A recent study published in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy has revealed that individuals with high anxiety sensitivity—fear of arousal-related body sensations such as a rapid heartbeat—are more likely to experience sexual pain, decreased sexual satisfaction, and increased sexual distress. This finding suggests that anxiety sensitivity, which is already recognized as a risk factor across various psychological domains, also plays a significant role in sexual well-being.
Anxiety sensitivity refers to the fear of arousal-related bodily sensations that one interprets as harmful or dangerous. This includes physical reactions such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, or dizziness, which individuals with high anxiety sensitivity might perceive as signs of impending disaster, like a heart attack or loss of control.
This trait is distinct from general anxiety, focusing instead on the fear of the symptoms of anxiety themselves, rather than the situational causes of anxiety. As such, anxiety sensitivity can exacerbate or contribute to the development of various anxiety disorders and impact behavioral responses across different contexts, including those related to physical health and sexual well-being.
Previous research has primarily focused on the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and psychological disorders like anxiety and depression, noting its impact on physical health and behavior. However, the overlap between physical sensations experienced during anxiety and those during sexual activity hinted that anxiety sensitivity might also influence sexual well-being.
Despite some earlier studies examining this link, their results were inconclusive, with limitations such as outdated measurement tools and a lack of diverse sample populations hindering progress.
Recognizing these gaps, researchers at the University of New Brunswick aimed to explore the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and various aspects of sexual well-being using a more reliable anxiety sensitivity measurement and a broader, more inclusive sample base. This approach was intended to provide a clearer understanding and address the inconsistencies found in previous research.
The study recruited a community-based sample of 170 men, 305 women, and 9 gender diverse individuals aged 19 to 60 through social media and online platforms. Participants completed an online survey measuring their anxiety sensitivity, sexual well-being — which included sexual function, pain, satisfaction, self-esteem, distress, and behavior — and psychological well-being.
The researchers found that heightened anxiety sensitivity was linked to reduced sexual well-being. The finding suggests that anxiety sensitivity not just as a psychological factor affecting mood and behavior, but also as a critical player in sexual health.
“Of particular importance, by including a broad age range and both men and women, this study demonstrates that the associations between anxiety sensitivity and sexual well-being extend to men and older individuals, not just young women (as in prior research),” the researchers explained.
Individuals with high anxiety sensitivity were more likely to have reported abstaining from sexual activities in the past or to engage in them less frequently, especially genital sexual activities as opposed to non-genital ones. Those with high anxiety sensitivity might avoid sexual activities that could trigger feared physiological arousal sensations.
Interestingly, the researchers observed gender differences in how anxiety sensitivity impacts sexual satisfaction. While both men and women with higher anxiety sensitivity reported more sexual pain and distress, the effect on sexual satisfaction was significantly pronounced in women only. This suggests that anxiety sensitivity may interfere with sexual satisfaction in gender-specific ways, possibly influenced by different psychological or social dynamics experienced by men and women.
To test the robustness of their findings, the researchers examined the role of anxiety sensitivity over and above the general psychological well-being of the participants, which includes symptoms of anxiety and depression. Even after accounting for these factors, anxiety sensitivity remained a unique predictor of sexual pain, dissatisfaction, and distress, confirming its specific relationship with sexual well-being.
However, despite its insightful findings, the study’s cross-sectional design does not allow for conclusions about causality—whether anxiety sensitivity causes poor sexual well-being or vice versa. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported data could lead to biases such as underreporting or overreporting of sensitive information.
Future research should consider longitudinal studies to better understand the directionality of these relationships and experimental designs to test interventions aimed at reducing anxiety sensitivity. Furthermore, expanding the range of sexual behaviors studied and including a more diverse set of participants in terms of sexual orientation and relationship status could enhance the generalizability of the findings.
“This study makes clear that anxiety sensitivity’s identity as a transdiagnostic risk factor extends into the sexual well-being domain. Our study revealed clear and direct associations between anxiety sensitivity and pain during sex, sexual satisfaction (for women but not men), and sexual distress. With this in mind, interventions that focus on reducing anxiety sensitivity (e.g. Norr et al., 2014; Olthuis et al., 2014) may have significant implications for improving sexual well-being,” the researchers wrote.
The study, “Does anxiety sensitivity interfere with sexual wellbeing? Evidence from a community sample,” was authored by Janine V. Olthuis , Emma M. Connell , Lucia F. O’Sullivan, and E. Sandra Byers.
