| Interviews of 10 married women described the impact of practicing mindfulness meditation on a woman's experience of sexuality. The average age of participants was 50.2 years old, their average length of marriage was 15.7 years, and their average length of practicing meditation was 19.4 years. The interview consisted of open-ended questions that were grouped into five categories: Early Sexuality; Current Sexuality; Exploring Mindfulness Meditation; Impact of Mindfulness Meditation on Sexuality; and Sexual Satisfaction. Interviews were analyzed using content analysis to yield qualitative data. Nearly all of the participants were extremely satisfied with their sex lives. While many had received negative messages about sexuality in their youth from sources including their parents, siblings, peers, media and the church, most enjoyed sexuality in adulthood. They felt that their sexual lives had been affected by practicing mindfulness meditation, and described a heightened awareness of physical sensations and emotions during sexual encounters. Motivations to engage in sexuality tended to fall into three categories: To feel a sense of emotional connection with one's husband, to experience physical pleasure, and to please one's husband. Participants felt that emotional factors, such as intimacy, were more important than physical factors in determining sexual satisfaction. While they felt orgasm was important, if orgasm was not achieved each time, they enjoyed the sensations along the way, and some found the mounting physical sensations to be more important than the orgasm itself. These women used mindfulness techniques to manage anxiety, and to release expectations of how they should behave within their sexual relationships. Some had increased acceptance of times of decreased sexual frequency or abstinence, with diminished feelings of obligation or guilt, and increased satisfaction. These findings suggest a possible association between mindfulness meditation and an increase in sexual awareness and self-acceptance, and suggest the need to reconsider sexual dysfunction. In addition, this study contributes to research in the area of positive psychology, as the participants generally describe a view of sexuality experienced under the best of circumstances. |
