Lori A Brotto
Biographic Data
| ID | 4859590 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lori A Brotto |
| GIVEN NAMES | Lori A |
| FAMILY NAME | Brotto |
| SIGNATURE | BROTTO L A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of British Columbia |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7552-8588 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 65 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 384 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 65 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 11 |
Asexuality
Qualitative Findings from a Pilot Trial of Mindfulness for Low Sexual Desire in Midlife and Older Women
Inclusivity and relevance of an online intervention for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder among LBQ+ women
Mindfulness and Sex Education for Sexual Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Survivors
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and supportive-expressive sex education therapy (STEP) are effective group treatments for sexual dysfunction after breast cancer (BrCa). We explored mediators and moderators of outcomes following the 8-week groups. BrCa survivors ( n = 116, mean age = 49.9 ± 9.5) were randomized to group and completed measures before, immediately after, and 6 months after treatment. Mediators assessed were changes in dep…
A Preliminary Investigation Into the Moderating Effects of Relationship Factors on Improvements in Sexual Desire and Distress Following Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Sexual Interest/Arousal …
Effects of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy versus Supportive Sex Education on Sexual Concordance and Sexual Response Among Women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
Low interest in sexual activity and impaired sexual response are among women's most frequent sexual concerns. Mindfulness-based treatments improve low sexual desire and arousal and associated distress. One theorized mechanism of change is the cultivation of increased mind-body awareness via greater concordance between psychological and physiological components of sexual response. We examined sexual psychophysiology data from 148 cisgender women r…
The Impact of Loosening Covid-19 Restrictions and Live-in Partner Status on Sexual and Mental Health in a Canadian Sample
Objectives: We examined changes in frequency of sexual behaviors, dyadic sexual desire, relationship satisfaction, and COVID-19 stress in Canadians across the pandemic, considering partner status. Methods: Participants completed online questionnaires. Results: Participants with live-in partners and single participants decreased in dyadic sexual behaviors. In August-September 2020, participants with live-in partners engaged in more dyadic sexual b…
The Role of Sexual and Romantic Attraction in Human Mate Preferences
Sex differences in mate preferences are ubiquitous, having been evidenced across generations and cultures. Their prevalence and persistence have compellingly placed them in the evolutionarily adaptive context of sexual selection. However, the psycho-biological mechanisms contributing to their generation and maintenance remain poorly understood. As such a mechanism, sexual attraction is assumed to guide interest, desire, and the affinity toward sp…
The Intersectional Impact of Cost-Related Non-Adherence and Depression
History of Sexual Assault as a Predictor of Response to a Self-Guided Online Program for Sexual Desire and Arousal Difficulties in Women
Psychological Treatment of Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genitopelvic Dysesthesia Using an Integrative Approach
The Heteronormativity Theory of Low Sexual Desire in Women Partnered with Men
Virtual Reality Erotica
Impact of Covid-19 Related Stress on Sexual Desire and Behavior in a Canadian Sample
Objectives: We evaluated various facets of sexual health in Canadians across phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Online questionnaires every four weeks from April-August 2020. Results: Higher COVID-19 stress predicted higher baseline dyadic sexual desire, lower relationship satisfaction, higher desire for solitary sexual behavior, and higher likelihood of experiencing sexual coercion among people with a live-in romantic partner. Dyadic sexu…
Intention to Receive a Covid-19 Vaccine by HIV Status Among a Population-Based Sample of Women and Gender Diverse Individuals in British Columbia, Canada
The Experiences of Women and Healthcare Providers in Assessing the History of Gender-Based Violence During Perinatal Care
Despite its prevalence and consequences, perinatal healthcare providers’ identification of gender-based violence (GBV) remains controversial in British Columbia. This study investigated women and healthcare providers’ perspectives regarding their experiences with and views of inquiring about GBV during perinatal care. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with women with a history of GBV and 16 perinatal healthcare providers. Data were analyz…
How to Facilitate Disclosure of Violence while Delivering Perinatal Care
Gender-based Violence (GBV) during the perinatal period is a serious concern as it is associated with many adverse outcomes for both the mother and the baby. It is well known that violence is under-reported. Thus, official statistics (both police reports and survey data) underestimate the prevalence of violence in general and during the perinatal period specifically. In this study conducted in Canada, we sought to explore the barriers to and faci…
