title: Positive Body Image and Sexual Functioning in Dutch Female University Students: The Role of Adult Romantic Attachment.
abstract: This study focused on links between romantic attachment, positive body image, and sexual functioning. Dutch female university students (N = 399) completed an online survey that included self-report items about body appreciation, sexual functioning, and romantic attachment. A proposed conceptual model was tested using structural equation modeling and a good fit to the data was found. Results revealed that attachment avoidance in a romantic context was negatively related to sexual arousal, vaginal lubrication, the ability to reach orgasm, and sexual satisfaction. Attachment anxiety was negatively related to body appreciation which, in turn, was positively related to sexual desire and arousal. Findings indicated that romantic attachment is meaningfully linked to body appreciation and sexual functioning. Therefore, the concept of adult attachment may be a useful tool for the treatment of sexual problems of young women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands. F.vandenBrink@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Femke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monique A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.affiliation: Division of Methodology and Statistics, Department of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hessen
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Woertman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body appreciation; Body image; Romantic attachment; Sexual functioning