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Sexting and fertility: an intervention on sexual communication and empowerment
Dissertation   Open access

Sexting and fertility: an intervention on sexual communication and empowerment

Emily Catherine Stasko
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
May 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/D8DM23
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Abstract

Communication in marriage Intimacy (Psychology) Sexting Clinical Psychology Infertility Psychology
It is well established in the literature that infertility is linked to numerous negative psychological sequelae, including anxiety, depression, stress, and overall distress (Domar, Broome, Zuttermeister, Seibel, & Friedman, 1993; Downey et al., 1989; Downey & McKinney, 1992; Freeman et al., 1985; Mahlstedt et al., 1987). Women report that the medicalization of their bodies and sex lives is a cognitively distressing and often dehumanizing ordeal. Unsurprisingly, both sexual and relationship satisfaction tend to diminish during struggles with infertility (Galhardo, Cunha, & Pinto-Gouveia, 2011; Pepe, & Byrne, 1991). This dissertation examines Let's Get Sexty!, a technological intervention aimed at improving intimacy and sexual satisfaction among women going through fertility treatment. By conceptualizing sexting (sending or receiving sexually suggestive or explicit messages, images, or photos through electronic means) with their partner as a form of sexual communication by which women undergoing infertility treatment may feel empowered and thereby improve their sexual satisfaction during a timeframe noted to be extremely stressful and challenging for women and couples. This project aimed to examine the connection between sexting, sexual communication, intimacy, and sexual satisfaction through the development and implementation of this intervention. Due to recruitment challenges, it was not possible to assess all study hypotheses. The potential contributors to low recruitment included: sensitivity of the target population, perceptions of risk through online recruitment, and generally negative societal views of sexting. Although the development of this project is informed by research, the intervention challenges the pervasive societal view of sexting as a risky behavior that is associated with poor judgment. In addition to challenging women to connect with their sexuality during what is often a dehumanizing ordeal, this project also challenges people to overcome the prevailing view of sexting as dangerous. While cultural views have begun to accept sexting an increasingly normative sexual behavior, this project might be better accepted when that transition is further along. Factors impacting recruitment, directions for future research, and potential clinical implications are discussed along with potential modifications for the study as recruitment continues with the aim of performing fully powered analyses to examine the efficacy of the intervention.

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