Examining Visual Attention Patterns among Asexual and Heterosexual Individuals
Asexuality has garnered much attention, and empirical data support its classification as a sexual orientation. Asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction to others, with approximately 1% of the population falling in this category. As theoretical models situate attention as a central component of sexual response, the current study examined attentional processing of erotic stimuli in asexuals and heterosexuals. We hypothesized that hetero…
Mindfulness and Sex Education for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD) is a common sexual dysfunction in women. Both mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus psychoeducation and sex therapy, education, and support (STEP; which contains the same educational information as in the MBCT arm but also integrates supportive-expressive therapy), are effective. We tested mediators and moderators of improvements. Each treatment arm consisted of eight sessions delivered weekly, an…
Patterns of Genital and Subjective Sexual Arousal in Cisgender Asexual Men
Human asexuality has been defined as a lack of sexual attraction to others, although its nature is not well understood. Asexual men's genital and subjective sexual arousal patterns were compared to sexual men's to better understand asexual men's sexual response patterns. Using a penile plethysmograph to measure genital arousal, 20 asexual, 27 heterosexual, and 22 gay cisgender men ( M age = 28.28, SD = 9.41) viewed erotic films depicting sexual a…
Examining the Treatment Relevance of the Approach-Avoidance Motivation Model for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder in Women and Non-Binary Individuals
Up to 8% of cisgender women meet diagnostic criteria for Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD), a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , yet treatment research for SIAD remains scarce, particularly for transgender women and non-binary individuals. The treatment relevance of the Approach-Avoidance Motivation Model for SIAD was tested in a sample of cis- and transgender women, and non-binary individuals, w…
ItsNotInYourHead
Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD) is a type of localized vulvodynia (or pain in the vulva). The estimated prevalence of this condition is about 12% of the general population and approximately 20% of women under the age of 19. Many women who live with PVD suffer in silence for years before receiving a diagnosis. Whereas cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was already known to be effective for managing symptoms of PVD, there has recently been a publishe…
Intention to receive a Covid-19 vaccine
To optimize vaccine coverage, public health should focus on key messages around vaccine safety and benefit, and leverage trusted practitioners for messaging. As certain key populations identified by NACI and ACIP for early immunization report a lower intention to vaccinate, there is a need for in-depth education and support for these communities to ensure optimal uptake
Help-Seeking to Cope With Experiences of Violence Among Women Living With HIV in Canada
Using baseline data from a community-collaborative cohort of women living with HIV in Canada, we assessed the prevalence and correlates of help-seeking among 1,057 women who reported experiencing violence in adulthood (≥16 years). After violence, 447 (42%) sought help, while 610 (58%) did not. Frequently accessed supports included health care providers ( n = 313, 70%), family/friends ( n = 244, 55%), and non-HIV community organizations ( n = 235,…
Introduction to the Special Section on Innovative Knowledge Translation in Sex Research
Asexuality
Narratives of Desire in Mid-Age Women With and Without Arousal Difficulties
There is controversy about the nature of women's sexual desire. The aim was to explore narrative descriptions of sexual desire among mid-aged women in hopes of clarifying how women define and experience sexual desire, and how these might differ among women with and without female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD). Mid-aged women without (age: M = 45, n = 12) and with (age: M = 55, n = 10) FSAD took part in in-depth interviews that invited them to sh…
Asexuality
The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women
Physiological and Subjective Sexual Arousal in Self-Identified Asexual Women
Mental health and interpersonal functioning in self-identified asexual men and women
Human asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction to anyone or anything, and preliminary evidence suggests that it may best be defined as a sexual orientation. As asexual individuals may face the same social stigma experienced by gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, it follows that asexual individuals may experience higher rates of psychiatric disturbance that have been observed among these non-heterosexual individuals. This study explored…
Ace and Aro
Sexual Fantasy and Masturbation Among Asexual Individuals
Biological Markers of Asexuality
