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I recruited research participants from this chat/discussion group several months ago for a study on Sexual Experiences and Emotion in Women. I want to thank the women who took part in this research. The study is now complete. If you have further questions or comments you may contact me at skycladgrrl@yahoo.com.
Thank You
Tera Beaber
Here is a summary of the study’s goals and results:
Goals and Results of the Study of Sexual Experiences and Emotion in Women
The goal of this research was to study the relationship between sexual functioning and anxiety in two groups: lesbians and heterosexual women. One interest was in investigating whether there are differences in anxiety and sexual functioning between heterosexual women and lesbians. Additionally, based on prior results, I hypothesized that anxiety is negatively correlated with sexual functioning among both heterosexual women and lesbians.
Participants were 42 women in lesbian relationships and 78 women in heterosexual relationships recruited through announcements posted on internet sites. Women over the age of 18 who were in a monogamous romantic relationship for at least 6 months were eligible to participate. The average age for lesbians was 30.05 years and the average age for heterosexuals was 28.77 years. The majority of participants were Caucasian, (76.2% of lesbians and 78.2% of heterosexuals), with smaller proportions of American Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. The average length of the current relationship was 40.13 months for lesbians and 38.91 months for heterosexuals.
One of the questionnaires used in this research measured anxiety. I found that lesbians and heterosexuals reported similar levels of anxiety. Another questionnaire that I used asked for reports of sexual functioning. I found that lesbian participants reported higher levels of arousal and orgasm than heterosexual participants, but that the groups did not differ in reports of desire, lubrication, satisfaction, pain, or overall sexual functioning. Additionally, I found that the various aspects of sexual functioning correlate with one another differently for lesbians and for heterosexuals. When I analyzed the relationship between anxiety and sexual functioning, I found different results in the lesbian and heterosexual groups. Among lesbian women, anxiety was not related to any aspect of sexual functioning. However, among heterosexual participants higher anxiety was associated with higher reports of pain and lower reports of orgasm, lubrication, and overall sexual functioning. In other words, the results suggest that anxiety is negatively related to sexual functioning among heterosexuals, but that it is unrelated to sexual functioning among lesbians. Again, I want to express my thanks to the women who participated in my research. My findings were intriguing, and I am looking forward to conducting more extensive research on this topic in the future.
Thank You
Tera Beaber
Here is a summary of the study’s goals and results:
Goals and Results of the Study of Sexual Experiences and Emotion in Women
The goal of this research was to study the relationship between sexual functioning and anxiety in two groups: lesbians and heterosexual women. One interest was in investigating whether there are differences in anxiety and sexual functioning between heterosexual women and lesbians. Additionally, based on prior results, I hypothesized that anxiety is negatively correlated with sexual functioning among both heterosexual women and lesbians.
Participants were 42 women in lesbian relationships and 78 women in heterosexual relationships recruited through announcements posted on internet sites. Women over the age of 18 who were in a monogamous romantic relationship for at least 6 months were eligible to participate. The average age for lesbians was 30.05 years and the average age for heterosexuals was 28.77 years. The majority of participants were Caucasian, (76.2% of lesbians and 78.2% of heterosexuals), with smaller proportions of American Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. The average length of the current relationship was 40.13 months for lesbians and 38.91 months for heterosexuals.
One of the questionnaires used in this research measured anxiety. I found that lesbians and heterosexuals reported similar levels of anxiety. Another questionnaire that I used asked for reports of sexual functioning. I found that lesbian participants reported higher levels of arousal and orgasm than heterosexual participants, but that the groups did not differ in reports of desire, lubrication, satisfaction, pain, or overall sexual functioning. Additionally, I found that the various aspects of sexual functioning correlate with one another differently for lesbians and for heterosexuals. When I analyzed the relationship between anxiety and sexual functioning, I found different results in the lesbian and heterosexual groups. Among lesbian women, anxiety was not related to any aspect of sexual functioning. However, among heterosexual participants higher anxiety was associated with higher reports of pain and lower reports of orgasm, lubrication, and overall sexual functioning. In other words, the results suggest that anxiety is negatively related to sexual functioning among heterosexuals, but that it is unrelated to sexual functioning among lesbians. Again, I want to express my thanks to the women who participated in my research. My findings were intriguing, and I am looking forward to conducting more extensive research on this topic in the future.
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