Percorrer por autor "Raposo, Catarina F."

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    Difficulties in emotion regulation, repetitive negative thinking, and sexual and psychological distress : a two-wave longitudinal mediation study using a transdiagnostic approach
    (Oxford University Press, 2025-08) Raposo, Catarina F.; Nobre, Pedro; Rosa, Pedro Joel; Pascoal, Patrícia; HEI-LAB - Human Environment Interaction Lab
    Background: Sexual distress is a critical element in diagnosing sexual dysfunction. Recent research using a cross-sectional design has supported the adequacy of a transdiagnostic approach for its understanding. Aim: This exploratory study aimed to investigate the mediating role of repetitive negative thinking between difficulties in emotional regulation and sexual and psychological distress in a community sample. Methods: We used a quantitative longitudinal design with measures including a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Short Form, the Persistent and Intrusive Negative Thoughts Scale, the Sexual Distress Scale–Revised, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Outcomes: Data were collected from 64 partnered individuals (85.9% women; age: M = 31.20, SD = 6.46). Results: Correlational analysis across time revealed significant associations among difficulties in emotion regulation (T1 r = 0.37, T2 r = 0.32), repetitive negative thinking (T1 r = 0.30, T2 r = 0.27), psychological distress (T1 r = 0.37, T2 r = 0.55), and sexual distress (all at P < .01) . The total effect of difficulties in emotion regulation on sexual distress was found to be positive (β = 0.20, P = .008) after controlling for frequency of sexual activity (r = −0.25, P < .05). Longitudinal mediation analysis indicated a significant negative indirect effect from difficulties in emotion regulation on sexual distress via repetitive negative thinking (β = -0.04, 95% CI [-0.008, -0.001]), suggesting a buffering effect over time on sexual distress. Clinical Implications: These results highlight the significance of recognizing difficulties in emotion regulation and repetitive negative thinking as coping strategies when examining sexual distress, emphasizing the need to explore the putative efficacy of therapeutic interventions focused on addressing these cognitive processes to decrease adverse sexual-related outcomes. Strengths and Limitations: These findings highlight the importance of acknowledging difficulties in emotion regulation and repetitive negative thinking as coping strategies in the study of sexual distress. However, the small sample size and the predominance of women participants limit generalizability. Further research with clinical samples and more diverse populations is needed to better understand the relevance of these aspects in assessment and therapy. Conclusions: The findings imply that repetitive negative thinking may have potentially adaptive effects, indicating a nuanced role in coping strategies within the context of the study.
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    Exploring the interplay of difficulties in emotion regulation, repetitive negative thinking, and distress : a two-wave longitudinal mediation study using a transdiagnostic approach
    (54th Congress of the European Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, 2024-09) Raposo, Catarina F.; Nobre, Pedro; Rosa, Pedro Joel; Pascoal, Patrícia; HEI-LAB - Human Environment Interaction Lab
    Sexual distress is a critical factor in diagnosing sexual dysfunction, with recent cross-sectional research supporting a transdiagnostic approach for its understanding. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the mediating role of repetitive negative thinking between difficulties in emotional regulation and both sexual and psychological distress within a community sample. Utilizing a quantitative longitudinal design, the study surveyed 64 partnered individuals. The survey included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – Short Form, the Persistent and Intrusive Negative Thoughts Scale and, as interrelated outcomes, the Sexual Distress Scale-Revised and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Correlational analysis over time showed significant associations between difficulties in emotion regulation, repetitive negative thinking, psychological distress, and sexual distress. Controlling for sexual activity frequency, a positive total effect of difficulties in emotion regulation on sexual distress was observed. Longitudinal mediation analysis revealed a significant negative indirect effect of difficulties in emotion regulation on sexual distress through repetitive negative thinking, which acts as a buffer, but this effect was not observed for psychological distress. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing difficulties in emotion regulation and repetitive negative thinking as coping strategies when examining sexual distress. They emphasize the necessity to explore the efficacy of therapeutic interventions that address these cognitive processes to reduce adverse sexual outcomes. The results suggest that repetitive negative thinking might have adaptive effects, highlighting a nuanced role for these cognitive processes in coping strategies within the study's context.
