https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-BlaisTRIP2022

Blais, R. K., Bird, E., Sartin-Tarm, A., Campbell, S. B., & Lorenz, T. (2022). Mechanisms of the association between PTSD and sexual arousal and lubrication functioning among trauma-exposed female service members/veterans. Journal of Affective Disorders, 301, 352-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.106

This study examined associations between mental health symptoms (i.e., alcohol use, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and sexual functioning (i.e., sexual arousal, lubrication during sex) in women Service members and Veterans. Depressive symptoms and romantic relationship satisfaction were examined as mechanisms that explained the associations between mental health symptoms and sexual functioning. In the sample of 464 women Service members and Veterans, PTSD symptoms were directly and indirectly associated with sexual functioning through relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.106

Mental health
Physical health
Trauma

Multiple branches

Active Duty
Veteran

Active duty service member
Veteran

Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study

Blais, Rebecca K., Bird, Elizabeth, Sartin-Tarm, Annaliis, Campbell, Sarah B., Lorenz, Tierney

Background The presence of a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis or higher PTSD severity is associated with higher overall sexual dysfunction in female service members/veterans. However, the mechanisms linking PTSD to specific components of women's sexual arousal function, like lubrication and mental arousal, are unknown. Methods We conducted a survey among 464 women who reported probable Criterion A exposure for PTSD. Path analysis examined (1) the association of PTSD with sexual arousal, (2) whether specific PTSD symptom clusters were uniquely associated with sexual arousal, and (3) whether this association is indirect, through the effects of higher depression severity and lower romantic relationship satisfaction. Arousal was operationalized to measure both mental (subjective arousal) and physical (lubrication) experiences. Results Higher PTSD severity was associated with lower lubrication and arousal function. The association of PTSD severity with arousal was indirect, through lower romantic relationship satisfaction (estimate: -0.12; 95% CI: [-0.014, -0.007]) and higher depression (estimate: -0.08, 95% CI: [-0.012, -0.002]). The association of PTSD severity with lubrication was also indirect, but only through lower relationship satisfaction (estimate: -0.10, 95% CI: [-0.013, -0.006]). PTSD symptom clusters were not uniquely associated with arousal and lubrication through mediated pathways. Limitations Data were from a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample. Criterion A exposure could not be confirmed. Conclusions PTSD may lead to arousal and lubrication dysfunction by contributing to higher depression severity and strained romantic relationships. Interventions targeting reductions in depressive symptoms and bolstering relationship satisfaction may minimize the burden of PTSD on sexual arousal concerns.

Elsevier

Article
REACH Publication

Utah State University, RKB
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, EB
Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, AST
Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, TL
Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, AST
Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, TL
Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation in Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, SBC
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, SBC