Alexithymia, negative emotions, and sexual behavior in heterosexual university students from Italy

Archives of Sexual Behavior

Volumn 42, Issue 1, 2013, Pages 117-127

  Scimeca, Giuseppe ^a   Bruno, Antonio ^a   Pandolfo, Gianluca ^a   Micò, Umberto ^a   Romeo, Vincenzo M ^a   Abenavoli, Elisabetta ^a   Schimmenti, Adriano ^b   Zoccali, Rocco ^a   Muscatello, Maria R A ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MESSINA   (Italy)

^b KORE UNIVERSITY OF ENNA   (Italy)

Author keywords

Alexithymia; Negative emotions; Sex differences; Sexual behavior

Indexed keywords

ADULT; AFFECT; ANXIETY; ARTICLE; CONTROL; EMOTION; FEMALE; HETEROSEXUALITY; HUMAN; HUMAN RELATION; ITALY; MALE; PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT; QUALITY OF LIFE; QUESTIONNAIRE; SATISFACTION; SEXUALITY; STUDENT;

ADULT; AFFECT; ANXIETY; EMOTIONS; FEMALE; HETEROSEXUALITY; HUMANS; INTERNAL-EXTERNAL CONTROL; INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS; ITALY; MALE; PERSONAL SATISFACTION; QUALITY OF LIFE; QUESTIONNAIRES; SEXUAL PARTNERS; STUDENTS; YOUNG ADULT;

EID: 84872039133     PISSN: 00040002     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-012-0006-8     Document Type: Article

References (74)

1. Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
2. Albert, U., Maina, G., Forner, F., & Bogetto, F. (2004). DSM-IV obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: Prevalence in patients with anxiety disorders and in healthy comparison subjects. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 45, 325-332.
3. Bancroft, J., Janssen, E., Strong, D., Carnes, L., Vukadinovic, Z., & Long, J. S. (2003a). The relation between mood and sexuality in heterosexual men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 217-230.
4. Bancroft, J., Loftus, J., & Long, J. S. (2003b). Distress about sex: A national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 193-208.
5. Beck, A. T. (1967). Depression: Clinical, experimental and theoretical aspects. London: Staples Press.
6. Beck, J. C., & Bozman, A. W. (1995). Gender differences in sexual desire: The effects of anger and anxiety. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 24, 595-612.
7. Belsley, D. A. (1991). Conditioning diagnostics: Collinearity and weak data in regression. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
8. Bozman, A. W., & Beck, J. C. (1991). Covariation of sexual desire and sexual arousal: The effects with anger and anxiety. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 20, 47-60.
9. Bressi, C., Taylor, G. J., Parker, J. D. A., Bressi, G., Brambilla, V., Aguglia, E., et al. (1996). Cross-validation of the factor structure of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: An Italian multicenter study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 41, 551-559.
10. Brody, S. (2003). Alexithymia is inversely associated with women's frequency of vaginal intercourse. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 73-77.
11. Brotto, L. A., Knudson, G., Inskip, J., Rhodes, K., & Erskine, Y. (2010). Asexuality: A mixed-methods approach. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 599-618.
12. Brotto, L. A., & Yule, M. A. (2011). Physiological and subjective sexual arousal in self-identified asexual women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 699-712.
13. Butcher, J. N., Graham, J. R., Ben-Porath, Y. S., Tellegen, A., Dahlstrom, W. G., & Kaemmer, B. (2001). MMPI-2: Manual for administration and scoring (rev. ed.). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
14. Byers, E. (2005). Relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction: A longitudinal study of individuals in long-term relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 42, 113-118.
15. Carpenter, L. M., Nathanson, C. A., & Kim, Y. J. (2009). Physical women, emotional men: Gender and sexual satisfaction in midlife. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 87-107.
16. Carvalho, J., & Nobre, P. (2011). Predictors of men's sexual desire: The role of psychological, cognitive-emotional, relational, and medical factors. Journal of Sex Research, 48, 254-262.
17. Ellison, C. R. (2001). Intimacy-based sex therapy: Sexual choreography. In P. J. Kleinplatz (Ed.), New directions in sex therapy: Innovations and alternatives (pp. 163-184). Philadelphia: Brunner-Routledge.
18. Everaerd, W. (1988). Commentary on sex research: Sex as an emotion. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 1, 3-15.
19. Eysenck, H. J. (1971). Hysterical personality and sexual adjustment, attitudes and behavior. Journal of Sex Research, 7, 274-281.
20. Eysenck, H. J. (1972). Personality and sexual behavior. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 16, 141-152.
21. Eysenck, H. J. (1973). Personality and attitudes to sex in criminals. Journal of Sex Research, 9, 295-306.
22. Eysenck, H. J. (1976). Sex and personality. London: Open Books.
23. Eysenck, H. J., & Wilson, G. (1977). Conosci la tua personalità. Milano: Rizzoli.
24. Grabe, H. J., Spitzer, C., & Freyberger, H. J. (2001). Alexithymia and the temperament and character model of personality. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 70, 261-267.
25. Green, S. E., & Mosher, D. L. (1985). A causal model of sexual arousal to erotic fantasies. Journal of Sex Research, 21, 1-23.
26. Guttman, H., & Laporte, L. (2002). Alexithymia, empathy and psychological symptoms in a family context. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 43, 448-455.
27. Hamilton, M. (1959). The assessment of anxiety states by rating. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 32, 50-55.
28. Hamilton, M. (1960). A rating scale for depression. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 23, 56-62.
29. Heiman, J. R. (1980). Female sexual response patterns: Interactions of physiological, affective, and contextual cues. Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 1311-1316.
30. Heiman, J., & LoPiccolo, J. (1988). Becoming orgasmic: A sexual and personal growth program for women. New York: Prentice Hall.
31. Koukounas, E., & McCabe, M. P. (2001). Sexual and emotional variables influencing sexual responses to erotica: A psychophysiological investigation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30, 393-408.
32. La Torre, D., Muscatello, M. R. A., Marino, A., Bruno, A., Bilardi, F., Cedro, C.,.Zoccali, R. (2003). Comportamento sessuale ed immaginario erotico in donne tossicodipendenti. Minerva Psichiatrica, 44, 83-90.
33. Lane, R. D., Sechrest, L., & Riedel, R. (1998). Sociodemographic correlates of alexithymia. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 39, 377-385.
34. Levant, R. F., Richmond, K., Majors, R. G., Inclan, J. E., Rossello, J. M., Heesacker, M.,.Sellers, A. (2003). A multicultural investigation of masculinity ideology and alexithymia. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 4, 91-99.
35. Lindholm, T., Lehtinen, V., Hyyppä, M. T., & Puukka, P. (1990). Alexithymic features in relation to the dexamethasone suppression test in a Finnish population sample. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 1216-1219.
36. Lumley, M. A. (2000). Alexithymia and negative emotional conditions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49, 51-54.
37. Madioni, F., & Mammana, L. A. (2001). Toronto Alexithymia Scale in outpatients with sexual disorders. Psychopathology, 34, 95-98.
38. Maina, G., Albert, U., Gandolf, S., Vitalucci, A., & Bogetto, F. (2005). Personality disorders in patients with burning mouth syndrome. Journal of Personality Disorders, 19, 80-88.
39. Martin, N. G., Eaves, L. J., & Eysenck, H. J. (1977). Genetic, environmental and personality factors influencing the age of first sexual intercourse in twins. Journal of Biosocial Science, 9, 91-97.
40. Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1970). Human sexual inadequacy. Boston: Little Brown.
41. Masters, W. H., Johnson, V. E., & Kolodny, R. C. (1994). Heterosexuality. New York: HarperCollins.
