The Orgasm Rating Scale And The Factors That Affect It

The ORGASM Rating Scale and the factors that affect it

Introduction

The first thing to clarify is: what do we understand by orgasm? According to Meston, Hull, Levin and Sipski (2004) orgasm is defined as a feeling of intense pleasure;accompanied by an alteration of consciousness and involuntary contractions of the pelvic musculature that results in the release of vasocony produced by sexual excitement and, in turn, a feeling of well -being and satisfaction. During orgasm there are also other physiological changes such as the increase in cardiac and respiratory rates or increased blood pressure (Bancroft, 1989).

The ORGASM Rating Scale (ORS; MAH YBINIK, 2002, 2011) is used to evaluate the subjective experience of orgasm, understanding this subjective experience as its perception, sensation and assessment at the psychological level (Arcos -Romero and Sierra, 2018). The ORS has a Spanish adaptation (Arcos -Romero, Moyano and Sierra, 2018). It is a 6 -point Likert type scale in which 0 indicates "does not describe it at all" and 5 indicates "describes it perfectly". It is composed of 25 adjectives distributed in four different dimensions that make up different aspects of orgasm. These dimensions are: affective, where the items that refer to emotional experience during orgasm (satisfactory, joyful, rewarding …) are found;Sensory, which contains the items referring to how the physiological sensations occurred during orgasm (suffocating, trembling, throbbing .

..);Intimacy, where we find the items referring to the intimate character of orgasm (loving, tender, intimate);And reward, which includes the items that refer to the consequences of orgasm (tranquilizer, relaxing, comforting). The Spanish version of the ORS is a reliable and valid scale, and has scales for the Spanish population (Arcos -Romeroy Sierra, 2019).

Since, one of the most basic functions of human beings is sex, which implies psychological, emotional and physiological factors, and that is closely related to general well -being and quality of life (Arrington, Cofrancesco and Wu, 2004;Frohlich and Meston, 2002), the need for a scale like ORS is given, not only because orgasm measures have been typically reduced from the dichotomous point of view (occurrence or not occurrence) (Mah and Binik, 2002), butAlso due to the lack of attention that has received the psychological aspect of orgasmic experience (Arcos -Romero and Sierra, 2018). In addition, the ORS has proven to be a good instrument when discriminating between subjects with difficulties and without difficulties in orgasm (arcs -romero, Moyano et al., 2018), allowing to detect which dimension or dimensions are affected during orgasm in people with some type of dysfunction, which gives it a great clinical and therapeutic value.

Arcos-Romero and Sierra (2019) already showed that the Spanish version of the ORS is invariant by groups at the factorial level (strict invariance by sex, relationship of a couple, sexual orientation and level of studies; strong invariance due to age range and duration ofthe relationship) and presents equivalence by sex in most of its items at the metric level, which allows a greater precision evaluation of the subjective experience of orgasm through this scale. Our goal will be to continue this metric analysis using the database obtained by Arcos-Romero and Sierra (2019).

We will check the results obtained by the ORS in search of significant differences between different conditions (masturbation vs. relationship) and try to analyze item by item in search of some significant difference in the responses given between heterosexual and non -heterosexual subjects.

Method

Participants

Participants have been taken from the database of the study of Arcos-Romero and Sierra (2019). The data of this study were obtained through a quota sampling in which 1472 people of Spanish nationality (715 men and 757 women) were evaluated, classified by fees in three age ranges: 18-34 years (n = 500; 250 men and 250 women), 35-49 years (n = 500; 250 men and 250 women) and over 50 years (n = 472; 215 men and 257 women), the total age range was between 18 and93 years (m = 40.26; dt = 14.07).

