Discussion
Our purpose of this research was to predict the sexual function through the genital self-image and sexual anxiety mediating by the awareness of the moment in married females. The results showed there is a significant relationship between the genital self-image and sexual function in the female so that if the genital self-image was positive, they have better sexual function and the negative genital image is not associated with a proper sexual function. This conclusion is confirmed by other studies (L. Berman & Windecker, 2008; L. A. Berman et al., 2003; Lordelo, Brasil, Lerche, Gomes, & Martins, 2017; Sarhan, Mohammed, Gomaa, & Eyada, 2016).
The apparent beauty is important for humans. The person’s body image is the set of perceptions and feelings that a person has about his body. This apparent beauty for females is more important than males because they are equally commended and acclaimed in society. Since the body image in females is more important and they pay more attention to their bodies during sexual intercourse, this issue can cause more stress during the sexual intercourse. Particularly, the genital organs are the center of sexual experience, which are very important. The genital self-image is the person’s feelings and thoughts about his genital organs. A positive genital image is associated with higher self-esteem, greater sexual intercourse, sexual health, sexual pleasure, reduced distress, and low sexual anxiety. The genital organs and its beauty are very important for female. The negative attitude of females towards their genital organs causes them to always pay attention to their genital organs and the partner’s response during sexual intercourse. They are concerned that their genital organs are not attractive to their partner and cannot provide enough pleasure to him. This excessive awareness and attention to genital organs cause the person to have no attention to the sexual intercourse and does not enjoy it. This can disturb the female’s sexual function.
The results also showed that there is a relationship between sexual anxiety and sexual function. According to research findings, female with higher sexual anxiety have a weaker sexual function and lower sexual anxiety is associated with a proper sexual function. Female sexual function is affected by physiological and psychological factors. One of these psychological factors is sexual anxiety. Sexual anxiety arises for a variety of reasons. This anxiety can be the cause of many female sexual dysfunctions and it should be given a special attention to the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Sexual intercourse is not just a physical act but also is influenced by the thoughts and feelings of the individual, and if the person has anxiety and concern, the body is not aroused. Female with sexual anxiety for any reason focuses on sexual function and the response of the other party, instead of focusing on sexual intercourse and enjoying it. That makes her mind always engaged in topics other than her current sexual intercourse. When the person’s mind is involved and there is no arousal and mental stimulation, physical stimulation is not created. This issue in female makes the vagina moisture insufficient. On the other hand, anxiety during sexual intercourse completely unconsciously causes the vaginal muscles to contract. This contraction of the vagina muscles and lack of adequate moisture in female makes it extremely difficult for them to engage in vaginal ingestion, which causes severe pain, lack of orgasm, and failure in sexual function. This defeat for female means sexual incompetence and makes it possible to avoid sexual intercourse in order to avoid this painful experience that can become a permanent cycle (Bigras, Daspe, Godbout, Briere, & Sabourin, 2017; Lin, Huang, & Chu, 2017); (Bigras, Godbout, & Briere, 2015; Bradford & Meston, 2006; Brassard, Dupuy, Bergeron, & Shaver, 2015; De Lucena & Abdo, 2014; Purdon & Watson, 2011; Van Minnen & Kampman, 2000; Watts & Nettle, 2010).
In the case of relationship between the genital self-image and momentary awareness, our findings confirm current research in this area (Arora & Brotto, 2017; Benedict et al., 2016; Pintado & Andrade, 2017; Prowse, Bore, & Dyer, 2013). The results showed there is a relationship between the genital self-image and momentary awareness. This means that female has a more desirable genital image as well as a higher momentary awareness, and vice versa. The genital self-image is the subset of body image and momentary awareness is one of the components of mindfulness. Female with a higher mindfulness have a better body image. Mindfulness helps these females to improve their body image using acceptance, non-judgment, and the momentary awareness. In fact, mindfulness helps female not judge their oppressive thoughts about their body image and confront them instead of avoiding these thoughts. The genital image is the emotions and thoughts of the individual about his\her genital organ. The negative feeling about the genital organ negatively affects the sexual intercourse. The momentary awareness is the main part of mindfulness and mindfulness is directing the mind towards the moment. The momentary awareness is the expression of the present experience and its perception without judgment. The momentary awareness that focuses on the feelings and thoughts of the present experience prevents the individual from automatically responding to his\her experiences and wants the individual to focus on his\her current experience, thus, it automatically stops the negative thoughts on the genital image. People who have high momentary awareness have a positive genital self-image because they live in the moment and enjoy the moment without grief over the past and worry about the future.
