
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology
  • Attitude to Health
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Regression Analysis
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / epidemiology*
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / psychology
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / epidemiology*
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / psychology
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vermont / epidemiology
  • Young Adult