SEXUAL PAIN AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING AMONG COLLEGE-AGED BLACK WOMEN

Abstract

Sexual pain is commonly experienced among women; it impacts 10-20% of women in the United States, yet it is still an underexplored area of research (Sorensen et al., 2018). The majority of sexual pain research has also focuses on the experiences of White, middle-aged, and older women (Avis et al.,2005; Kao et al., (2008); Rosen et al., 1993).This study addresses this gap by focusing on the sexual pain and sexual health experiences of college-aged Black women. The purpose of this study was to explore the frequency of sexual pain in a sample of Black female college students, differences in psychosocial functioning between Black female college students with vs. without sexual pain, how sexual pain impacts mental health (specifically depressive and anxiety symptoms, and fear-avoidance of college-aged Black women), how sexual pain affects college-aged Black women's sexual satisfaction, and how cultural factors play a role in coping strategies among college-aged Black women experiencing sexual pain. A total of 77 African American women completed an online survey that examined demographics, sexual health history, three sexual pain variables (e.g., sexual pain intensity, sexual pain frequency,and sexual pain duration), anxiety, depressive, fear-avoidance, sexual satisfaction, and cultural attitudes.Additionally, majoritiy of participants considered themselves to be sexually active with themselves and others. Notably, about half (48%) of the women reported experiencing sexual pain, highlighting the prevalence of sexual pain in this population. The findings demonstrated that Black women with sexual pain had higher average scores for depressive symptoms. Findings also revealed significant associations between three sexual pain variables (e.g., sexual pain intensity, sexual pain frequency, and sexual pain duration) and fear avoidance. A notable trend finding also indicated a positive relationship between pain duration and anxiety symptoms. Ultimately, the findings from the study highlight the psychological and sexual health challenges that college-aged Black women experience, and it highlights the importance of developing culturally informed interventions and screening tools that address these challenges and disparities.