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    The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists : A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists
    (Oxford University Press, 2021-02-09) Pascoal, Patrícia; Carvalho, Joana Patrícia Pereira de; Raposo, Catarina F.; Almeida, Joana; Beato, Ana; EPCV - School of Psychology and Life Sciences
    Introduction: In recent months, some attempts were made to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Despite recent research that suggests COVID-19 and lockdown measures may eventually impact sexual response and sexually related behaviors, we are missing clinical sexologists’ perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 in sexual health. Such perspectives could inform a preliminary framework aimed at guiding future research and clinical approaches in the context of COVID-19. Aim: To explore the perspectives of clinical sexologists about the impact of COVID-19 on their patients’ sexual health, as well as the professional challenges they have faced during the current pandemic. Findings are expected to inform a preliminary framework aimed at understanding the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Methods: We conducted an online qualitative exploratory survey with 4 open-ended questions with 39 clinical sexologists aged between 32 and 73 years old. The survey was advertised among professional associations’ newsletters. We performed a Thematic Analysis using an inductive, semantic, and (critical) realist approach, leading to a final thematic map. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome is the thematic map and the corresponding table that aggregates the main themes, subthemes, and codes derived from participants’ answers and that can serve as a preliminary framework to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Results: The final thematic map, expected to serve as a preliminary framework on the impact of COVID-19 in sexual health, revealed 3 main themes: Clinical Focus, Remapping Relationships, and Reframing Technology Use. These themes aggregate important interrelated issues, such as worsening of sexual problems and dysfunctions, mental health, relationship management, the rise of conservatism, and the use of new technology that influences sexuality and sexual health-related services. Conclusion: The current study allowed us to develop a preliminary framework to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. This framework highlights the role of mental health, as well as the contextual nature of sexual problems, and subsequently, their relational nature. Also, it demonstrates that the current pandemic has brought into light the debate of e-Health delivery within clinical sexology. PM Pascoal, J Carvalho, CF Raposo, et al. The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologist. Sex Med 2020;XX:XXX–XXX.
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    Sexual distress with partnered face-to-face sexual activity : an exploratory qualitative study with heterosexual cis people who seek and 2 do not seek professional help
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2025-08-06) Pascoal, Patrícia M.; Andersson, Gerhard; Fischer, Vinicius J.; Manão, Andreia A.; Oliveira, Cátia; Raposo, Catarina F.; Rosa, Pedro J.; Roberto, Magda Sofia; Santos, Graça; Tomada, Nuno; Giraldi, Annamaria; HEI-LAB - Human Environment Interaction Lab; EPCV - School of Psychology and Life Sciences
    Introduction: Sexual distress is interrelated with mental health and relationship quality and is fundamental for establishing a diagnosis of sexual dysfunction, even though it also affects people who do not seek professional clinical help. Research on sexual distress related to partnered sexual activity is limited, and no comprehensive model exists to guide research or clinical interventions. We conducted an online cross-sectional qualitative study to: 1) explore the reasons why people experiencing sexual distress in partnered face-to-face sexual activity do not seek professional clinical help; 2) analyze the experiences of participants’ of sexual distress in partnered sexual activity; 3) reflexively compare the experiences reported by participants who seek and do not seek professional help; and 4) reflexively compare experiences across genders. Methods: We performed reflexive thematic analysis on 438 heterosexual people answers (Mage = 41.06, SD = 12.19), including 306 women (69.7%) and 132 men (30.1%). Results: Most participants (54.1%) had not sought professional clinical help but wanted to do so. Some participants (13.2%) expressed a desire for clinical consultations but reported financial or time constraints. Using the reflexive thematic analysis on the qualitative data provided, we created three themes: (1) Sexual (dys)function (It’s the function), which focuses on sexual function and lack of pleasure; (2) Intimacy dynamics (It’s us!), which discusses relationship challenges; (3) Intrapersonal struggles (It’s me!), which highlight individual factors, some influenced by social messages. Comparison across groups revealed that people who sought professional clinical help emphasise genital function and negative emotions, and women highlighted experiencing sexual pain, while men emphasised desire discrepancies and erectile disorder. Discussion: Our results demonstrate that difficulties related to sexual pleasure and with penetrative sex are important sources of distress in partnered sexual activity, which is in line with DSM and ICD frameworks of sexual dysfunction. Participants’ accounts show that pre-existing psychological characteristics, partnered communication, cognitive, and emotional factors are key factors to shape the experience of sexual distress related to sexual dysfunctions. This has implications for clinical work as interventions should target transdiagnostic individual factors that may not be sexual specific (e.g., repetitive negative thinking) as well as couple-level factors (e.g., communication). Internet-based integrative therapies directed at these factors may be a promising venue for those who experience sexual distress with partnered sexual activity and are reluctant to seek in-person sexual healthcare.