Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Background: There has long been a proposed link between sexuality and eating disorders; however, little empirical evidence exists concerning this relationship. The extant literature suggests women with Eating Disorders (EDs) experience decreased sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction, and heightened sexual anxiety. In addition, the personality profiles of women suffering from provoked vestibulodynia (PVD)-the most common form of genital pain affecting up to 20% of women-and women with EDs are similar. Despite the clinical rationale, empirical evidence supporting the important connection between these two areas of study remains scant. Aim: The primary goal of the proposed series of studies is to examine the relation between sexuality and disordered eating in clinical samples of women with PVD and with EDs. Procedure: Three samples of women will be recruited: 40 women diagnosed with PVD from the BC Centre for Sexual Medicine, 40 women diagnosed with an ED from the Vancouver Coastal Health's Eating Disorder Facility, and 400 female undergraduates from the University of British Columbia. Each group will complete a battery of questionnaires assessing genital pain, sexual distress, disordered eating, negative affect, and personality. Women diagnosed with PVD will undergo a vulvar pain assessment. Quantitative findings will inform the creation of a detailed qualitative interview to explore some of the emerging themes in women with PVD and EDs. Results will be used to identify and pilot test the components of a comprehensive treatment intervention for women with PVD and EDs. Implications: This study will be the first to examine a possible etiological link that may account for both EDs and PVD. Such knowledge would represent a meaningful contribution that will facilitate the creation of therapeutic interventions and advancements in clinical assessment tools, and ultimately improve the lives of Canadian women.