DATE: April 04, 2025 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

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TITLE: New study finds link between ADHD symptoms and distressing sexual problems

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-link-between-adhd-symptoms-and-distressing-sexual-problems/

A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has found that adults who show signs of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are more likely to experience problems with sexual function and distress about their sex lives. People who met the threshold for likely ADHD were over twice as likely to report distressing sexual issues compared to those without ADHD symptoms. The findings suggest that difficulties with attention and emotional regulation may play a role in these sexual concerns.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that includes problems with attention, distractibility, impulsivity, and emotion regulation. These core difficulties can impact many aspects of daily life. Researchers have long suspected that these challenges may also interfere with sexual functioning. Sexual activity, after all, often requires focus and emotional attunement—traits that can be disrupted by ADHD symptoms.

While earlier studies offered mixed results, many had small sample sizes and didn’t assess sexual distress, which is an essential factor in diagnosing sexual dysfunction. The new study sought to clarify these connections using a large sample and validated measurement tools.

To investigate the link between ADHD symptoms and sexual problems, the researchers collected data from 943 adults living in Canada. Participants were recruited through an online platform and completed a set of questionnaires assessing their attention-related symptoms, sexual function, and feelings of sexual distress. Of the total sample, 106 people met the threshold for a likely ADHD diagnosis based on a widely used screening tool developed by the World Health Organization.

Sexual functioning was assessed with the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, which looks at several areas including sexual desire, arousal, ability to reach orgasm, satisfaction with orgasm, and physical responses like lubrication or erection. To evaluate distress related to sexual issues, the researchers used a short form of the Sexual Distress Scale, which measures how often someone feels anxious, frustrated, or inadequate because of problems with their sex life.

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that greater ADHD symptom severity was linked to more problems with sexual functioning and more frequent sexual distress. Specifically, people with more ADHD symptoms reported greater difficulty reaching orgasm and less satisfaction when they did. These individuals were also more likely to feel worried or upset about their sex lives.

When comparing people with likely ADHD to those without, the differences were especially clear in certain domains. Those with ADHD symptoms reported more problems with orgasm ability and orgasm satisfaction. They also had higher levels of sexual distress overall. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in sexual desire, arousal, or physical readiness for sex, such as lubrication or erection. This pattern suggests that attention-related symptoms may interfere more with the later stages of sexual response, particularly those that require sustained focus or regulation of sensations.

The study also explored whether age, sex, and sexual orientation might influence these patterns. Age did seem to matter: younger participants with ADHD symptoms showed stronger associations with orgasm difficulties than older participants. This might be because ADHD symptoms often decrease in intensity with age.

The researchers also found that sex assigned at birth moderated the relationship between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress. While the association was present in both males and females, it was stronger in males. One possible explanation is that men with ADHD may feel more pressure to perform sexually, and problems with orgasm could carry more emotional weight because of social expectations around male sexual performance.

Another key finding was that individuals with likely ADHD were more than twice as likely as those without to meet the clinical criteria for distressing sexual dysfunction. This means that their sexual difficulties were not just present but also causing meaningful emotional harm. When the researchers looked more closely, they found that the link between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress could be partly explained by emotion regulation difficulties. People with ADHD often struggle to manage intense emotions, and this may make sexual problems feel more upsetting and harder to cope with.

“Taken together, these data support associations between ADHD and distressing sexual function problems, and difficulties with emotion regulation as a potential mechanism underlying ADHD and sexual dysfunction,” the researchers concluded.

However, there are some limitations to keep in mind. The study did not include clinical interviews to confirm ADHD diagnoses, so some participants with high scores might not meet formal criteria. It’s also possible that other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, could account for some of the findings.

Despite these limitations, the results offer new insight into how ADHD symptoms may affect sexual well-being. The study supports the idea that attention and emotion regulation difficulties—core features of ADHD—can interfere with sexual satisfaction and contribute to distress. It also highlights the importance of assessing sexual health in people with ADHD, something that is often overlooked in both clinical and research settings.

The study, “Distressing Problems with Sexual Function and Symptoms of Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,” was authored by Simone Y. Goldberg, Maya C. Thulin, Hyoun S. Kim, and Samantha J. Dawson.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-link-between-adhd-symptoms-and-distressing-sexual-problems/

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DATE: April 04, 2025 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

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TITLE: Moderate to vigorous physical activity linked to larger hippocampal volume in young adults

URL: https://www.psypost.org/moderate-to-vigorous-physical-activity-linked-to-larger-hippocampal-volume-in-young-adults/

A study of young adults in Spain found that those who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity tend to have larger volumes in the CA2/CA3 region of the hippocampus—a part of the brain crucial for memory and spatial navigation. The findings were published in the journal Brain Imaging and Behavior.