42. Michetti, P. M., Rossi, R., Bonanno, D., De Dominicis, C., Iori, F., & Simonelli, C. (2007). Dysregulation of emotions and premature ejaculation (PE): Alexithymia in 100 outpatients. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4, 1462-1467.
43. Micò, U. (2010). Validazione italiana del SAWM: uno strumento per la valutazione del comportamento sessuale [Italian validation of the SAWM: A measure for the assessment of sexual behavior]. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
44. Mitchell, W. B., DiBartolo, P. M., Brown, T. A., & Barlow, D. H. (1998). Effects of positive and negative mood on sexual arousal in sexually functional males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 27, 197-208.
45. Montebarocci, O., Codispoti, M., Baldaro, B., & Rossi, N. (2004). Adult attachment style and alexithymia. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 499-507.
46. Mulhall, J., King, R., Glina, S., & Hvidsten, K. (2008). Importance of and satisfaction with sex among men and women worldwide: Results of the global better sex survey. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5, 788-795.
47. Muscatello, M. R., Bruno, A., Scimeca, G., Pandolfo, G., Paduano, R., Mico', U.,.Zoccali, R. (2010). The relationship between anger and heterosexual behavior. An investigation in a nonclinical sample of urban Italian undergraduates. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7, 3899-3908.
48. Nemiah, J. C., & Sifneos, P. E. (1970). Affect and fantasy in patients with psychosomatic disorders. In O. W. Hill (Ed.), Modern trends in psychosomatic medicine (Vol. 2, pp. 26-34). London: Butterworths.
49. Nencini, R., & Belcecchi, M. U. (1973). Nuova taratura dell'MMPI. Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata, 89-99, 118-120.
50. Nobre, P. J., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2006). Emotions during sexual activity: Differences between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 491-499.
51. Pancheri, P., Picardi, A., Pasquini, M., Gaetano, P., & Biondi, M. (2002). Psychopathological dimensions of depression: A factor study of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating scale in unipolar depressed outpatients. Journal of Affective Disorders, 68, 41-47.
52. Parker, J. D. A., Bagby, R. M., & Taylor, G. K. (1993). Factorial validity of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. European Journal of Personality, 7, 221-232.
53. Pasini, A., Chiaie, R. D., Seripa, S., & Ciani, N. (1996). Alexithymia as related to sex, age, and educational level: Results of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale in 417 normal subjects. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 33, 42-46.
54. Pasini, W., & Crépault, C. (1987). L'imaginaire en sexology clinique. Paris: PUF.
55. Peplau, L. A. (2003). Human sexuality: How do men and women differ? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12, 37-40.
56. Peterson, Z. D., & Janssen, E. (2007). Ambivalent affect and sexual response: The impact of co-occurring positive and negative emotions on subjective and physiological sexual responses to erotic stimuli. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 793-807.
57. Pfaus, J. G. (1999). Revisiting the concept of sexual motivation. Annual Review of Sex Research, 10, 120-156.
58. Purifoy, F. E., Grodsky, A., & Giambra, L. M. (1992). The relationship of sexual daydreaming to sexual activity, sexual drive, and sexual attitudes for women across the life-span. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 21, 369-385.
59. Regan, P. C., & Berscheid, E. (1999). Lust: What we know about human sexual desire. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
60. Salminen, J. K., Saarijarvi, S., Aarela, E., Toikka, T., & Kauhanen, J. (1999). Prevalence of alexithymia and its association with sociodemographic variables in the general population of Finland. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 46, 75-82.
61. Schmitt, D. P., & Buss, D. M. (2000). Sexual dimensions of person description: Beyond or subsumed by the Big Five? Journal of Research in Personality, 34, 141-177.
62. Schnarch, D. (1991). Constructing the sexual crucible: An integration of sexual and marital therapy. New York: W.W. Norton.
63. Sifneos, P. E. (1996). Alexithymia: Past and present. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 137-142.
64. Spielberger, C. D. (1994). State-trait anger expression inventory. Firenze, Italy: Organizzazioni Speciali.
65. Spitzer, C., Siebel-Juerges, U., Barnow, S., Grabe, H. J., & Freyberger, H. J. (2005). Alexithymia and interpersonal problems. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 74, 240-246.
66. Štulhofer, A., Zelenbrz, J., Landripet, I., Kuti, S., Gregurović, M., & Tiljak, H. (2004). Spol, starenje i seksualnost: struktura i dinamika seksualnoga zadovoljstva u heteroseksualnom uzorku urbanih zena i muskaraca [Gender, aging, and sexuality: The structure and dynamics of sexual satisfaction in a heterosexual sample of urban women and men]. Društvena istraživanja, 13, 1011-1029.
67. Taylor, G. J. (1984). Alexithymia: The concept, measurement and implications for treatment. American Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 725-732.
68. Taylor, G. J., Bagby, R. M., & Parker, J. D. A. (1997). Disorders of affect regulation: Alexithymia in medical and psychiatric illness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
69. Tellegen, A., Ben-Porath, Y. S., McNulty, J. L., Arbisi, P. A., Graham, J. R., & Kaemmer, B. (2003). The MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales: Development, validation, and interpretation. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
70. Troisi, A., D'Argenio, A., Peracchio, F., & Petti, P. (2001). Insecure attachment and alexithymia in young men with mood symptoms. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 189, 311-316.
71. Van de Poll, N. E., & Van Goozen, S. H. (1992). Hypothalamic involvement in sexuality and hostility: Comparative psychological aspects. Progress in Brain Research, 93, 343-361.
72. Vanheule, S., Desmet, M., & Meganck, R. (2007). Alexithymia and interpersonal problems. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63, 109-117.
73. Weinryb, R. M., Gustavsson, J. P., Hellström, C., Andersson, E., Broberg, A., & Rylander, G. (1996). Interpersonal problems and personality characteristics: Psychometric studies of the Swedish version of the IIP. Personality and Individual Differences, 20, 13-23.
74. Wise, T. N., Osborne, C., Strand, J., Fagan, P. J., & Schmidt, C. W. (2002). Alexithymia in patients attending a sexual disorders clinic. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 28, 445-450.