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Cited by 168Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsSexual function and dysfunction studiesPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Effects of Mindfulness Training on Body Awareness to Sexual Stimuli: Implications for Female Sexual Dysfunction

Open access
Silverstein, R. Gina, Brown, Anne-Catharine H., Roth, Harold D., Britton, Willoughby B.·2011·Psychosomatic Medicine
DOI 10.1097/psy.0b013e318234e628PMC PMC3711258
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Treatments of female sexual dysfunction have been largely unsuccessful because they do not address the psychological factors that underlie female sexuality. Negative self-evaluative processes interfere with the ability to attend and register physiological changes (interoceptive awareness). This study explores the effect of mindfulness meditation training on interoceptive awareness and the three categories of known barriers to healthy sexual functioning: attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms. METHODS: Forty-four college students (30 women) participated in either a 12-week course containing a "meditation laboratory" or an active control course with similar content or laboratory format. Interoceptive awareness was measured by reaction time in rating physiological response to sexual stimuli. Psychological barriers were assessed with self-reported measures of mindfulness and psychological well-being. RESULTS: Women who participated in the meditation training became significantly faster at registering their physiological responses (interoceptive awareness) to sexual stimuli compared with active controls (F(1,28) = 5.45, p = .03, η(p)(2) = 0.15). Female meditators also improved their scores on attention (t = 4.42, df = 11, p = .001), self-judgment, (t = 3.1, df = 11, p = .01), and symptoms of anxiety (t = -3.17, df = 11, p = .009) and depression (t = -2.13, df = 11, p < .05). Improvements in interoceptive awareness were correlated with improvements in the psychological barriers to healthy sexual functioning (r = -0.44 for attention, r = -0.42 for self-judgment, and r = 0.49 for anxiety; all p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness-based improvements in interoceptive awareness highlight the potential of mindfulness training as a treatment of female sexual dysfunction.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1097/psy.0b013e318234e628

Cites

76 of 76 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

17 tests recomputed · 0 with the reported and recomputed p on opposite sides of .05

Claims the paper makes

17 of 50 cited sources checked · 5 supported · 1 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    Mindfulness practice can improve interoceptive awareness.

    “There is also evidence that mindfulness practice can improve interoceptive awareness.”
    • Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain
      “Several studies have shown that mindfulness is associated with increased cortical volume in brain areas associated with interoceptive awareness, such as the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (43-47), and one recent study showed a higher level of concordance between physiological and subjective responses to emotional stimuli in mindfulness meditators compared with controls (48).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim6 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [43] Holzel BK Ott U Gard T Hempel H Weygandt M Morgen K Vaitl D Investigation of mindfulness meditation practitioners with voxel-based morphometry Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2008 3 55 61 19015095 PMC2569815 source

      The Discussion reports greater gray matter concentration in meditators’ right insula, a region involved in interoception, and suggests this difference reflects training in awareness of bodily sensations. The study compared meditators with non-meditators; it did not measure whether mindfulness practice improved interoceptive awareness itself. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [44] Lazar SW Kerr CE Wasserman RH Gray JR Greve DN Treadway MT McGarvey M Quinn BT Dusek JA Benson H Rauch SL Moore CI Fischl B Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport 2005 16 1893 7 16272874 PMC1361002 source
    • cites [45] Hölzel BK Carmody J Vangel M Congleton C Yerramsetti SM Gard T Lazar SW Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density Psychiatry Res 2011 191 36 43 21071182 PMC3004979 source

      The Discussion (section 4; page unavailable) says the study did not assess interoceptive awareness before and after training, and found no significant pre–post change in the insula. It also reports that meditators did not perform better on an interoceptive task in another study, explicitly calling the proposed link to better interoceptive awareness into question. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [46] Farb NA Segal ZV Mayberg H Bean J McKeon D Fatima Z Anderson AK Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2007 2 313 22 18985137 PMC2566754 source

      The Discussion (page not supplied) reports greater recruitment of the insula and other regions associated with bodily and interoceptive processing in mindfulness-trained participants. It does not report a direct measure of improved interoceptive awareness, and explicitly notes that its cross-sectional design cannot establish that training caused the neural differences. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [47] Farb NA Anderson AK Mayberg H Bean J McKeon D Segal ZV Minding one’s emotions: mindfulness training alters the neural expression of sadness Emotion 2010 10 25 33 20141299 PMC5017873 source
    • cites [48] Sze JA Gyurak A Yuan JW Levenson RW Coherence between emotional experience and physiology: does body awareness training have an impact? Emotion 2010 10 803 14 21058842 PMC4175373 source

