Class

Article

College

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Department

Psychology Department

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Abstract

Introduction: Poor sexual function is comprised of diminished sexual desire and arousal, presence of sexual pain, inability to reach orgasm, and loss of satisfaction. Worse sexual function is associated with disordered eating behavior; however, the mechanism through which this association exists remains unclear. Theory suggests that depression mediates the association of disordered eating behaviors and poor sexual function in female service members and veterans. Indeed, veterans with depression have almost 12 times higher odds of having an eating disorder diagnosis and 7 times higher odds of having a sexual dysfunction disorder, relative to those without depression. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether depression mediates the association of disordered eating behaviors and sexual dysfunction.

Method: Participants (N=511) were partnered females that completed measures of sexual function, disordered eating behavior, depression severity, and demographic and military characteristics.

Results: Nearly 60% reported probable sexual dysfunction, 19.6% reported probable eating disorder, and 44.4% reported probable depressive disorder. Higher depression symptoms were associated with lower sexual function (r=-.40, p

Location

Room 208

Start Date

4-11-2019 12:00 PM

End Date

4-11-2019 1:15 PM

Share

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 12:00 PM Apr 11th, 1:15 PM

Depression Mediates the Association of Disordered Eating Behaviors and Sexual Function in Female Service Members and Veterans

Room 208

Introduction: Poor sexual function is comprised of diminished sexual desire and arousal, presence of sexual pain, inability to reach orgasm, and loss of satisfaction. Worse sexual function is associated with disordered eating behavior; however, the mechanism through which this association exists remains unclear. Theory suggests that depression mediates the association of disordered eating behaviors and poor sexual function in female service members and veterans. Indeed, veterans with depression have almost 12 times higher odds of having an eating disorder diagnosis and 7 times higher odds of having a sexual dysfunction disorder, relative to those without depression. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether depression mediates the association of disordered eating behaviors and sexual dysfunction.

Method: Participants (N=511) were partnered females that completed measures of sexual function, disordered eating behavior, depression severity, and demographic and military characteristics.

Results: Nearly 60% reported probable sexual dysfunction, 19.6% reported probable eating disorder, and 44.4% reported probable depressive disorder. Higher depression symptoms were associated with lower sexual function (r=-.40, p