Young women’s sexual satisfaction in danger: the significance of thin-ideal internalization, positive body image, and appearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy

Abstract

Background: Previous research indicated that a positive body image is indirectly related to young adult women’s sexual satisfaction through protecting them from appearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy. The aim of the present study was to investigate thin-ideal internalization as a potential factor associated with positive body image, and subsequently ap-pearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy and sexual satisfaction. Participants and procedure: Using a cross-sectional design, 250 young adult Dutch women (age: M = 22.98, SD = 2.98) filled in an online survey measuring the relevant variables. Results: A path analysis revealed that lower thin-ideal internalization was related to greater sexual satisfaction through a more posi-tive body image and less appearance-related self-consciousness during physical intimacy, and also consecutively via both. Conclusions: These findings suggest that thin-ideal internalization may trigger processes that are detrimental to sexual satisfaction in women. Consequently, strengthening sociocultural pressure resistance skills in young adult women could facilitate the de-velopment and maintenance of positive sexual experiences.