title: Approach and Avoidance Sexual Goals in Couples with Provoked Vestibulodynia: Associations with Sexual, Relational, and Psychological Well-Being.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a prevalent vulvovaginal pain condition that is triggered primarily during sexual intercourse. PVD adversely impacts women's and their partners' sexual relationship and psychological well-being. Over 80% of women with PVD continue to have intercourse, possibly because of sexual goals that include wanting to pursue desirable outcomes (i.e., approach goals; such as a desire to maintain intimacy) and avoid negative outcomes (i.e., avoidance goals; such as avoiding a partner's disappointment).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate associations between approach and avoidance sexual goals and women's pain, as well as the sexual, relational, and psychological well-being of affected couples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with PVD (N = 107) and their partners completed measures of sexual goals, sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and depression. Women also completed measures of pain during intercourse and sexual functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  (1) Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction Scale, (2) Dyadic Adjustment Scale-Revised or the Couple Satisfaction Index, (3) Beck Depression Inventory-II, (4) numerical rating scale of pain during intercourse, and (5) Female Sexual Function Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When women reported higher avoidance sexual goals, they reported lower sexual and relationship satisfaction, and higher levels of depressive symptoms. In addition, when partners of women reported higher avoidance sexual goals, they reported lower relationship satisfaction. When women reported higher approach sexual goals, they also reported higher sexual and relationship satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting approach and avoidance sexual goals could enhance the quality and efficacy of psychological couple interventions for women with PVD and their partners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada.
authors.forename: Natalie O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muise
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Impett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
authors.forename: Gillian K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Boudreau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009948:Orgasm; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Depression; Pain; Provoked Vestibulodynia; Relationship Satisfaction; Sexual Function; Sexual Goals; Sexual Motivation; Sexual Satisfaction; Vulvodynia