For this investigation some of the subjects included in the age range between 18-34 years have been chosen. These are 461 subjects (222 men and 239 women) with an average age 24.18 years (DT = 4.47). The sociodemographic characteristics of these subjects are detailed according to their sexual orientation in Table 1. Of the variables evaluated, there are only significant differences between heterosexuals and non -heterosexuals in the number of sexual partners (t = -2,6; p < 0,05; d Cohen = 0,5), mostrando los no heterosexuales una cifra mayor.

Instruments

The instruments used in the study of Arcos-Romero and Sierra (2019) were: a sociodemographic questionnaire and sexual history that collected information about sex, age, nationality, age of the first sexual relationship (oral, vaginal or anal), numberof sexual couples, sexual activity today, relationship of a couple, coexistence in a couple, duration of the relationship, sexual orientation and educational level.

The Spanish version of the ORGASM Rating Scale (Arcos-Romero, Moyano et al. ,2018), previously explained;both in its different dimensions, as in its psychometric, clinical and therapeutic qualities.

To perform the data analysis, the SPSS AMOS statistical software (Arbuckle, 2017) was used.

Process

The procedures carried out for data collection were two: one in paper and pencil format, and another in online format. The first was used for participants from university, social, health, libraries, etc. The participants were given a copy of the instruments used and an envelope in which they had to put the material once answered to return it. For the second method, a link was created on the Limesurvey platform and disseminated by email and social networks. The subjects had to answer the questionnaire twice, valuing the subjective experience of the last orgasm achieved through masturbation and through a sexual relationship with another person (couple or non -couple).

Of course, it was explained that participation was voluntary and anonymous, and the confidentiality of the data was ensured, whose sole purpose was research;So the participants had to accept an informed consent, prior to the questionnaires. The time spent to answer the questionnaires was approximately 15 minutes. The Human Research Committee of the University of Granada previously approved the study.

Analysis of data

First, the sociodemographic variables of the sample were analyzed according to sexual orientation (heterosexual and non -heterosexualqualitative.

Second, the total results obtained by the subjects in the Spanish version of the ORS (Arcos-Romero, Moyano et al were analyzed. ,2018), both in the masturbation condition and in the condition of sexual relationship with another person (couple or non -couple), and also the results for each of the dimensions of the scale (affective, sensory, intimacy and reward). Since all subjects responded after the two conditions, the stockings were compared using the T test for related samples through the SPSS AMOS statistical software (Arbuckle, 2017). It was tried to assess whether there was any significant difference in the subjective experience of orgasm, both at the general level and at the level of each of the four dimensions, depending on whether orgasm occurred after a masturbation or after a sexual relationship with another person (coupleor not a couple). For this, the significance of the value P was interpreted considering the significant values (P < 0,05) como muestra de dichas diferencias entre las dos condiciones.

Finally, the responses of the heterosexual subjects with those of non-heterosexuals to each of the items of the Spanish version of the ORS (arc-romero, Moyano et al. ,2018) in the condition of sexual relationship with another person. For this, the means of the responses of both groups not related to each of the items were compared through the U-Whitney U test. The use of this non -parametric test is because the dependent variable is measured on an ordinal scale. This test, like the previous one, was performed with the SPSS AMOS statistical software (Arbuckle, 2017). The objective of this analysis was to observe if there was any significant difference between the responses to each of the items of the heterosexual group with the non -heterosexual group responses. For this, the significance of the value P was used considering the significant values (P < 0,05) como prueba de la existencia de diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos.

Results

Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, as we mentioned at the beginning, the only difference found between heterosexual and non -heterosexual subjects was found in the number of sexual partners, showing non -heterosexuals a higher figure (t = -2,6; p < 0,05), con un tamaño del efecto medio (d Cohen = 0,5).

