Chronic Vulvovaginal Pain in Patients of Color: Benefits of Partner Supportiveness in Relation to Sexual Dissatisfaction and Distress

Margaret Bennett-Brown, Olivia R. Adams, Jessica T. Campbell, Zoe Moscovici and Amanda N. Gesselman
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Margaret Bennett-Brown: The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Olivia R. Adams: The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Jessica T. Campbell: The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Zoe Moscovici: The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Amanda N. Gesselman: The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: Within the social support literature, individuals who experience chronic pain have shown many positive outcomes and benefits when receiving the appropriate level of emotional support. In the current study, individuals who experience chronic vulvovaginal pain (CVVP) were asked about their partner’s supportiveness, other sources of emotional support, and their satisfaction and stress surrounding sexual activity. The participants ( n = 333) also identified as people of color, with a majority identifying as African American or Black ( n = 227). The participants indicated that their partners were overall supportive of their diagnoses and found other emotional support sources through medical professionals, vulvar/vaginal pain-specific medical information websites, and family or friends. After conducting linear regressions, results showed the partner supportiveness was associated with less distress and less dissatisfaction surrounding sexual activity. Future research is suggested to further examine social support’s role for minority patients who experience chronic vulvovaginal pain.

Keywords: social support; chronic vulvovaginal pain; emotional support; sexual dissatisfaction; sexual stress; partner supportiveness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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