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.