We found that there is a relationship between sexual anxiety and momentary awareness in married females. This finding was consistent with the previous studies (L. A. Brotto, Seal, & Rellini, 2012; Silverstein, Brown, Roth, & Britton, 2011). People with higher momentary awareness have less sexual anxiety and vice versa. Sexual anxiety is caused by a variety of causes and is the cause of many sexual disorders. People who suffer sexual anxiety try to escape from dealing with anxiety-related emotions and thoughts as well as anxiety-related physical anxiety. People who have less momentary awareness are more likely to use avoidance strategies, but those who have more momentary awareness try to face the emotions and feelings associated with it and get rid of this anxiety without any avoid. They facilitate the management of anxiety by creating an inferior quality mental state with the momentary awareness. Mindfulness helps one concentrate on the experience of his\her moment without judgments. Sexual anxiety creates inappropriate beliefs about oneself and sexual desires. The momentary awareness helps with better emotional regulation by reducing the association between self and these negative thoughts about anxiety.
According to our findings, there is a relationship between genital self-image and sexual function through momentary awareness. Researches such as Ackard, Kearney‐Cooke, and Peterson (2000), D. M. Bishop (2015), DeMaria, Hollub, and Herbenick (2011), L. Berman and Windecker (2008), Fahs (2014), Zielinski, Miller, Low, Sampselle, and DeLancey (2012) and Cosio and Schafer (2015) have corroborated this relationship. Additionally, research by Stephenson and Kerth (2017), L. Brotto (2013 ) and Newcombe and Weaver (2016) confirmed the relationship between sexual function and the momentary awareness. Genital image, sexual function, and momentary awareness are correlated. People who have high momentary awareness have a higher genital self-image and sexual function. People with a negative genital image also experience difficulty with sexual function because they are concerned about the appearance of their genital organs during sexual intercourse rather than focusing on sexual intercourse and their minds are involved with this issue. The excessive self-awareness of the genital organs and paying attention to the spouse’s reaction to their genital organs attracts all their attention and concentration. In this way, female are ashamed of their genital organs. This issue can cause problems in the sexual function. Sexual failure is also accompanied by anxiety, depression, decreased self-esteem, reduced frequency of sexual intercourse and low sexual pleasure. However, those who have high awareness do not let their oppressive thoughts automatically affect their reactions. They confront these thoughts and fully perceive feelings and thoughts about their current experience. They try to enjoy their current sexual intercourse instead of unrelated concerns. According to the findings of this hypothesis, the momentary awareness seems to modify the relationship between the genital self-image and sexual function. In other words, the person’s perception of his\her genital image increases his\her sexual function by focusing on the momentary awareness. It is accepted that a positive genital image with the momentary awareness can improve the sexual function.
The results also confirmed the relationship between sexual anxiety and sexual function through the momentary awareness. People who have a higher momentary awareness have less sexual anxiety and therefore have a better sexual function. Sexual anxiety affects the sexual function of the individual and makes disorders. Anxiety is caused by a variety of reasons, making it difficult for a person to have sexual intercourse and this makes him\her always monitor and review his\her function. This issue makes the person always worried and minded. This mental conflict prevents mental stimulation, followed by the physical inactivity. Therefore, the lack of adequate moisture in the vagina and contraction leads to a painful sexual experience and lack of orgasm. Failure in the sexual intercourse increases the sexual anxiety and avoidance of sexual activity. However, those who have a high momentary awareness do not escape from sexual anxiety but encounter their thoughts and feelings, stop the thoughts, fully understand the moment they are in it, and enjoy sexual intercourse. According to findings from this hypothesis, the momentary awareness seems to modify the relationship between anxiety and sexual function. In other words, sexual anxiety decreases by focusing on the momentary awareness, and thus, the sexual function is improved (Bradford & Meston, 2006; Brassard et al., 2015; Khaddouma et al., 2015; Lazaridou & Kalogianni, 2013; McCabe, 2005; Van Minnen & Kampman, 2000; Watts & Nettle, 2010).
In general, it can be said that one of the factors that cause sexual anxiety is the concern about the appearance of the genital organ. This is especially important for females because beauty and attraction are important for female and they are praised and acclaimed based on the beauty in the community. Female are more concerned about their bodies and genital organs during the sexual intercourse. On the other hand, those who have higher momentary awareness better respond to the negative genital image that accompanies sexual anxiety and subsequent inappropriate sexual function. This awareness helps female with the negative genital image facing and experiencing their feelings, emotions, and physical feelings with regard to their negative genital self-image and anxiety instead of avoiding sexual intercourse. This will reduce their pain and sorrow.
One of the limitations of our study is the use of an available sampling method. In generalizing the findings should be taken it into account. Also, we used a self-report questionnaire to collect data that could have limitations on self-reporting tools, especially as the content of the tools was related to the private relations of individuals. Another limitation of our study was that it relied on correlational analysis which does not reveal the casual relationship among research variables. Also, the present study was conducted only with females. It is recommended to conduct this research in male in order to provide the possibility to compare the gender variable. It also seems that one of the variables that can affect the genital image, sexual anxiety, and sexual function of a person is the attitude of the spouse. Thus, it is suggested to investigate this variable in future studies.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.