In the T test for related samples, a significant difference between the total scores in the condition of sexual relationship and the total scores in the masturbation condition was observed, the total scores being greater in the first condition (t = -22,10; p < 0,05). También se encontraron diferencias significativas en tres de las cuatro dimensiones que conforman la ORS (Arcos-Romero, Moyano et al. ,2018). Dichas dimensiones son: Afectiva (t = -12,39; p < 0,05), Sensorial (t = -22,16; p < 0,05) e Intimidad (t = -26,84; p < 0,05). La única dimensión que no se vio afectada fue Recompensa (t = -0,89; p > 0.05). The effect size for each of these differences was high for the total score and the sensory dimensions and intimacy (d cohen = 1.00; d cohen = 0.91; d cohen = 1.45 respectively), and average for theAffective dimension (D Cohen = 0.76).

Finally, in the U-Whitney U test only significant differences were observed between the heterosexual group and the non-heterosexual group in one of the items of the scale for sexual intercourse: loving (U of Mann-Whitney = 7016.00; P < 0,05), siendo mayor la cifra en heterosexuales que en no heterosexuales.

conclusion

In this study, the main objective was proposed to examine the factorial equivalence of the Spanish version of the ORS in several population groups and the metric equivalence of the scale by sex. To do this, the invariance of the four factors progressively in different groups and the differential functioning of its 25 items per sex was calculated. Once its factorial invariance at different levels and their metric equivalence were proven, the scales of the scale for men and women distributed in three different age groups were presented.

On the one hand, the equivalence of the ORS factor structure has been confirmed by comparing groups constituted according to different sociodemographic characteristics. The four factors model that describes the subjective orgasmic experience in the context of sexual intercourse turnsThe couple relationship. That is, being involved in a relationship or not, being heterosexual or having a different sexual orientation, as well as having or not university studies, would not change the assessment of the subjective experience of the orgasm measured with the ORS. Having invariant measures regarding sexual orientation is essential for the study of sexual diversity (Calvillo, Sánchez -Fuentes and Sierra, 2018). In addition, belong to a specific age range, and, where appropriate, the years of the relationship, are characteristics that do not vary the assessment of the four dimensions (affective, sensory, intimacy and reward) that make up thescale. As with other relevant measurement measures of sexual health, such as sexSierra, 2018; Monge, Sierra and Salinas, 2013), the ORS has stated to be invariant between men and women, which allows valid comparisons between both sexes.

On the other hand, after the analysis of the differential functioning of the ORS items, it has been proven that all the elements of the affective factor are equivalent to men and women, that is, the items related to the emotions experienced during orgasm in the contextof sexual relations (and.g., satisfactory) do not differ between sexes. The items of the intimacy factor (and.g., loving) Nor do they present a different functioning in sex, since only one of them suggests weak signs of DIF, not reflecting significant differences between men and women in their scores. However, and according to previous studies (arches -romero, Granados et al., 2018;Dubrai, Gérard, Beaulieu – Prévost and Courtois, 2017;MAH and BINIK, 2002), the differences by sex in the perception of the physiological sensations of orgasm are evident, presenting DIF some items of the sensory factor and finding significant differences between men and women. In this study, most of the ORS items that show indications of DIF contrast men and women belong to the sensory factor (e.g., uncontrollable) and in all of them the scores tend to be greater in women, perhaps supporting the fact that men subjectively value the physiological aspects of the orgasmic experience. Finally, it should be noted that two of the three items of the reward factor (tranquilizer and relaxing) have also presented a different average functioning and scores according to sex;In this case, they tend to be greater in men. This also suggests that the consequence caused by the subjective experience of orgasm is valued differently in men and women. Along these lines, Paterson, Jin, Amsel and Binik (2014) also found significant differences between sexes in the physical and psychological effects consecutive to orgasm.

While the concordance found between there is true indications of DIF and show significant differences by sex in the average scores in a given item, it is totally independent analysis and it cannot be concluded that these differences between men and women are necessarily due to the DIF. The differences found by sex could be a consequence of: (a) that the groups really differentiate in the evaluated variable;(b) that the differences are due to the fact that the items work differently in the groups;and (c) the combination of the previous two, that is, there are real differences between the groups and also differ because the items do not work the same in the groups. Therefore, when interpreting the results of the DIF you have to be cautious;attributing all the differences found in an evaluation between groups to a real difference in the evaluated variable can be as wrong as attributing it exclusively to a differential functioning of items.