      The Results section reports that Vipassana meditators had the highest self-reported visceral awareness, ahead of dancers and controls. The Discussion describes training as associated with greater emotional–physiological coherence, but notes that self-reported awareness may not accurately measure visceral awareness. Because the study compared existing groups rather than testing change after mindfulness practice, it does not establish that practice improves interoceptive awareness. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    Compared with men, women experience a higher level of discordance between their physiological arousal and their subjective experience of arousal when presented with sexual stimuli.

    “Compared with men, women experience a higher level of discordance between their physiological arousal and their subjective experience of arousal when presented with sexual stimuli (6).”
    • Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain
      “Whereas men’s physiological arousal and self-reported arousal are closely correlated, women are significantly more likely to report feeling unaroused even when their bodies show objective signs of physiological arousal (6).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] Chivers ML Seto MC Lalumiere ML Laan E Grimbos T Agreement of self-reported and genital measures of sexual arousal in men and women: a meta-analysis Arch Sex Behav 2010 39 5 56 20049519 PMC2811244 source
  • Premisecitation

    Mindfulness meditation has been associated with increased cortical thickness and gray matter concentration in the insula cortex.

    “Mindfulness meditation has been associated with increased cortical thickness and gray matter concentration in the insula cortex (43-47)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim5 of 5 sources checked
    • cites [43] Holzel BK Ott U Gard T Hempel H Weygandt M Morgen K Vaitl D Investigation of mindfulness meditation practitioners with voxel-based morphometry Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2008 3 55 61 19015095 PMC2569815 source
    • cites [44] Lazar SW Kerr CE Wasserman RH Gray JR Greve DN Treadway MT McGarvey M Quinn BT Dusek JA Benson H Rauch SL Moore CI Fischl B Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport 2005 16 1893 7 16272874 PMC1361002 source

      The Introduction identifies the practice as Insight meditation focused on mindfulness, and the Results report significantly greater right anterior insula cortical thickness in meditators than controls. This paper does not report increased gray matter concentration in the insula; the Discussion mentions gray matter volume only in connection with interoceptive performance in other research. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [45] Hölzel BK Carmody J Vangel M Congleton C Yerramsetti SM Gard T Lazar SW Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density Psychiatry Res 2011 191 36 43 21071182 PMC3004979 source
    • cites [46] Farb NA Segal ZV Mayberg H Bean J McKeon D Fatima Z Anderson AK Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2007 2 313 22 18985137 PMC2566754 source

      The Discussion (page not provided) reports that meditation practice is associated with cortical thickening in the right insular cortex, citing Lazar et al. (2005). Our copy does not report increased gray matter concentration in the insula; this paper’s own findings concern functional activation and connectivity rather than structural change. (LLM, conf=0.87)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [47] Farb NA Anderson AK Mayberg H Bean J McKeon D Segal ZV Minding one’s emotions: mindfulness training alters the neural expression of sadness Emotion 2010 10 25 33 20141299 PMC5017873 source

      The Methods (Image Analysis; page unavailable) describe fMRI measurements of neural activity, and the Results and Discussion discuss insula activation during sadness provocation. Our copy does not report cortical thickness or gray matter concentration in the insula; searches for those structural measures found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    A recent study found that increased body awareness associated with mindfulness meditation was related to higher levels of concordance between physical and emotional responses.

    “A recent study found that increased body awareness associated with mindfulness meditation was related to higher levels of concordance between physical and emotional responses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [48] Sze JA Gyurak A Yuan JW Levenson RW Coherence between emotional experience and physiology: does body awareness training have an impact? Emotion 2010 10 803 14 21058842 PMC4175373 source

      The Discussion reports that Vipassana meditators had the greatest coherence between emotional experience and physiology, and that meditators reported the highest visceral awareness. But it also states that self-reported visceral awareness was not significantly related to coherence and did not explain additional variance beyond training group. The study supports an association with meditation training, not a demonstrated relationship between increased body awareness itself and higher concordance. (LLM, conf=0.87)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingown data

    Mindfulness training was associated with greater improvements on self-reported measures of attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms compared with active controls.

