"Macho" beliefs moderate the association between negative sexual episodes and activation of incompetence schemas in sexual context, in gay and heterosexual men

Background

Despite the existence of conceptual models of sexual dysfunction based on cognitive theory, few studies have tested the role of vulnerability factors such as sexual beliefs as moderators of the activation of cognitive schemas in response to negative sexual events.
Aim

To test the moderator role of dysfunctional sexual beliefs in the association between the frequency of negative sexual episodes and the activation of incompetence schemas in gay and heterosexual men.
Methods

Five-hundred seventy-five men (287 gay, 288 heterosexual) who completed an online survey on cognitive-affective dimensions and sexual functioning were selected from a larger database. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis that dysfunctional sexual beliefs moderate the association between the frequency of unsuccessful sexual episodes and the activation of incompetence schemas.
Outcome

Participants completed the Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire and the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schemas Activated in Sexual Context.
Results

Findings indicated that men's ability for always being ready for sex, to satisfy the partner, and to maintain an erection until ending sexual activity constitute “macho” beliefs that moderate the activation of incompetence schemas when unsuccessful sexual events occur in gay and heterosexual men. In addition, activation of incompetence schemas in response to negative sexual events in gay men was moderated by the endorsement of conservative attitudes toward moderate sexuality.
Clinical Implications

The main findings suggested that psychological interventions targeting dysfunctional sexual beliefs could help de-catastrophize the consequences of negative sexual events and facilitate sexual functioning.
Strengths and Limitations

Despite being a web-based study, it represents the first attempt to test the moderator role of dysfunctional sexual beliefs in the association between the frequency of unsuccessful sexual episodes and the activation of incompetence schemas in gay and heterosexual men.
Conclusion

Overall, findings support the role of sexual beliefs as facilitators of the activation of incompetence schemas in the face of negative sexual events in gay and heterosexual men, emphasizing the need to develop treatment and prevention strategies aimed at challenging common male beliefs about sexuality.
This study was supported by a grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/72919/2010). Maria Manuela Peixoto is supported by a research fellowship at the Psychology Research Center, University of Minho (UID/PSI/01662/2013), the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds and co-financed by the FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653).