From the scales of the global scores of the ORS factors, it is observed that the comparisons by sex provide results that are largely consistent with those of the DIF and the differences between the means of the individual items. Although the size of the effect of the differences found is small, men and women of less than fifty years differ in the sensory dimension, being those who manifest a greater intensity in the physiological perception of the orgasmic experience. According to the study of Mah and Binik (2005), and taking into account that this version of the ORS evaluates a recent, unique and couple orgasmic experience, could be interpreted as a greater perception of the anatomical location of orgasm in different parts of the body(and.g., cardiac pulse, muscle spasms) in women. Total affective scores are also higher in women, but only in the 35–49 -year -old group, which could be associated with sexual scripts and gender roles, understood as sociocultural constructions

(Wiederman, 2015), who give women a more passive or submissive role to their sexual experiences by giving them an emotional and sensitive character, in the face of the traditional dominance and control of men (Bringas – Molleda et al., 2017;Garrido – Macías, Value -Sigura and Expósito, 2017;Moyano, Monge and Sierra, 2017;Ramiro – Sánchez, Ramiro, Bermúdez and Buela – Casal, 2018), a fact that would not be happening in the youngest people. On the other hand, in this age group, the scores of the reward dimension are higher in men, which could mean that the gratification of the orgasmic experience is more valued by them. It is possible that in young people, their least sexual experience makes men exaggerate this compensation assessment, while women tend to undervalue it. Likewise, female orgasm may be less consolidated than the masculine at these ages. Sexual differences disappear in people over fifty, perhaps due, as indicated below, to the reduction in the intensity of orgasmic subjective experiences with age.

Bussed scores also allow us to observe how as age increases, both men and women tend to have lower scores in the four orgasmic dimensions. In general, the subjective assessment of orgasmic experience decreases over the years. As with other dimensions of sexual functioning such as sexual desire (Moyano, Vallejo – Medina and Sierra, 2017), this finding is not strange considering that with age, sexual inhibition (Granados, Salinas and Sierra, 2017) and sexual dysfunctions (Sierra, Vallejo – Medina, Santos -Church and Lameiras– Fernández, 2012) tend to increase, which can lead to a lower perception and, therefore, inferior assessment of the orgasmic experience. This could also be interpreted as a lower intensity of the subjective experience of orgasm with the increase of age, associated with less vigority in the physiological changes that characterize the sexual response (López Sánchez, 2012). In particular, the scores of the affective and sensory dimensions of orgasm are the ones that most drastically decrease as age increases, while those of intimacy and reward dimensions decrease more slowly, both in men and women.

In conclusion, the Spanish version of the ORGASM Rating Scale is an invariant instrument by groups at the factorial level and provides sex equivalence in most of its items at the metric level. Although the factors of the scale as a whole are invariants by sex, when one by one examines the items that make up each dimension there is some differential functioning between men and women. Definitely, the creation of the scales allows a more precise multidimensional evaluation of the subjective experience of orgasm in men and women, beyond their simple presence/absence or the level of affectation detected by other generic scales that evaluate sexual functioning, such asThey can be the Massachusetts General Hospital – Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH – SFQ; Sierra et al., 2012) or the Experience Scale Sexual Arizona (Asex; Sánchez -Fuentes, Moyano, Granados and Sierra, 2019). In general, the analysis carried out support the tetra -factory structure of the ORS and the appropriate indicators of adjustment, reliability and validity guarantee the model of the subjective experience of orgasm that supports the scale (arches -romero, Granados et al., 2018). As a limitation of the study, the degree of precision of the results and its generalization would be modest because by non -probabilistic sampling the size of the quotas by sex and age was exclusively set.

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