    “Mindfulness training was also associated with greater improvements on self-reported measures of attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms compared with active controls.”
    • Also stated in: § Mindfulness Training Improves Psychological Barriers to Interoceptive Awareness · plain
      “female meditators significantly improved their scores on measures of mindfulness and all three categories of psychological barriers, including attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 18
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 21
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 7

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Mindfulness meditation has been independently found to improve attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms (the three psychological barriers).

    “Mindfulness meditation has been independently found to improve all three of these psychological barriers.”
    • Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · boosted
      “Mindfulness and other forms of meditative practices have consistently been associated with improvement in attentional capacities (18-29) and clinical symptoms of anxiety and depression (30-38).”
    • Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain
      “Mindfulness meditation–based improvements in both attention and negative emotional states have been found to be associated with decreases in self-judgment (i.e., secondary self-referential, ruminative and evaluative processes, and increases in self-acceptance and self-compassion) (38-42).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim3 of 10 sources checked
    • cites [18] Slagter HA Lutz A Greischar LL Francis AD Nieuwenhuis S Davis JM Davidson RJ Mental training affects distribution of limited brain resources PLoS Biol 2007 5 e138 17488185 PMC1865565 source

      The Author Summary reports improved performance on an attentional-blink task after intensive meditation, supporting the attention component. The Introduction describes non-reactivity to judgments as an aim of Vipassana practice, but does not report an improvement in self-judgment. Materials and Methods says participants had no history of mental or neurological illness; the paper does not report improvement in clinical symptoms. (LLM, conf=0.90)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [19] Chan D Woollacott M Effects of level of meditation experience on attentional focus: is the efficiency of executive or orientation networks improved? J Altern Complement Med 2007 13 651 7 17718648 source
    • cites [20] Pagnoni G Cekic M Age effects on gray matter volume and attentional performance in Zen meditation Neurobiol Aging 2007 28 1623 7 17655980 source
    • cites [21] Jha AP Krompinger J Baime MJ Mindfulness training modifies subsystems of attention Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci 2007 7 109 19 17672382 source

      The paper reports improved attention-related performance after mindfulness training and describes growing evidence that mindfulness-based stress reduction helps treat several clinical conditions. It defines mindfulness partly as paying attention nonjudgmentally, but does not report an improvement in self-judgment. The claim that all three barriers improve is therefore not supported by this source. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [22] Srinivasan N Baijal S Concentrative meditation enhances preattentive processing: a mismatch negativity study Neuroreport 2007 18 1709 12 17921873 source
    • cites [23] Tang YY Ma Y Wang J Fan Y Feng S Lu Q Yu Q Sui D Rothbart MK Fan M Posner MI Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 104 17152 6 17940025 PMC2040428 source
    • cites [24] Valentine E Sweet P Meditation and attention: a comparison of the effects of concentrative and mindfulness meditation on sustained attention Ment Health Relig Cult 1999 2 59 70

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [25] Wenk-Sormaz H Meditation can reduce habitual responding Altern Ther Health Med 2005 11 42 58 15819448
    • cites [26] Lutz A Slagter HA Rawlings NB Francis AD Greischar LL Davidson RJ Mental training enhances attentional stability: neural and behavioral evidence J Neurosci 2009 29 13418 27 19846729 PMC2789281 source

      The Discussion’s Summary/Conclusions reports that three months of focused-attention meditation enhanced attentional stability. The paper does not report improvements in self-judgment or clinical symptoms; its Materials and Methods > Participants section says participants had no history of mental or neurological illness. Thus it supports the attention component, not all three barriers. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [27] Brefczynski-Lewis JA Lutz A Schaefer HS Levinson DB Davidson RJ Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 104 11483 8 17596341 PMC1903340 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

    Premisecitation

    The degree of discordance between the subjective experience of arousal and the physiological response is a function of interoceptive awareness, the ability to consciously register internal bodily sensations.

    “The degree of discordance between the subjective experience of arousal and the physiological response has been hypothesized as a function of interoceptive awareness or the ability to consciously register internal bodily sensations (9,10).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [9] Salonia A Giraldi A Chivers ML Georgiadis JR Levin R Maravilla KR McCarthy MM Physiology of women’s sexual function: basic knowledge and new findings J Sex Med 2010 7 2637 60 20487242 source
    • cites [10] Khalsa SS Rudrauf D Damasio AR Davidson RJ Lutz A Tranel D Interoceptive awareness in experienced meditators Psychophysiology 2008 45 671 7 18503485 PMC2637372 source

      The Results and Discussion compare subjective ratings with objective heartbeat-detection accuracy, and the paper describes interoceptive awareness as awareness of internal bodily sensations. It does not hypothesize that interoceptive awareness determines the discordance between felt arousal and a physiological arousal response; that specific part of the citing sentence is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Controls showed no significant changes on BSI-anxiety, BSI-depression, or SPWB-well-being scales.

    “There were no significant changes on these scales for controls (Table 1).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Controls showed no improvement on the FFMQ-nonjudge and SPWB-self-acceptance subscales.

    “controls showed no improvement.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Improvements in interoceptive awareness were correlated with improvements in attention.

    “Improvements in interoceptive awareness were correlated with improvements in the psychological barriers to healthy sexual functioning (r = −0.44 for attention, r = −0.42 for self-judgment, and r = 0.49 for anxiety; all p < .05).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Improvements in interoceptive awareness were correlated with improvements in anxiety.

    “Improvements in interoceptive awareness were correlated with improvements in the psychological barriers to healthy sexual functioning (r = −0.44 for attention, r = −0.42 for self-judgment, and r = 0.49 for anxiety; all p < .05).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Decreases in reaction time to sexual slides were associated with increases in overall mindfulness, attention, nonjudgment, self-acceptance, and well-being and with decreases in self-judgment and anxiety.

    “Pearson correlations revealed that decreases in reaction time to sexual slides were associated with increases in overall mindfulness, attention, nonjudgment, self-acceptance, and well-being and with decreases in self-judgment and anxiety.”
    • Also stated in: § Improvements in Body Awareness Are Associated With Improvements in Psychological Barriers · plain
      “Faster reaction times were correlated with increases in mindfulness (attention and nonjudgment) and decreases in anxiety.”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “Decreased reaction time, or higher interoceptive awareness, was correlated with improvements in self-reported attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Controls' scores on the MAAS, FFMQ-total, FFMQ-observe, and FFMQ-describe did not change.

    “The controls’ scores on these measures did not change.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The FFMQ-observe subscale showed a trend toward a two-way interaction but was not significant.

    “The FFMQ–observe subscale showed a trend toward a two-way interaction but was not significant (F(1,26) = 2.96, p = .09, ηp2 = 0.10).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Nearly $2 billion are spent each year on the often-ineffective treatment of women's sexual complaints.

    “Although female sexual dysfunction is much less apparent in the media, nearly $2 billion are spent each year on the often-ineffective treatment of women’s sexual complaints (2).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] Hartley H The ‘pinking’ of Viagra culture: drug industry efforts to create and repackage sex drugs for women Sexualities 2006 9 363 78 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Drug treatments for women's sexual complaints have been largely unsuccessful because women's sexuality relies more on psychological than physiological factors.

    “Treatments of female sexual dysfunction have been largely unsuccessful because they do not address the psychological factors that underlie female sexuality.”
    • Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain
      “The well-financed hunt for women’s equivalent drug, a pursuit termed the “pinking of Viagra” (2,3), has been unsuccessful because women’s sexuality differs from men’s and relies much more on psychological than physiological factors (4,5).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [2] Hartley H The ‘pinking’ of Viagra culture: drug industry efforts to create and repackage sex drugs for women Sexualities 2006 9 363 78 source
    • cites [3] Triggle D Treating desires not diseases: a pill for every ill and an ill for every pill? Drug Discov Today 2007 12 3 4 17275737 source
    • cites [4] Bancroft J The medicalization of female sexual dysfunction: the need for caution Arch Sex Behav 2002 31 451 5 12238614 source
    • cites [5] Bancroft J Loftus J Long JS Distress about sex: a national survey of women in heterosexual relationships Arch Sex Behav 2003 32 193 208 12807292 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Physiologically based treatments (Viagra) only heighten the discordance between physiological arousal and subjective experience because the level of physiological arousal is irrelevant if psychological barriers are not addressed.

    “Physiologically based treatments (Viagra) only heighten this discordance: the level of physiological arousal is irrelevant if psychological barriers are not addressed (8).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] Chivers ML Rosen RC Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and female sexual response: faulty protocols or paradigms? J Sex Med 2010 7 858 72 19929916 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Judgmental thoughts of inadequacy, embarrassment, guilt, and anxiety can monopolize cognitive resources, draw attention away from the present moment, and interfere with interoceptive awareness.

