Smartphone addiction and sexual distress: preliminary findings of a study in Portugal

Background. Smartphone addiction (SA) refers to an addictive-like use of smartphones and has been a topic of great interest in contemporary research due to its potential adverse effects on mental health and sociability. Research indicates an association between greater SA and poorer mental health; however, investigations into associations with sexual function remain scarce. Preliminary evidence showed that in women, SA correlates with lower sexual arousal, lubrication and orgasmic difficulties, coital pain, and sexual distress (negative feelings about one’s sexual life). In men, SA was related to erectile difficulties, lower sexual desire, dissatisfaction with sexual relations, general sexual dissatisfaction, and difficulty in achieving orgasm. The mechanisms explaining these associations are not well understood: two possible ones are effects of SA on mood and attention. The association between SA and negative mood is well known. Additionally, individuals with SA seem more prone to inattention, which on its turn has been related to sexual difficulties. Hence, we tested whether inattention and negative mood mediate the statistical effect of smartphone addiction on sexual distress
Method. 190 Portuguese (125 women, 65 men) completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version, the Sexual Distress Scale-Revised, the inattention subscale of the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, through an online questionnaire. They also reported their frequency of alcohol and tobacco consumption. This sample is preliminary and part of an ongoing study.
Results. Sexual distress, SA, inattention, depression, anxiety, and stress, were all intercorrelated. The association between SA and sexual distress was partially mediated by negative mood (the sum of depression, anxiety, and stress scales), but not by inattention, even after controlling for age, alcohol consumption, and tobacco consumption.
Conclusions. The results confirm the association between SA and sexual difficulties. Effects on mood might partially explain it, but effects on attention should continue to be a focus of research.