title: The influence of personality and coping on female sexual function: a population survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common disorder with limited data investigating relationships with psychological influences, such as personality traits and coping mechanisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship and impact of personality traits and coping strategies on female sexual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey was distributed to a sample of women representative of the area's demographic distribution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Ten Item Personality Index (TIPI), and the Brief COPE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred twenty-six females responded. The mean total FSFI score was 24.56 (SD 6.77) with lowest scores in the desire domain. Personality scores were similar to published normative values. Subjects displaying stronger tendencies for introversion (r = 0.246, P < 0.001), not being open to new experiences (r = 0.159, P = 0.008), and emotional instability (r = 0.244, P < 0.001) were found to have significantly worse sexual function. Conscientiousness was significantly associated with better desire, orgasm, satisfaction, and total FSFI score (P = 0.029, P = 0.002, P = 0.005, P = 0.003). Moreover, the utilization of negative coping strategies such as self-blame, self-distraction, and behavioral disengagement, significantly correlated with poor sexual function (r = -0.298, P < 0.001, r = -0.360, P < 0.001, r = -0.398, P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personality and coping are linked to sexual function with introversion, not being open to new experiences, emotional instability, and the utilization of negative coping strategies being significantly associated with poor sexual function. Women presenting with sexual function complaints may need further evaluation of their personality and coping strategies in order to mitigate any negative impact of these tendencies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Catrina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crisp
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fellner
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleeman
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pauls
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010551:Personality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Coping Strategies; Personality; Sexual Dysfunction