    “Judgmental thoughts of inadequacy, embarrassment, guilt, and anxiety can monopolize cognitive resources, draw attention away from the present moment, and interfere with interoceptive awareness (7,11).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [7] Basson R A model of women’s sexual arousal J Sex Marital Ther 2002 28 1 10 11928174 source
    • cites [11] Janssen E Everaerd W Spiering M Janssen J Automatic processes and the appraisal of sexual stimuli: toward an information processing model of sexual arousal J Sex Res 2000 37 8 23 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A greater number of women suffer from sexual dysfunction than men.

    “This massive market, with its aggressive advertising, masks the reality that a greater number of women suffer from sexual dysfunction than men (1).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] Laumann EO Paik A Rosen RC Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors JAMA 1999 281 537 44 10022110 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The participants in the meditation courses meditated an average of 1763 minutes (approximately 30 hours) over the semester.

    “The participants in the courses with meditation laboratories meditated an average of 1763 minutes (approximately 30 hours) over the course of the semester, including meditation practice outside class.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The SAM arousal domain captures awareness of the physiological activation parameter of affective experience, including a range of physiological changes involved in sexual arousal.

    “The SAM arousal domain was not intended to measure sexual arousal but rather capture awareness of “the physiological activation parameter of affective experience” (62), which includes a range of physiological changes including those involved in sexual arousal.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [62] Bradley M Lang P Coan J Allen J The International Affective Picture System (IAPS) in the study of emotion and attention Handbook of Emotion Elicitation and Assessment 2007 Oxford University Press New York, NY

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    A multicomponent psychoeducational treatment program for FSAD that includes mindfulness training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, sexual therapy, and relationship therapy yields positive outcomes related to sexual functioning distress.

    “Although this multicomponent treatment has been found to yield positive outcomes related to sexual functioning distress (50,51), it is unclear what role, if any, was played by mindfulness meditation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [50] Brotto LA Basson R Luria M A mindfulness-based group psychoeducational intervention targeting sexual arousal disorder in women J Sex Med 2008 5 1646 59 18507718 source
    • cites [51] Brotto LA Heiman JR Goff B Greer B Lentz GM Swisher E Tamimi H Van Blaricom A A psychoeducational intervention for sexual dysfunction in women with gynecologic cancer Arch Sex Behav 2008 37 317 29 17680353 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Two meditating women did not complete the postintervention questionnaires but were included in reaction time analyses.

    “Two meditating women did not complete the postintervention questionnaires but were included in reaction time analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The SPWB total score demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in the current study (Cronbach α = 0.84).

    “Cronbach α = 0.84”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    There were no significant differences between female intervention groups in age, reaction times, or any self-reported measure at baseline.

    “There were no significant differences between female intervention groups in age, reactions times, or any self-reported measure at baseline.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisereasoning

    It is unclear what role, if any, mindfulness meditation plays in the positive outcomes of the multicomponent treatment program for FSAD.

    “Although this multicomponent treatment has been found to yield positive outcomes related to sexual functioning distress (50,51), it is unclear what role, if any, was played by mindfulness meditation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [50] Brotto LA Basson R Luria M A mindfulness-based group psychoeducational intervention targeting sexual arousal disorder in women J Sex Med 2008 5 1646 59 18507718 source
    • cites [51] Brotto LA Heiman JR Goff B Greer B Lentz GM Swisher E Tamimi H Van Blaricom A A psychoeducational intervention for sexual dysfunction in women with gynecologic cancer Arch Sex Behav 2008 37 317 29 17680353 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The BSI demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in the current study (Cronbach α = 0.92).

    “Cronbach α = 0.92”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The SPWB self-acceptance scale demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in the current study (Cronbach α = 0.94).

    “Cronbach α = 0.94”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Faster reaction times suggest that female meditators could more readily register changes in their bodies, indicating improvements in interoceptive awareness.

    “Faster reaction times suggest that female meditators could more readily register changes in their bodies, indicating improvements in interoceptive awareness.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The MAAS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in the current study (Cronbach α = 0.83 to 0.84).

    “Cronbach α values in the current study were 0.83 to 0.84.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Self-reported mindfulness scores in female college students are associated with a higher level of sexual self-esteem.