The hippocampus is a small, curved structure located deep within the brain. It plays a central role in forming, organizing, and retrieving memories. As part of the limbic system, it helps consolidate information from short-term memory into long-term memory and supports spatial memory, which enables us to navigate the world around us.

For many years, it was believed that the brain stopped producing new neurons after childhood. However, more recent research has shown that neurogenesis—the creation of new neurons—continues into adulthood, particularly in the hippocampus. This phenomenon is known as adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

Estimates suggest that adult humans produce roughly 700 new neurons per day in each hemisphere of the hippocampus. However, the survival of these new neurons depends on whether they are successfully integrated into existing brain circuits. If they are not incorporated soon after forming, they typically die off. In humans, successful incorporation appears to depend on learning—especially effortful learning. Animal studies, such as those involving mice, have shown that running can stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis, suggesting that physical activity may promote the growth of new neurons and help maintain existing ones.

In this study, lead author Anastasia Cherednichenko and her colleagues set out to explore the relationship between physical activity and hippocampal gray matter volume in two key subregions: CA2/CA3 and CA4/dentate gyrus (DG). They also investigated whether self-reported versus objectively measured physical activity was more closely linked to hippocampal volume, and examined the potential role of personality traits—specifically punishment sensitivity and anxiety-proneness.

Gray matter volume refers to the volume of neuron cell bodies in a given brain region. The CA2/CA3 and CA4/DG subfields of the hippocampus are involved in memory formation and spatial navigation. The CA2/CA3 region facilitates the creation of new synaptic connections that underpin learning, while the CA4/DG plays a critical role in neurogenesis and the integration of new memories.

The study included 84 healthy young adults (43 women) with an average age of 23. Participants were recruited from the student population at Universitat Jaume I in Castellón de la Plana, Spain, through posters, social media, and word of mouth.

To objectively measure physical activity, participants wore a GENEActiv accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist for seven consecutive days. These wrist-worn devices continuously recorded movement, allowing researchers to assess time spent in light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity, as well as sedentary behavior. After the seven-day monitoring period, participants underwent a high-resolution MRI scan to assess hippocampal volume. They also completed the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) to self-report their typical activity levels, and filled out personality questionnaires, including the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) scales.

The results showed that participants who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity, as measured by the accelerometer, had significantly larger volumes in the CA2/CA3 subregion of the hippocampus. There was also a smaller, marginally significant increase in CA4/DG volume associated with MVPA. Additionally, participants who engaged in light physical activity showed slightly higher CA2/CA3 volumes, although this effect was weaker and did not reach statistical significance after correcting for multiple comparisons.

In contrast, self-reported physical activity levels were not associated with hippocampal volume in any region. However, self-reported activity levels were linked to personality traits: individuals who reported higher physical activity levels tended to have lower sensitivity to punishment and lower anxiety-proneness, as indicated by lower BIS scores. Similarly, participants who spent less time in sedentary behavior (according to the accelerometer) also scored lower on anxiety-proneness, particularly among men.

“The current study showed that objectively measured PA [physical activity] is positively associated with hippocampal CA2/CA3 volume in young adults. The pattern of relationships between PA and punishment sensitivity revealed a negative relationship between both variables when using self-reported measures of PA, but an inverse relationship with accelerometry derived sedentarism measure,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the links between hippocampal volume and physical activity. However, it should be noted that the study was conducted on a small group of (primarily) university students. Results on other demographic groups might not be the same. Additionally, the design of the study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results.

The paper, “Physical activity and hippocampal volume in young adults,” was authored by Anastasia Cherednichenko, Anna Miró-Padilla, Jesús Adrián-Ventura, Irene Monzonís-Carda, Maria Reyes Beltran-Valls, Diego Moliner-Urdiales, and César Ávila.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/moderate-to-vigorous-physical-activity-linked-to-larger-hippocampal-volume-in-young-adults/

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DATE: April 04, 2025 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: What people love most about sex, according to new psychology research

URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-people-love-most-about-sex-according-to-a-national-study/

A new study published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy sheds light on what people in the United States say they most enjoy about being sexual with a partner. Drawing from a large, nationally representative sample, researchers found that emotional closeness, physical pleasure, specific sex acts, expressions of love, giving pleasure to a partner, and orgasm were among the most commonly mentioned highlights of sexual experiences.

This research stands out from much of the existing literature on sexuality, which tends to focus on problems or risks, such as sexually transmitted infections, dysfunction, or coercion. Instead, the authors sought to better understand what people find positive or rewarding about sex.

