The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 35 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Turning on and turning off: a focus group study of the factors that affect women’s sexual arousal
Open accessAbstract
The aim of this study was to inform the development of a questionnaire to assess a woman's tendency to respond with sexual excitation/inhibition in different situations. Nine focus groups, involving 80 women (M age = 34.3 years; range, 18-84), were conducted. Women described a wide range of physical (genital and nongenital), cognitive/emotional, and behavioral cues to arousal. The relationship between sexual interest (desire) and sexual arousal was complex; sexual interest was reported as sometimes preceding arousal, but at other times following it. Many women did not clearly differentiate between arousal and interest. Qualitative data on the factors that women perceived as "enhancers" and "inhibitors" of sexual arousal are presented, with a focus on the following themes: feelings about one's body; concern about reputation; unwanted pregnancy/contraception; feeling desired versus feeling used by a partner; feeling accepted by a partner; style of approach/initiation; and negative mood. The findings can help inform conceptualizations of sexual arousal in women.
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“Given the demonstrated benefits of a mixed-methods approach for elucidating understudied aspects of human sexuality and developing new treatments,44, 45, 46, 47, 48”
From Preliminary Development of a Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy to Expand Couples’ Sexual Intimacy after Prostate Cancer: A Mixed Methods Approach (2021) · cites this paper as [45]
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Women's sexual dysfunction: revised and expanded definitions
Basson, R. J. (2005) · Canadian Medical Association Journal · doi:10.1503/cmaj.1020174 · Cited by 507
The dual control model: current status and future directions
Bancroft, J., Graham, C. A., Janssen, E., & Sanders, S. A. (2009) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224490902747222 · Cited by 438
Self-citationAccounting for Women’s Orgasm and Sexual Enjoyment in College Hookups and Relationships
Armstrong, E. A., England, P., & Fogarty, A. C. K. (2012) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.1177/0003122412445802 · Cited by 425
Body Image and Female Sexual Functioning and Behavior: A Review
Woertman, L., & van den Brink, F. (2012) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2012.658586 · Cited by 479
Petersen, J. L., & Hyde, J. S. (2011) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.551851 · Cited by 345
Metadata
- Authors
- Graham, C. A., Sanders, S. A., Milhausen, R. R., & McBride, K. R.
- Affiliations
- Indiana University Bloomington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Graham, Cynthia A.
- Venue
- Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 527-538
- ISSN
- 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2800
- OpenAlex
- W2031869173
- Cited by
- 354
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 6.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- bura.brunel.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London) (submittedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Eli Lilly and Company
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Keywords
- female sexual arousal, sexual desire, sexual interest, body image, sexual reputation, unwanted pregnancy, contraception, partner acceptance, sexual initiation, negative mood, questionnaire development
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anecdotes as Topic, Arousal, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Libido, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, United States, Women's Health, Focus Groups
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