    “One correlational study found that self-reported mindfulness scores in female college students were associated with a higher level of sexual self-esteem (49).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [49] Fink S Foran KA Sweeney AC O’Hea EL Sexual body esteem and mindfulness in college women Body Image 2009 6 326 9 19695971 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The FFMQ demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in the current study (Cronbach α = 0.88).

    “Cronbach α = 0.88”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    There was no evaluation of general sensitivity disorders, general sexual distress, phase of menstrual cycle at time of study, or menstrual cycle abnormalities.

    “In addition, there was no evaluation of general sensitivity disorders, general sexual distress, phase of menstrual cycle at time of study, or menstrual cycle abnormalities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The measure of arousal assessed general physiological changes in response to sexual stimuli, which is not specific to, but may include, sexual arousal.

    “In addition, the measure of arousal assessed general physiological changes in response to sexual stimuli, which is not specific to, but may include, sexual arousal.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    FSAD is characterized by a high level of discordance between physiological and subjective arousal states, such that women are unaware of their own bodily sensations (i.e., low interoceptive awareness).

    “FSAD is characterized by a high level of discordance between physiological and subjective arousal states, such that women are unaware of their own bodily sensations (i.e., low interoceptive awareness) (7).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Basson R A model of women’s sexual arousal J Sex Marital Ther 2002 28 1 10 11928174 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Previous research has not shown female sexual orientation to predictably alter an individual's physiological response to sexual stimuli.

    “Although previous research has not shown female sexual orientation to predictably alter an individual’s physiological response to sexual stimuli (73-75)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [73] Chivers ML Seto MC Blanchard R Gender and sexual orientation differences in sexual response to sexual activities versus gender of actors in sexual films J Pers Soc Psychol 2007 93 1108 21 18072857 source
    • cites [74] Chivers ML Bailey JM A sex difference in features that elicit genital response Biol Psychol 2005 70 115 20 16168255 source
    • cites [75] Chivers ML Rieger G Latty E Bailey JM A sex difference in the specificity of sexual arousal Psychol Sci 2004 15 736 44 15482445 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study did not include evaluation of sexual orientation, general sensitivity disorders, or menstrual cycle factors.

    “Sexual orientation, general sensitivity disorders, and menstrual cycle factors are all important in evaluating sexual response but were not included in this study.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Sexual dysfunction among college women is estimated to be approximately 40%.

    “sexual dysfunction among college women is estimated to be approximately 40% (71).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [71] Wilson J Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among college students Undergrad Res J Human Sci 2004 3 1 7

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    It may be that mindfulness training reduces the social or self-imposed proscription to report arousal in an experimental context rather than increased body awareness.

    “Thus, it may be that mindfulness training reduces the social or self-imposed proscription to report arousal in an experimental context rather than increased body awareness.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationown data

    The fact that participation in a college course could improve attention, anxiety, and depression has widespread implications for schools as delivery systems for psychological wellness.

    “However, the fact that participation in a college course could improve attention, anxiety, and depression has widespread implications for schools as delivery systems for psychological wellness.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The present study has several limitations, most notably the small sample size, and limited statistical power.

    “The present study has several limitations, most notably the small sample size, and limited statistical power.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Because the meditating women increased nonjudgmental attention and decreased in anxiety, they were quicker at registering their level of arousal to sexual stimuli.

    “Because the meditating women increased nonjudgmental attention and decreased in anxiety, they were quicker at registering their level of arousal to sexual stimuli.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    This improvement in interoceptive awareness was associated with improvements in attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms, which are known psychological barriers to healthy sexual functioning.

    “This improvement in interoceptive awareness was associated with improvements in attention, self-judgment, and clinical symptoms, which are known psychological barriers to healthy sexual functioning.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    It is possible that the faster reaction times are related to an increased willingness to acknowledge or admit the experience of high arousal states.

    “it is possible that the faster reaction times are related to an increased willingness to acknowledge or admit the experience of high arousal states.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
39 of 39

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Improvements in interoceptive awareness to sexual stimuli and in psychological barriers translate into improved sexual functioning in women with female sexual dysfunction.

    “Mindfulness-based improvements in interoceptive awareness highlight the potential of mindfulness training as a treatment of female sexual dysfunction.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The sample of college women is representative of women with female sexual dysfunction for the purpose of evaluating treatment potential.

