http://hdl.handle.net/11067/5707 2026-10-30T04:27:57Z http://hdl.handle.net/11067/7186 Título: Repetitive Negative Thinking and Sexual Functioning in Portuguese Men and Women: A Cross-Sectional Study Autor: Peixoto, Maria Manuela; Ribeiro, Vera Resumo: Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process involved in the development and maintenance of emotional disorders that negatively affect sexual functioning. However, empirical evidence for the role of RNT on sexual functioning is still lacking. The current study aimed to investigate the role of RNT on sexual functioning in men and women by examining differences in RNT between men and women and between individuals with and without subclinical sexual difficulties. It also aimed to investigate the predictive role of RNT on sexual function indices in men and women. A total of 424 participants (270 women) completed online a sociodemographic questionnaire and Portuguese versions of the Persistent and Intrusive Negative Thoughts Scale, the Female Sexual Functioning Index, and the International Index of Erectile Function. The main findings showed that women scored significantly higher than men on the RNT. Similarly, individuals with subclinical sexual difficulties scored significantly higher on the RNT compared with individuals without sexual difficulties. RNT was a statistically significant and negative predictor of sexual functioning in women and men. The role of RNT on sexual functioning in women and men was found, with men and women with subclinical sexual difficulties more likely to express persistent and intrusive negative thoughts compared with men and women without sexual difficulties. In summary, RNT appears to be a negative predictor of sexual functioning in both women and men, suggesting that individuals with more intrusive and negative persistent thoughts also have more difficulty in their sexual response. Descrição: Publish at: International Journal of Sexual Health, Volume 34, Issue 4 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11067/7185 Título: Quality of life and emotional well-being during COVID-19 as mediators in the relationship between sexual functioning and satisfaction in Portuguese women Autor: Peixoto, Maria Manuela; Lopes, Julia Resumo: Women’s quality of life, emotional well-being, sexual functioning and satisfaction are associated, and little is known about this relationship during COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the mediating role of quality of life and emotional well-being in the relationship between sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction in women during COVID19 outbreak in Portugal. A sample of 301 women was recruited in May 2020, and women answered to a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Female Sexual Functioning Index, the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women, the brief WHOQOL, and the Positive Affect – Negative Affect Scale (emotional well-being). Results indicated that quality of life was the only significant mediator for the relationship between sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. Overall, the results emphasize the role of perceived quality of life in women’s sexuality, by extending previous knowledge to a crisis context (COVID-19 pandemic), enhancing quality of life promotion during adverse moments to improve women's sexual satisfaction. Descrição: Publish at: Women & Health Volume 62, 2022 - Issue 4; corresponding author: Email: nelinha.peixoto@gmail.com Full postal address: Maria Manuela Peixoto, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia para o Desenvolvimento Positivo, Instituto de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade Lusíada do Porto, Rua de Moçambique, 21 e 71, Aldoar, 4100 - 348, Porto, Portugal 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11067/7184 Título: Sexual Satisfaction in Portuguese Women: Differences Between Women With Clinical, Self-Perceived and Absence of Sexual Difficulties Autor: Peixoto, Maria Manuela Resumo: Objectives: Female sexual functioning and satisfaction are affected by the presence of sexual difficulties. The current study examines differences in sexual satisfaction according to three groups of women: (i) clinical sexual difficulties assessed by the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) cut-off; (ii) self-perceived sexual difficulties at a non-clinical level; and (iii) sexually healthy. Methods: A convenience sample of 329 Portuguese women, with a mean age of 28.69 (SD = 8.78), answered a specific question on the presence of self-perceived sexual difficulties, the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women and the FSFI. From the 329 women, 56 were assigned to the group with clinical sexual difficulties, 60 were assigned to the group with self-perceived sexual difficulties at nonclinical level, and 213 constituted the sexually healthy group. Results: Sexually healthy women were more sexually satisfied compared with women who self-perceived sexual difficulties and women who had clinical sexual difficulties according to the FSFI. In addition, women who self-perceived sexual difficulties were also more sexually satisfied compared to women with clinical sexual difficulties according to the FSFI. Conclusions: Women's sexual satisfaction was negatively affected by sexual difficulties assessed by the FSFI cut-off. Although with less impact, self-perceived sexual difficulties also negatively affect women's sexual satisfaction. Descrição: Publish at: International Journal of Sexual Health, Volume 34, Issue 2; corresponding author: Email: nelinha.peixoto@gmail.com Full postal address: Maria Manuela Peixoto, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia para o Desenvolvimento Positivo, Instituto de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade Lusíada do Porto, Rua de Moçambique, 21 e 71, Aldoar, 4100 - 348, Porto, Portugal; corresponding author: Email: nelinha.peixoto@gmail.com Full postal address: Maria Manuela Peixoto, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia para o Desenvolvimento Positivo, Instituto de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade Lusíada do Porto, Rua de Moçambique, 21 e 71, Aldoar, 4100 - 348, Porto, Portugal 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11067/7183 Título: Measurement Invariance of Female Sexual Function Index: A study with heterosexual and lesbian Portuguese women Autor: Peixoto, Maria Manuela Resumo: The Female Sexual Function Index is a powerful screening tool for female sexual dysfunction extensively used across worldwide. Nonetheless, its factorial structure and psychometric properties have been tested almost exclusively with heterosexual samples. Current study aimed to testing the original factorial structure, reliability and temporal stability in two samples of women (heterosexual and lesbian), and to assess the measurement invariance across sexual orientation. An online sample of 752 Portuguese women (376 lesbian women and 376 heterosexual women) recruited between May 2012 and 2013 participated in the study and completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the FSFI. For temporal stability, 30 Portuguese women were recruited online in May 2017. Confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and temporal stability were assessed independently for each sample. Measurement invariance (configural, metric, and scalar) was also assessed. Main findings for both samples corroborate the six-factor structure and revealed excellent levels of temporal stability, with Cronbach alphas and McDonalds Omega of .95 for heterosexual sample, and .96 for lesbian women sample. Results corroborate measurement invariance (configural, metric, and scalar) across sample type. Overall, the FSFI revealed a good-fit for the six-factor model in both heterosexual and women sample, with excellent levels of reliability and temporal stability, and showed measurement invariance across sexual orientation. These findings support the use of the FSFI with lesbian women. Descrição: corresponding author: E-mail: mmpeixoto@por.ulusiada.pt Full postal address: Instituto de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade Lusíada do Porto, Rua de Moçambique, 21 e 71, Aldoar, 4100 - 348, Porto, Portugal. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z