The Relationship between Sex Guilt and Sexual Desire in a Community Sample of Chinese and Euro-Canadian Women
Many studies have documented significant differences in sexual desire between individuals of European and Chinese descent, but few have examined the mechanisms that underlie these differences. A recent study of university students found that sex guilt is one mechanism by which culture influences sexual desire among Chinese and Euro-Canadian women. The goal of this study was to examine whether sex guilt also mediates the relationship between ethni…
The Role of Sex Guilt in the Relationship Between Culture and Women’s Sexual Desire
Acculturation and Sexual Function in Asian Women
Sexual Harassment in the Field of Sexuality Research
Mindfulness-Based Sex Therapy Improves Genital-Subjective Arousal Concordance in Women With Sexual Desire/Arousal Difficulties
A Pilot Study of Eight-Session Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Adapted for Women’s Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
While few treatment options exist for low sexual desire and arousal, the most common sexual dysfunction in women, a growing body of research supports the efficacy of mindfulness-based approaches. The mechanisms underlying improvements, and whether they are due to mindfulness practice or other treatment components, are unclear. As a result, we designed and pilot-tested an eight-session group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for sexuality (MBCT-…
Sex Guilt Mediates the Relationship Between Religiosity and Sexual Desire in East Asian and Euro-Canadian College-Aged Women
The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Sexual Aversion Disorder
Physical Pain as Pleasure
Physical pain represents a common feature of Bondage and Discipline/Dominance and Submission/Sadism and Machochism (BDSM) activity. This article explores the literature accounting for how painful stimuli may be experienced as pleasurable among practitioners of BDSM, and contrasting this with how it is experienced as painful among non-BDSM individuals. We reviewed the available literature on pain and on BDSM, and used the findings to postulate a t…
Women With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Versus Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
In 2013, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published with a major revision to the sexual dysfunction categories, and the diagnosis of female hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) was replaced with female sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD). Since being introduced, concern has been expressed that SIAD inappropriately "raises the bar" for diagnosis. To address these concerns, we sought…
Differences in Sexual Guilt and Desire in East Asian and Euro-Canadian Men
Differences in sexual desire between individuals of East Asian and European descent are well-documented, with East Asian individuals reporting lower sexual desire. The mechanisms that underlie this disparity have received little empirical attention. Recent research has found that sex guilt, "a generalized expectancy for self-mediated punishment for violating or for anticipating violating standards of proper sexual conduct" (Mosher & Cross, 1971 ,…
A Psychoeducational Intervention for Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Gynecologic Cancer
The Role of Sexual and Romantic Attraction in Human Mate Preferences
Sex differences in mate preferences are ubiquitous, having been evidenced across generations and cultures. Their prevalence and persistence have compellingly placed them in the evolutionarily adaptive context of sexual selection. However, the psycho-biological mechanisms contributing to their generation and maintenance remain poorly understood. As such a mechanism, sexual attraction is assumed to guide interest, desire, and the affinity toward sp…
How Does Childhood Trauma Impact Women’s Sexual Desire? Role of Depression, Stress, and Cortisol
The relationship between childhood trauma and adult sexual dysfunction is well documented; however, there is a paucity of research that examines the physiological and psychological mechanisms that may potentiate this relationship. As depression, perceived stress, and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation are correlates of childhood trauma and sexual dysfunction, the current study sought to examine the association of each of thes…
Effects of a Mindfulness Task on Women’s Sexual Response
Mindfulness-based interventions are effective at improving symptoms of sexual dysfunction in women. The mechanisms by which mindfulness improves sexual function are less clear. The main objective of our study was to investigate the impact of a mindfulness task on sexual response in women. Forty-one women (mean age = 27.2, SD = 5.6) participated in two laboratory sessions that each included two erotic films and one attention task that were present…
Reply to Hinderliter (2009)
Oral contraceptive use and female genital arousal
This study explored effects of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use on physiological sexual arousal as measured by a vaginal photoplethysmograph. Sixteen women aged 18-29 viewed audiovisual neutral and erotic stimuli before and an average of 6 weeks following the onset of OCP use. Although subjective measures of sexual arousal, including perceptions of genital arousal, significantly increased in response to erotic stimuli both before and after OCP o…
