Impact of mindfulness versus supportive sex education on stress in women with sexual interest/arousal disorder.
Lori A Brotto, Rosemary Basson, Andrea Grabovac, Meredith L Chivers, Bozena Zdaniuk, Tamara S Bodnar, Joanne Weinberg
Journal of Behavioral Medicine August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-024-00491-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 148 |
| Population | Women with a diagnosis of sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD) |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group treatment Sex education comparison group treatment (STEP) |
| Duration | 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cortisol Low desire Sex education Sexual interest/arousal disorder Stress |
| Key findings | Perceived stress decreased significantly more after MBCT than after sex education, and reductions in perceived stress predicted increases in sexual desire and decreases in sex-related distress only after MBCT. |
Abstract
Low desire in women is the most common sexual difficulty, and stress has been identified as a significant predictor of symptoms. We evaluated a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group treatment versus a sex education comparison group treatment (STEP) on self-reported stress and on the physiological stress response measured via morning-to-evening cortisol slope in 148 women with a diagnosis of sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD). Perceived stress decreased following treatment in both groups, and significantly more after MBCT. The cortisol slope was steeper (indicative of better stress system regulation) from pre-treatment to 6-month follow-up, with no differences between the groups. As an exploratory analysis, we found that the reduction in perceived stress predicted increases in sexual desire and decreases in sex-related distress for participants after MBCT only. These findings suggest that group mindfulness targeting women with low sexual desire leads to improvements in self-reported and physiological stress, with improvements in self-reported stress partially accounting for improvements in sexual desire and distress.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 12
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Training Teachers to Deliver Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Learning from the UK Experience Mindfulness April 26, 2010
- Effects of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy versus Supportive Sex Education on Sexual Concordance and Sexual Response Among Women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder. The Journal of Sex Research 2025
- Mindfulness and Sex Education for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder: Mediators and Moderators of Treatment Outcome. The Journal of Sex Research May 2023
- Group Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy (MiCBT) Reduces Depression and Anxiety and Improves Flourishing in a Transdiagnostic Primary Care Sample Compared to Treatment-as-Usual: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry May 31, 2022
and 7 more in the library