How Safety Impacts the Development and Maintenance of Sexual Problems and Their Treatment: A Polyvagal Perspective
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
White, Nikki
Issue Date
2025-05-24
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
sexuality , sexual problems , sexual dysfunction , polyvagal theory , safety
Alternative Title
Abstract
For most people, sexuality is an important part of their overall health and wellbeing. A person's expression of their sexuality can be influenced by a confluence of factors including, but not limited to, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, interpersonal relationships, family of origin, religion, geographical location, and experiences of trauma. Sexual problems are highly prevalent among late adolescents and adults of all ages, with the most common problems being a lack of interest in sex, low desire, and difficulties with arousal. Sexual problems are often seen alongside other physical and psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, symptoms of trauma, relationship distress and dissatisfaction, and adverse health outcomes. For counsellors, sexuality is an area where they report a lack of competence and confidence, and a desire for specific evidence-based interventions. This capstone paper is a literature review which employs a traditional—narrative approach to examine how safety, from the perspective of polyvagal theory and the autonomic nervous system, might impact the development and maintenance of sexual problems and provide evidence for the use of body-based approaches in treatment. This paper explores cultural, interpersonal, and individual factors related to safety and sexual problems. A review of the literature indicates that experiences of safety, or a lack thereof, are associated with sexual problems. Research indicates that experiences of maltreatment are linked to changes in the autonomic nervous system which bias it towards defensivenss and contributes to the development of sexual problems. This indicates that interventions which target the autonomic nervous system might be effective in treating some sexual problems.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess