Perfectionism, Worry, and Cognitive Distraction's Role in Sexual Distress and Pleasure: Insights from a
Patrícia M Pascoal1,2,3,4, Rui Ferreira Carvalho4,5, Andreia A Manão1
1HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal.
Abstract:
We aimed to explore the associations between perfectionism, sexual distress, and sexual pleasure, using worry and cognitive distraction as serial mediators. Grounded in dimensional and transdiagnostic frameworks of emotional problems, as well as cognitive models of perfectionism and sexual function, we tested a theoretically driven mediation model in a large online community sample (N = 902; Mage = 32.89, SD = 11.21). Controlling for gender identity and sexual orientation, results showed that perfectionistic evaluative concerns were indirectly associated with greater sexual distress through sequential pathways involving worry and cognitive distraction related to body appearance and performance. Smaller indirect effects were also observed for sexual pleasure. Overall, findings highlight the role of maladaptive cognitive processes in linking perfectionism to sexual outcomes, supporting transdiagnostic accounts of sexual distress and pleasure, and underscoring the relevance of targeting transdiagnostic cognitive mechanisms in future clinical interventions.
Related Concept Videos
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Psychosexual Theory of Development
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...