    “Participants included Brown University undergraduates (N = 44; mean [standard deviation {SD}] age = 20 [1.0] years; range, 18–22 years)”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The effects of the meditation course on interoceptive awareness and psychological barriers are due specifically to mindfulness meditation rather than other components of the course.

    “The women in the meditation condition participated in a semester-long East Asian/Religious Studies course that incorporated “meditation laboratories” that were designed to allow students to experience the contemplative practices that they learned and read about during the didactic class periods.”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Statistics that don’t add up

Each reported p-value recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom.

  • Inconsistent p-value: F(1,26) = 6.90, p = .03

    Minor

    The paper reports p = .03 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .014. The check cannot tell whether the statistic or the p-value is the misprint.

    Reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .014

  • p-value fits an unstated one-tailed test: F(1,26) = 4.00, p < .05

    Minor

    The paper reports p < .05 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .056. The reported value is what a one-tailed test gives, but the paper does not say near this result that a one-tailed test was used.

    Reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .056

  • Inconsistent p-value: F(1,26) = 5.21, p = .01

    Minor

    The paper reports p = .01 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .031. The check cannot tell whether the statistic or the p-value is the misprint.

    Reported p = .01 · recomputed p = .031

  • Inconsistent p-value: F(1,26) = 2.96, p = .09

    Minor

    The paper reports p = .09 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .097. The check cannot tell whether the statistic or the p-value is the misprint.

    Reported p = .09 · recomputed p = .097

  • p-value fits an unstated one-tailed test: F(1,26) = 4.10, p < .05

    Minor

    The paper reports p < .05 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .053. The reported value is what a one-tailed test gives, but the paper does not say near this result that a one-tailed test was used.

    Reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .053

5 of 5

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Doesn’t add upF(1, 26) = 6.9reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .014

    “F(1,26) = 6.90, p = .03”

  • Doesn’t add upF(1, 26) = 5.21reported p = .01 · recomputed p = .031

    “F(1,26) = 5.21, p = .01”

  • Doesn’t add upF(1, 26) = 2.96reported p = .09 · recomputed p = .097

    “F(1,26) = 2.96, p = .09”

  • Doesn’t add upF(1, 26) = 4.1reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .053

    “F(1,26) = 4.10, p < .05”

  • Doesn’t add upF(1, 26) = 4reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .056

    “F(1,26) = 4.00, p < .05”

  • ConsistentF(1, 28) = 5.45reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .027

    “F(1,28) = 5.45, p = .03”

  • ConsistentF(1, 28) = 4.7reported p = .04 · recomputed p = .039

    “F(1,28) = 4.70, p = .04”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 6.02reported p = .02 · recomputed p = .021

    “F(1,26) = 6.02, p = .02”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 20.17reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,26) = 20.17, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 13.19reported p = .001 · recomputed p = .001

    “F(1,26) = 13.19, p = .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 12.95reported p = .001 · recomputed p = .001

    “F(1,26) = 12.95, p = .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 7reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .014

    “F(1,26) = 7.00, p < .05”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 15.68reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,26) = 15.68, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 5.08reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .033

    “F(1,26) = 5.08, p = .03”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 10.66reported p = .003 · recomputed p = .003

    “F(1,26) = 10.66, p = .003”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 5reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .034

    “F(1,26) = 5.00, p = .03”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 4.28reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .049

    “F(1,26) = 4.28, p < .05”

17 of 17

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Self-check results appear here once an independent check has confirmed them.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

1 of the 77 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Wilson, 2004, Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among college students., Undergrad Res J Human Sci, 3, 1

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Silverstein, R. G., Brown, A.-C. H., Roth, H. D., & Britton, W. B.
Affiliations
Brown University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Brown, Anne-Catharine H.
  • Britton, Willoughby B.
ORCID
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2011-11
Volume
73
Issue
9
Pages
817-825
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/psy.0b013e318234e628
PMC
PMC3711258
OpenAlex
W2316813197
Semantic Scholar
dae53220b21790c6ea3c92cd88b15da94c3bd265
Cited by
168
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
FWCI
11.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH067553, MH067553-05)
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (K23AT006328)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Keywords
mindfulness meditation, interoceptive awareness, female sexual dysfunction, sexual stimuli, attention, self-judgment, anxiety, depression, women
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Anxiety, Arousal, Attention, Awareness, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Reaction Time, Self Concept, Sensation, Sex Factors, Students, Women, Meditation, Sexuality, Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological, Young Adult

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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