Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jan-Feb;40(1Part-I):68-72.
doi: 10.12669/pjms.40.1.8625.

The effect of ruminative thoughts on sexuality in obese women

Hulya Guc  1 , Hasan Turan Karatepe  2 , Asena Ayca Ozdemir  3 , Ibrahim Bashan  4
Affiliations

The effect of ruminative thoughts on sexuality in obese women

Hulya Guc et al. Pak J Med Sci. 2024 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: Ruminative thoughts play a significant role in the pathogenesis of disorders such as anxiety and depression. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of ruminative thoughts on the sexual functions of obese and non-obese women.

Methods: This case-control study included individuals sexually active women aged 18 and above, and under 46 years, who applied to the university hospital's obesity clinic in 2021 and had not previously been diagnosed with the patient and/or their partner with organic and/or psychiatric diseases that could cause sexual dysfunction and/or being under treatment, as well as pregnancy. The participants consisted of pre-obese and obese individuals (n = 59), as well as non-obese individuals (n = 63). The Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, Female Sexual Function Index, and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale were administered to the voluntary participants. Using univariate and multivariate statistical models, the effects of obesity and volatile thought styles on the sexual experiences of obese and non-obese women were evaluated.

Results: The analyses conducted revealed that the scores of ruminative thoughts were not affected by obesity. After adjusting for age, it was observed that Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores were higher in pre-obese and obese women (p<0.05). In the multiple models created, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores were negatively influenced by obesity, whereas Female Sexual Function Index scores were adversely affected by ruminative thought styles.

Conclusions: In this study, while addressing sexual health for both preobese, obese, and non-obese women, the importance of considering predisposing psychological factors is emphasized. It emphasizes the importance of ruminative thoughts and obesity on sexual functioning in women. Psychological well-being and body image perception emerge as critical elements in this relationship.

Keywords: Obesity; Ruminative thoughts; Sexuality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None.

Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Flow Chart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Berman LA, Berman J, Miles M, Pollets DAN, Powell JA. Genital self-image as a component of sexual health:Relationship between genital self-image, female sexual function, and quality of life measures. J Sex Marital Ther. 2003;29(Suppl-1):11–21. doi:10.1080/713847124. - PubMed
    1. Graziottin A, Leiblum SR. Biological and psychosocial pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction during the menopausal transition. J Sex Med. 2005;2(Supplement-3):133–145. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.00129.x. - PubMed
    1. Moss NE. Gender equity and socioeconomic inequality:a framework for the patterning of women's health. Soc Sci Med. 2002;54(5):649–661. doi:10.1016/s0277-9536(01)00115-0. - PubMed
    1. Silverstein RG, Brown ACH, Roth HD, Britton WB. Effects of mindfulness training on body awareness to sexual stimuli:implications for female sexual dysfunction. Psychosom Med. 2011;73(9):817. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e318234e628. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Segerstrom SC, Tsao JC, Alden LE, Craske MG. Worry and rumination:Repetitive thought as a concomitant and predictor of negative mood. Cogn Ther Res. 2000;24:671–688. doi:10.1023/A:1005587311498.

LinkOut - more resources