Association between male sexual self-efficacy and depression and anxiety symptoms

There are evidences demonstrating a significant impact of the depression and anxiety symptoms in sexual function. To investigate such evidence, this study has correlated the Self-Efficacy Scale-Sexual Erectile Function (SSES-E) to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The sample consists of 364 men from four universities and a clinical psychologist. Participants from universities accounted to 75% of the sample. The others were in the process of psychotherapy and had complaints of sexual dysfunction. Ages ranged from 18 to 67 years (M = 33.76, SD = 10:48), about marital status, 47% were married, 43% single, 9% divorced and 1% widowed. Regarding education, 85% of them had at least incomplete higher education. The instruments were administered collectively in universities and individually during the initial care at the clinic, both applications occurred in appropriate locations following ethical requirements in the research. The SSES-E is a scale which uses the concept of self-efficacy in the ability to measure the sexual behavior performance. It consists of 25 items and two dimensions named obtaining and maintaining the erection. For measurement, a level measuring scale between 10 and 100 points is used, the score is obtained by averaging the responses and also the items dimensions. About the inventories, are self-report scales that describe the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. Each has 21 affirmative evaluated through a number from zero to three points. The score is obtained as the sum of scores of these items and varies between 0 and 63. For the BDI, it is still possible to obtain scores for somaticaffective and cognitive dimensions. The data collected were subjected to partial correlation (Pearson at 0.05) eliminating the effect of differences between clinical and non-clinical group. The results showed mild and moderate negative associations between the score of the SSES-E and the dimensions: obtaining and maintaining the erection and the BDI score and the dimensions: somatic and cognitive-affective. For the BAI, the only score has been associated to a slightly negative to the dimension: SSES-E maintaining the size of the erection. These data have indicated the negative interference of depressive symptoms on sexual self-efficacy. On anxiety symptoms, the same interference was restricted to the maintenance of behaviors supporting the sexual activity. It is suggested that these associations should be considered in interventional and diagnostic procedures of male sexual dysfunction.

Título: Association between male sexual self-efficacy and depression and anxiety symptoms

Autores: Ítor Finotelli Jr.; Oswaldo Martins Rodrigues Jr.; Marilandes Ribeiro Braga; Moara Carvalho; Erlei Tavares; Maria Tavares
Palavras-Chave: sexual self-efficacy; depression; anxiety; sexual dysfunctions; sexual function; male sexuality

Categoria: Trabalhos publicados em eventos científicos

Referência: Finotelli Jr., I., Rodrigues Jr., O. M., Braga, M. R., Carvalho, M., Tavares, E., & Tavares, M. (2013). Association between male sexual self-efficacy and depression and anxiety symptoms. Trabalho apresentado no VII World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. WCBCT 2013 Abstract Book, Lima, 859-859.