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Postcoital dysphoria more prevalent among men than previously thought

Findings published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy showed that postcoital dysphoria was more prevalent among men than previously believed.

Using data from an online questionnaire of more than 1,000 male participants, researchers found that 41% reported experiencing postcoital dysphoria in their lifetime, and postcoital dysphoria was linked to current psychological distress, past sexual abuse and several sexual dysfunctions.

“The negative affective state which defines [postcoital dysphoria] has potential to cause distress to the individual, as well as the partner, disrupt important relationship processes, and contribute to distress and conflict within the relationship, and impact upon sexual and relationship functioning,” Joel Maczkowiack, master’s student, and Robert D. Schweitzer, MA, PhD, of Queensland University of Technology School of Psychology and Counselling, wrote. “The female experience of [postcoital dysphoria] has been recognized in the literature, but to date, no studies have been identified which have examined the existence or prevalence of this phenomenon among males.”

The investigators used data from an anonymous, cross-sectional online questionnaire to assess the prevalence and correlates of postcoital dysphoria in an international sample of 1,208 males.

Participants answered two items, which assessed lifetime and 4-week prevalence of postcoital dysphoria within the sexual dysfunction section of the questionnaire. Specifically, they answered whether they had experienced unaccountable tearfulness, sadness or irritability following consensual sexual activity in their life or in the past 4 weeks. Responses were graded on a five-point scale — 0 (never) to 4 (all the time) — with higher scores indicating greater prevalence of postcoital dysphoria and final scores representing the frequency endorsed. They also assessed participants’ prior and current psychological distress, past abuse and male sexual dysfunction.

Overall, 41% (n = 495) of the male participants reported experiencing postcoital dysphoria at some point in their lifetime and 20.2% (n = 245) reported experiencing postcoital dysphoria in the previous 4 weeks. In addition, 3% to 4% of the sample reported regularly experiencing postcoital dysphoria.

The researchers also found that postcoital dysphoria was linked with current psychological distress, childhood sexual abuse and several sexual dysfunctions. Current psychological distress was the strongest variable tied to lifetime and 4-week postcoital dysphoria, with higher levels of psychological distress more strongly associated with postcoital dysphoria, the results showed.

“The results challenge the dominant cultural discourse by showing that the male experience of the resolution phase may be far more varied, complex, and nuanced than previously thought,” Maczkowiack and Schweitzer wrote. “Future research may consider a mixed methods approach, incorporating an anonymous online measure as well as qualitative data to assess the prevalence and subjective phenomenology of postcoital dysphoria.” – by Savannah Demko

Disclosure: Healio Psychiatry was unable to confirm any relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.