Sexual anxiety is an internal experience that individuals may feel before, during, or after participating in sexual activity. It can manifest itself as worries about how to perform, what to say, or whether one's body is attractive enough. This type of anxiety has been linked to reduced satisfaction with partnered sexual experiences, decreased communication between partners, and increased feelings of shame and embarrassment.
Little research has examined how anticipatory sexual anxiety affects relational engagement and emotional responses.
The present study aimed to explore this question by examining how anticipatory sexual anxieties influence self-reported sexual behavior, relational engagement, and emotional responses during partnered sexual encounters. To do so, we recruited a sample of 100 adult men and women who identified as heterosexual and had been in a monogamous relationship for at least six months. Participants completed a series of surveys assessing their level of anticipatory sexual anxiety, frequency of sexual interactions, quality of their current relationship, and emotional response to sexual encounters.
Our results indicated that participants who reported higher levels of anticipatory sexual anxiety were more likely to report less frequent sex. In addition, they also reported lower levels of intimacy in their relationships, greater feelings of jealousy and possessiveness towards their partners, and higher levels of guilt and shame following sexual encounters. These findings suggest that individuals who experience high levels of anticipatory sexual anxiety are less satisfied with their relationships overall and have difficulty communicating effectively with their partners.
These results have important implications for understanding the role of anticipatory sexual anxiety in sexual behavior, relational engagement, and emotional responses. By addressing this issue, clinicians can help couples develop strategies to manage their anxiety and improve their overall satisfaction with their sexual experiences.
Future research should continue to investigate how other factors such as gender, age, or relationship length may impact the link between anticipatory sexual anxiety and interpersonal functioning.
How do anticipatory sexual anxieties influence sexual behavior, relational engagement, and emotional responses?
Anxiety is a normal reaction of the body's response system to a perceived threat. Anticipatory anxiety, which is felt before an actual event, may arise from various factors such as expectations, past experiences, social norms, and cultural values. In terms of sexuality, anticipatory anxiety can have both positive and negative effects on individuals' behaviors, relationships, and emotions.