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Publication
Sexual desire, testosterone and personality in women
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Apesar dos esforços recentes para identificar fatores psicobiológicos subjacentes à resposta sexual em mulheres, a compreensão do desejo sexual feminino é ainda limitada. O potencial papel da testosterona na ativação do desejo e da sensibilização a estímulos sexuais tem recebido especial atenção, com resultados contraditórios. A predominância dos traços de personalidade Extroversão e
Procura de Sensações tem sido associada a maiores níveis de excitação sexual e testosterona.
No presente estudo, combinámos medidas de desejo sexual, testosterona livre salivar e traços de personalidade para explorar as interações destas variáveis no contexto da sexualidade feminina. Uma amostra de conveniência de mulheres portuguesas adultas e em idade fértil (N = 64) foi recrutada
para responder a um questionário com duas escalas de desejo (domínios de Desejo do Female Sexual Function Index e Abbreviated Sexual Function Questionnaire) e duas escalas de personalidade (Sensation Seeking Scale – V e NEO – Five-Factor Inventory – 20). Também foram recolhidas amostras de saliva, para medição da testosterona livre.
Os resultados para a totalidade da amostra revelam uma confirmação fraca e restrita das hipóteses colocadas. Detetaram-se correlações positivas significativas com o desejo para a Procura de Sensações e Neuroticismo, mas não para a Extroversão. Identificaram-se algumas associações entre desejo e testosterona. Não se detetou qualquer associação entre testosterona e personalidade. No entanto, ao dividir a amostra consoante a toma ou não de contraceptivos hormonais, identificaram-se
correlações significativas mais consistentes entre os níveis de testosterona e as variáveis desejo e personalidade em mulheres que não tomam a pílula combinada.
Despite recent efforts to uncover psychobiological factors underlying women’s sexual response, the understanding of female sexual desire remains elusive. Among hormonal correlates, Testosterone’s potential role in the activation of desire and sensitisation to sexual stimuli has received particular attention, with mixed evidence. Regarding individual differences, the predominance of personality traits such as Extraversion and Sensation Seeking has been associated with a lower inhibition of sexual arousal and higher testosterone levels. In the current study we combined the measurement of reported sexual desire, basal salivary free testosterone levels and personality traits to better understand how these variables interact in the context of female sexuality. A convenience sample of adult Portuguese women of reproductive age (N = 64) was recruited to fill out a questionnaire including two sexual desire scales (Female Sexual Function Index’s and Abbreviated Sexual Function Questionnaire’s Desire dimensions) and two personality scales (Sensation Seeking Scale – V and NEO – Five-Factor Inventory – 20). Participants also provided saliva samples, from which free testosterone levels were assayed. The results for the whole sample provide very limited and weak support for the assumptions made. Positive and significant associations were detected between sexual desire and the traits Sensation Seeking and Neuroticism, but not Extraversion. Some associations were found between desire and testosterone. No association was found between testosterone and personality. However, dividing the sample according to hormonal contraceptive use allowed us to detect significant correlations between testosterone levels and the variables desire and personality in women not using the combined pill.
Despite recent efforts to uncover psychobiological factors underlying women’s sexual response, the understanding of female sexual desire remains elusive. Among hormonal correlates, Testosterone’s potential role in the activation of desire and sensitisation to sexual stimuli has received particular attention, with mixed evidence. Regarding individual differences, the predominance of personality traits such as Extraversion and Sensation Seeking has been associated with a lower inhibition of sexual arousal and higher testosterone levels. In the current study we combined the measurement of reported sexual desire, basal salivary free testosterone levels and personality traits to better understand how these variables interact in the context of female sexuality. A convenience sample of adult Portuguese women of reproductive age (N = 64) was recruited to fill out a questionnaire including two sexual desire scales (Female Sexual Function Index’s and Abbreviated Sexual Function Questionnaire’s Desire dimensions) and two personality scales (Sensation Seeking Scale – V and NEO – Five-Factor Inventory – 20). Participants also provided saliva samples, from which free testosterone levels were assayed. The results for the whole sample provide very limited and weak support for the assumptions made. Positive and significant associations were detected between sexual desire and the traits Sensation Seeking and Neuroticism, but not Extraversion. Some associations were found between desire and testosterone. No association was found between testosterone and personality. However, dividing the sample according to hormonal contraceptive use allowed us to detect significant correlations between testosterone levels and the variables desire and personality in women not using the combined pill.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado em Psicobiologia, apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Keywords
Testosterona Traços de personalidade Desejo sexual Mulheres Testosterone Personality traits Sexual desire Women