Ricerc@Sapienza

Objectives: The literature lacks studies of male sexual desire
under the umbrella of the Biopsychosocial approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate and test in a general conceptual model
the role of selected psychological and social variables affecting
male sexual desire such as sexual function, sexism, and cognitiveemotional
factors.
Material and Method(s): Psychosocial variables were selected
from a previous study on the best predictors of male sexual desire
in a group of 450 heterosexual Italian men (age 31.36±10.73).
According to the Biopsychosocial approach, a Path Diagram was
built including “Orgasmic Function”, “Lack of Erotic Thoughts
(LET)”, “Erection Concerns Thoughts (ECT)”, “Hostile
Sexism”, and “Positive Affect” as predictors of sexual desire. The
model was designed as a “partial mediation model” from automatic
thoughts to desire. ECT and LET were put as main predictors,
with direct paths going from ECT to Positive Affect and
Sexual Desire, and from LET to Positive Affect, Orgasmic
Function and Sexual Desire. Direct paths were also drawn from
emotions and orgasm to Sexual Desire. In this model, part of
ECT and LET effect is mediated by emotions and orgasm, and
part directly influences Sexual Desire. Hostile Sexism and Sociodemographic
variables were considered outside (exogenously), as
external variables influencing Sexual Desire. Path Analysis was
performed through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)
approach.
Result(s): Results showed a satisfactory fit to the data
(c2¼35.312, df¼34, p¼.406; GFI¼.987; NFI¼.945;
CFI¼.998; RMSEA¼.009 [95% CI: .000 - .036]). All the
endogenous paths and Hostile Sexism were found to be significant.
None of the Socio-demographic variables was significant,
even if it was important to have them included in this model in
order to control their possible confounding effects highlighted by
previous studies.
Conclusion(s): Our findings suggest that cognitive, emotive,
sexual functioning and cultural variables play a very important
role on men’s sexual interest. Clinical implications of the model
are addressed: it explains the need to operate under an integrated
approach, considering cognitive, emotional and sexual aspect all
together in order to elicit an effective arise of sexual desire.
Disclosure: Work supported by industry: no.