Acculturation and Sexual Function in Asian Women
A Psychoeducational Intervention for Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Gynecologic Cancer
Do East Asian and Euro-Canadian Women Differ in Sexual Psychophysiology Research Participation
Evidence from studies of ethnic differences in sexual conservativeness and Papanicolaou (Pap) testing behaviors suggests that there may be culture-linked differences in rates of participation in physically invasive sexuality studies, resulting in volunteer bias. The effects of ethnicity and acculturation on participation in female psychophysiological sexual arousal research were investigated in a sample of Euro-Canadian (n = 50) and East Asian (n…
Narratives of Desire in Mid-Age Women With and Without Arousal Difficulties
There is controversy about the nature of women's sexual desire. The aim was to explore narrative descriptions of sexual desire among mid-aged women in hopes of clarifying how women define and experience sexual desire, and how these might differ among women with and without female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD). Mid-aged women without (age: M = 45, n = 12) and with (age: M = 55, n = 10) FSAD took part in in-depth interviews that invited them to sh…
Laboratory-Induced Hyperventilation Differentiates Female Sexual Arousal Disorder Subtypes
Reply to Hinderliter (2009)
Sex Guilt and Culture-Linked Barriers to Testicular Examinations
This study explored the role of sex guilt in the relationship between culture and testicular self-examination (TSE) and physician testicular examination (PTE) in Euro-Canadian and Chinese men. Euro-Canadian (n = 42) and Chinese (n = 77) male university students completed online questionnaires. Euro-Canadian men were more likely to have had TSE and PTE than Chinese men. Sex guilt was higher in Chinese men. Sex guilt mediated the relationship betwe…
The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women
Asexuality
The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Sexual Aversion Disorder
The Relationship between Sex Guilt and Sexual Desire in a Community Sample of Chinese and Euro-Canadian Women
Many studies have documented significant differences in sexual desire between individuals of European and Chinese descent, but few have examined the mechanisms that underlie these differences. A recent study of university students found that sex guilt is one mechanism by which culture influences sexual desire among Chinese and Euro-Canadian women. The goal of this study was to examine whether sex guilt also mediates the relationship between ethni…
Differences in Sexual Guilt and Desire in East Asian and Euro-Canadian Men
Differences in sexual desire between individuals of East Asian and European descent are well-documented, with East Asian individuals reporting lower sexual desire. The mechanisms that underlie this disparity have received little empirical attention. Recent research has found that sex guilt, "a generalized expectancy for self-mediated punishment for violating or for anticipating violating standards of proper sexual conduct" (Mosher & Cross, 1971 ,…
Physiological and Subjective Sexual Arousal in Self-Identified Asexual Women
The Role of Sex Guilt in the Relationship Between Culture and Women’s Sexual Desire
Sex Guilt Mediates the Relationship Between Religiosity and Sexual Desire in East Asian and Euro-Canadian College-Aged Women
Mental health and interpersonal functioning in self-identified asexual men and women
Human asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction to anyone or anything, and preliminary evidence suggests that it may best be defined as a sexual orientation. As asexual individuals may face the same social stigma experienced by gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, it follows that asexual individuals may experience higher rates of psychiatric disturbance that have been observed among these non-heterosexual individuals. This study explored…
Response to Balon and Clayton (2014)
Biological Markers of Asexuality
Flibanserin
Time Out from Sex or Romance
A Pilot Study of Eight-Session Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Adapted for Women’s Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
While few treatment options exist for low sexual desire and arousal, the most common sexual dysfunction in women, a growing body of research supports the efficacy of mindfulness-based approaches. The mechanisms underlying improvements, and whether they are due to mindfulness practice or other treatment components, are unclear. As a result, we designed and pilot-tested an eight-session group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for sexuality (MBCT-…
Mindfulness-Based Sex Therapy Improves Genital-Subjective Arousal Concordance in Women With Sexual Desire/Arousal Difficulties
Response to Commentaries
Envisioning Women-Centered HIV Care
Psychology (58 works) · Clinical Psychology (41 works) · Sexual function and dysfunction studies (38 works) · Social Psychology (37 works) · Medicine (36 works) · Developmental psychology (33 works) · Human sexuality (31 works) · Sexual behavior (29 works) · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology (29 works) · Psychiatry (25 works)