a School of Psychology , University of Ottawa.
J Sex Res. 2018 Jul-Aug;55(6):758-771. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1372352. Epub 2017 Oct 13.
According to objectification theory, women become culturally desexualized during midlife and have the opportunity to let go of their propensity to self-objectify. In young women, self-objectification is negatively related to sexual adjustment. Yet little is known about what could ameliorate this relationship or whether it continues after midlife. Body appreciation (i.e., acceptance and positive regard for the body) has been substantiated as a contributor to improved sexual adjustment in young and older women alike. Hence, this study was designed to examine whether it helps mitigate the deleterious effect of self-objectification on sexual function, satisfaction, and distress in women over the age of 50 (n = 193). Path analyses revealed that self-surveillance is related to body shame and appearance anxiety, the latter of which was related to body self-consciousness during sex. In turn, body self-consciousness during sex mediated the relationship between body shame, appearance anxiety, and all three indicators of sexual adjustment. Furthermore, high body appreciation attenuated the negative associations between self-objectification constructs, body self-consciousness during sex, and sexual satisfaction and distress. Overall, this study supports the use of objectification theory in midlife and older women. Sex therapy interventions that incorporate mindfulness and body appreciation principles are discussed.
根据客观化理论，女性在中年时期会在文化上变得去性化，并有机会放弃自我客观化的倾向。在年轻女性中，自我客观化与性适应呈负相关。然而，人们对什么可以改善这种关系，或者这种关系是否会在中年后继续存在知之甚少。身体欣赏（即对身体的接受和积极看法）已被证实是改善年轻和老年女性性适应的一个因素。因此，本研究旨在探讨身体欣赏是否有助于减轻自我客观化对 50 岁以上女性（n=193）性功能、满意度和困扰的不良影响。路径分析显示，自我监控与身体羞耻和外表焦虑有关，后者与性行为中的身体自我意识有关。反过来，性行为中的身体自我意识又中介了身体羞耻、外表焦虑与性适应三个指标之间的关系。此外，高度的身体欣赏减弱了自我客观化结构、性行为中的身体自我意识与性满意度和困扰之间的负相关。总的来说，这项研究支持在中年和老年女性中使用客观化理论。讨论了结合正念和身体欣赏原则的性治疗干预措施。