Their goal was to give voice to sexual joy and pleasure, and to inform efforts in sexual health education, clinical care, and public health messaging. By asking open-ended questions and allowing people to respond in their own words, the researchers hoped to uncover a richer and more diverse picture of sexual experiences than what is typically captured by multiple-choice surveys.

The research team, led by Debby Herbenick at Indiana University, used data from the 2012 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior. This survey included over 4,000 adults in the United States and used a probability-based sampling method to ensure that the results could be generalized to the wider population. Participants who reported having had partnered sex at some point in their lives were asked to write about their favorite things about being sexual with a partner. Of the 4,030 eligible participants, 2,755 provided usable responses to the open-ended question.

To analyze the responses, a team of trained coders reviewed the answers and developed a set of 22 categories that captured the major themes. These included emotional aspects like intimacy and love, physical sensations such as pleasure and arousal, specific sexual activities, and other dimensions like trust, adventure, or feelings of relaxation. The researchers used a qualitative method known as consensual qualitative research, which emphasizes collaboration among coders and recognition of the context in which responses are given.

Six themes stood out as the most frequently mentioned: closeness and intimacy, specific sex acts, general feelings of physical pleasure, expressions of love or care, giving pleasure to one’s partner, and orgasm. These themes showed up across demographic groups and life stages, although the ways in which people expressed them varied.

The most common theme, mentioned by over 900 people, was closeness and intimacy. Participants described feeling emotionally connected, present, and united with their partner. This could include cuddling, being held, or simply feeling like the rest of the world faded away during sex. Many wrote about the sense of security and warmth that comes from being close to someone they trust and care about. These responses came from both men and women, across a broad range of ages, and highlighted the importance of emotional connection in sexual satisfaction.

The next most common theme focused on specific sex acts. Nearly 900 participants mentioned activities such as kissing, oral sex, cuddling, using sex toys, or trying different positions. Some people enjoyed a combination of acts, while others highlighted a single favorite. These responses pointed to the variety in how people experience pleasure and the different ways they like to express themselves sexually.

About 400 people said simply that sex “feels good”—describing it as pleasurable, exciting, or satisfying. Some talked about the intense physical sensations, while others focused on the mental or emotional boost it gave them. A few contrasted this with past experiences where sex had been painful or emotionally difficult, and emphasized how meaningful it was to now enjoy it in a positive way.

Love and care were another important theme. More than 300 participants said their favorite thing about sex was that it was an expression of love, or that it deepened the emotional bond with their partner. Many wrote about feeling appreciated, cherished, or truly wanted. Others described sex as a way to show affection or maintain closeness during tough times in a relationship.

Around 240 people said they most enjoyed making their partner feel good. For them, giving pleasure—whether through touch, oral sex, or simply being attentive—was deeply satisfying. They described feeling proud, happy, or emotionally moved when their partner responded with moans, laughter, or signs of joy.

Although orgasm was also mentioned, it was less prominent than the other themes, with 231 participants listing it as their favorite part of sex. Some described it as an intense release, others as a shared moment of peak pleasure. A few said they liked to prolong the experience rather than rush to climax.

Other themes appeared less frequently but added depth to the findings. These included feelings of arousal, the calming or therapeutic effect of sex, desire and passion, the thrill of novelty or adventure, physical attraction to a partner’s body, trust, and even enjoyment of kink or BDSM. Some older participants described being celibate and reflected on how their relationship to sex had changed over time.

A few participants expressed negative or indifferent feelings. Some said they did not like sex at all or had never found it particularly meaningful. Others mentioned past trauma, health changes, or loss of a partner as reasons they were no longer sexually active. These responses added a layer of nuance, suggesting that sexual experiences and preferences are shaped by life history, health, and relational context.

The study has some limitations. The responses were collected in 2012, and people’s experiences of sex may have evolved since then, particularly given social and technological changes. The survey only asked about partnered sex, leaving out solo sexual activities like masturbation. And because the open-ended question was placed at the end of the survey, some participants may have skipped it due to fatigue or time constraints. Also, while the qualitative approach allowed for a wide range of responses, the interpretation of those responses inevitably reflected the perspectives of the research team.

Nevertheless, the study adds a significant contribution to the growing field of sex-positive research. By asking people directly what they enjoy about sex—without imposing pre-set answers—the researchers were able to capture the richness and diversity of sexual pleasure across the population.

The study, “What Are Americans’ Favorite Aspects of Partnered Sex? Findings From a U.S. Nationally Representative Survey,” was authored by Debby Herbenick, Callie Patterson Perry, Bethany Lumsdaine, Tsung-chieh Fu, Mary Balle, Owen Miller, Ruhun Wasata and J. Dennis Fortenberry.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/what-people-love-most-about-sex-according-to-a-national-study/

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