"Anger, embarrassment, less than a woman": the emotional impact of Black women's sexual pain. (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malone, Natalie; Thorpe, Shemeka; Jester, Jasmine K.; Dogan, Jardin N.; Stevens-Watkins, Danelle; Hargons, Candice N.
• Is Part Of: Women & health. Volume 63:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Black women -- emotion -- sexual health -- sexual pain; Women -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Women -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; Women's health services -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Women in medicine -- Periodicals; 613.0424405
• DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2022.2155899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-0242

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Limited research has examined the emotions Black women report when thinking about sexual pain. To fill this gap in the literature, we explored the types of emotions that emerged when N = 126 premenopausal Black women thought about pain during sex. Open-ended responses to the following research question were analyzed: " What feelings emerge when you think about sexual pain? " Structural tabular thematic analysis was used to find commonalities in participants' responses. Findings indicated five families, or categories, of emotions: self-judgment, anger/disgust, sadness, anxiety, and emotions felt somatically. Additionally, women's reports were predominantly within the feeling state and cognitive appraisal components of emotion. Implications for health providers and therapists are discussed.