General Inattention, Sexual Worries, Problematic Smartphone Use, and Partner-Focused Imagery Vividness: How do they Relate to Sexual Function, Pleasure, and Distress?
摘要
Sexual functioning depends on the ability to maintain attention on erotic stimuli, whether sensory or internally generated. However, limited research has comprehensively examined the diverse attentional mechanisms that may influence sexual response. This study investigated how four attentional factors: (1) general inattention, (2) sexual worries (about body image and performance during sexual activity), (3) problematic smartphone use, and (4) vividness of partner-focused mental imagery (a feature relying on internal attention), independently predict sexual function, sexual distress, and sexual pleasure in a non-clinical sample. For this purpose, a cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 559 Portuguese heterosexual adults (453 women, 106 men). Among women, lower dysphoria, fewer sexual worries, and greater vividness of partner-focused imagery predicted better sexual function; greater dysphoria, more sexual worries, less vivid partner-focused imagery, and more problematic smartphone use predicted greater sexual distress; lower dysphoria and fewer sexual worries predicted greater sexual pleasure. Among men, vividness of partner-focused imagery and lower dysphoria predicted better sexual function; more sexual worries and less vivid partner-focused imagery vividness predicted greater sexual distress; less problematic smartphone use predicted greater sexual pleasure. Although general inattention was generally related to poorer sexual function and well-being in simple correlations, it was not a significant predictor in multiple regressions. Findings underscore the complex role of attentional processes in shaping sexual well-being. This study emphasizes the importance of both reducing attentional distractions and cultivating internal attentional engagement through imagery to promote sexual health.