Mindfulness and Sex Education for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder: Mediators and Moderators of Treatment Outcome.
Lori A Brotto, Bozena Zdaniuk, Meredith L Chivers, Faith Jabs, Andrea Grabovac, Martin L Lalumière
The Journal of Sex Research May 2023 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2126815 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 148 |
| Population | Cisgender women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder |
| Interventions | Sex therapy education |
| Duration | Eight weekly sessions; measures at pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and 6- and 12-month post-treatment |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Depression, interoceptive awareness, self-compassion, self-criticism, and mindfulness mediated improvements in sexual desire, arousal, and distress, often to a greater degree after MBCT plus psychoeducation than after STEP. Expectations for improvement did not moderate any outcomes. |
Abstract
Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD) is a common sexual dysfunction in women. Both mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus psychoeducation and sex therapy, education, and support (STEP; which contains the same educational information as in the MBCT arm but also integrates supportive-expressive therapy), are effective. We tested mediators and moderators of improvements. Each treatment arm consisted of eight sessions delivered weekly, and participants completed measures online pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 6- and 12-month post-treatment. Depression, self-reported interoceptive awareness, self-compassion, self-criticism, and mindfulness were examined as mediators, and expectations for improvement as a moderator. Of 148 cisgender women who consented, 70 were randomized to the MBCT plus psychoeducation group (mean age 39.3 ± 13.2 yrs) and 78 to the STEP group (mean age 37.9 ± 12.2 yrs). Decreases in depression mediated decreases in sexual distress in the MBCT plus psychoeducation group only. Improvements in interoceptive awareness mediated changes in both sexual desire and arousal, and sexual distress, and to a greater degree after MBCT plus psychoeducation. Changes in self-compassion mediated changes in sexual desire and arousal only for the MBCT plus psychoeducation group and mediated changes in sexual distress in both groups. Reductions in self-criticism mediated improvements in sexual distress to a greater extent after MBCT plus psychoeducation. Changes in mindfulness predicted changes in desire and arousal, and distress only in the MBCT plus psychoeducation group. Expectations for improvement did not moderate any outcomes. The findings have implications for understanding common and potentially distinct pathways by which MBCT plus psychoeducation and supportive sex education improve symptoms of SIAD.
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
Cited by 10
- A virtual, group-based mindfulness intervention for midlife and older women with low libido lowers sexual distress in a randomized controlled pilot study The Journal of Sexual Medicine June 23, 2023
- 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 Management of Low Desire and Vulvovaginal Pain. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America June 1, 2024
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapies on Sexual Function, Sexual Distress, and Depression in Women: A Meta-Analysis Study. International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health 2025
- Minding the Body: A Meta-analysis of the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Training on Self-reported Interoception. Research Square June 4, 2025
and 5 more in the library
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- A randomized trial comparing group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with group supportive sex education and therapy for the treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology July 2021
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