Endorsement of Models Describing Sexual Response of Men and Women with a Sexual Partner: An Online Survey in a Population Sample of Danish Adults Ages 20–65 Years

TY - JOUR

T1 - Endorsement of Models Describing Sexual Response of Men and Women with a Sexual Partner

T2 - An Online Survey in a Population Sample of Danish Adults Ages 20–65 Years

AU - Giraldi, Annamaria

AU - Kristensen, Ellids

AU - Sand, Michael

N1 - © 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Several models have been used to describe men's and women's sexual responses. These models have been conceptualized as linear or circular models. The circular models were proposed to describe women's sexual function best.AIM: This study aims to determine whether men and women thought that current theoretical models of sexual responses accurately reflected their own sexual experience and to what extent this was influenced by sexual dysfunction.METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a large, broadly sampled, nonclinical population, cohort of Danish men and women. The Female Sexual Function Index, Female Sexual Distress Scale, and the International Index of Erectile Function were used to describe sexual function. Also, participants completed questionnaires with written descriptions of different sexual responses to describe their most experienced sexual response.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: For women, we measured desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, pain during sexual activity, sexual distress, and satisfaction with sexual life. For men, we measured erectile function, orgasm, desire, intercourse satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and satisfaction with sexual life.RESULTS: A total of 499 men and 573 women participated. We only analyzed responses from sexually active participants with a partner (401 men and 429 women). The majority of men endorsed the Masters & Johnson model (48.5%) or the Kaplan model (38.3%); only 5.4% endorsed the Basson model, and 7.3% endorsed none of the models. Among women, 34% endorsed the Kaplan model, 28% the Masters & Johnson model, 25.6% the Basson model, and 12.5% none of the models. Among women, sexual dysfunction and distress were significantly (P = 0.01) related to endorsement of the Basson model or none of the models. Among men, erectile dysfunction and dissatisfaction with sexual life were significantly related to endorsement of the Basson model or none of the models (P = 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: No single model of sexual response could describe men's and women's sexual responses. The majority of men and women with no sexual dysfunction that were satisfied with their sexual life endorsed the linear models.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Several models have been used to describe men's and women's sexual responses. These models have been conceptualized as linear or circular models. The circular models were proposed to describe women's sexual function best.AIM: This study aims to determine whether men and women thought that current theoretical models of sexual responses accurately reflected their own sexual experience and to what extent this was influenced by sexual dysfunction.METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a large, broadly sampled, nonclinical population, cohort of Danish men and women. The Female Sexual Function Index, Female Sexual Distress Scale, and the International Index of Erectile Function were used to describe sexual function. Also, participants completed questionnaires with written descriptions of different sexual responses to describe their most experienced sexual response.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: For women, we measured desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, pain during sexual activity, sexual distress, and satisfaction with sexual life. For men, we measured erectile function, orgasm, desire, intercourse satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and satisfaction with sexual life.RESULTS: A total of 499 men and 573 women participated. We only analyzed responses from sexually active participants with a partner (401 men and 429 women). The majority of men endorsed the Masters & Johnson model (48.5%) or the Kaplan model (38.3%); only 5.4% endorsed the Basson model, and 7.3% endorsed none of the models. Among women, 34% endorsed the Kaplan model, 28% the Masters & Johnson model, 25.6% the Basson model, and 12.5% none of the models. Among women, sexual dysfunction and distress were significantly (P = 0.01) related to endorsement of the Basson model or none of the models. Among men, erectile dysfunction and dissatisfaction with sexual life were significantly related to endorsement of the Basson model or none of the models (P = 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: No single model of sexual response could describe men's and women's sexual responses. The majority of men and women with no sexual dysfunction that were satisfied with their sexual life endorsed the linear models.

KW - Adult

KW - Arousal

KW - Coitus

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Health Surveys

KW - Humans

KW - Lubrication

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Models, Psychological

KW - Penile Erection

KW - Personal Satisfaction

KW - Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological

KW - Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological

KW - Sexual Partners

KW - Social Perception

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

U2 - 10.1111/jsm.12720

DO - 10.1111/jsm.12720

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25363341

SN - 1743-6095

VL - 12

SP - 116

EP - 128

JO - Journal of Sexual Medicine

JF - Journal of Sexual Medicine

IS - 1

ER -