The influence of self-efficacy expectations on the treatment of preorgasmic women.

ABSTRACT

One of the most successful treatments developed for women who never or rarely experience orgasm is Barbach's preorgasmic treatment program. We propose that Bandura's theory of self-efficacy provides a useful framework for understanding the success of Barbach's program. This pilot study was designed to determine whether treatment affects subjects' Certainty of and Comfort with Sexual Efficacy. Treatment (n = 5) and control (n = 6) subjects completed prepoint and postpoint instruments that measured sexual efficacy expectations, body satisfaction, locus of control, and assertiveness. Although most postpoint differences were nonsignificant (probably due to small sample size), intriguing trends emerged. In particular, treatment seemed to contribute to increased Certainty of Sexual Efficacy and body satisfaction.