Research article summary (published 30 Oct 2002):

Sexual functioning and self-reported depressive symptoms among college women.

Full Abstract

We conducted an exploratory study comparing 47 college-aged women reporting depressive symptoms but not receiving antidepressant medication to 47 age-matched controls. We examined various dimensions of sexual functioning, including sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, pain, pleasure, and satisfaction. The women with depressive symptoms reported more inhibited sexual arousal, more inhibited orgasm, more sexual pain problems, and less sexual satisfaction and pleasure than control participants. Novel to this study, the women with depressive symptoms reported greater desire for sexual activity alone (masturbation) than the nondepressed women. The findings are discussed in terms of primary reinforcers and depressive symptomology.

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Author information

Author/s: Frohlich, Penny (P); Meston, Cindy (C);

Affiliation: University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of sex research (J Sex Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Nov; vol 39 (issue 4) : pp 321-5

Dates: Created 2003/01/24; Completed 2003/07/25; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12545415, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Case-Control Studies Depression - complications; physiopathology; psychology Female Humans Masturbation - psychology

Masturbation - psychology Personal Satisfaction Questionnaires Sexuality - psychology Students - psychology Women's Health

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