L'Estime de soi sexuelle de la femme : étude et actualisation du concept

This doctoral thesis focuses on sexual self-esteem in women, which has been studied mainly in populations affected by specific problems (bulimia, etc.). Based on the analysis of the factors influencing female sexual self-esteem, the objective of this thesis is to propose a better understanding of the cognitive, bodily and societal factors involved in its genesis and maintenance. This thesis shows the importance of the subjective view that women have of their bodies and the impact of this view on their sexual self-esteem. It also highlights the impact of the mass media on the construction of body image. Through three researches, we studied the impact of physical satisfaction on women's sexual self-esteem as well as the elements on which it is based. Our different results have shown that «the relationship to the sexualized body» may be central to the conceptualization of women’s sexual self-esteem. We constructed a new aggregate called the «Sexualized Body Perception» and then calculated its moderating and/or mediating effects on women’s sexual self-esteem. Finally, we proceeded to the validation of this Sexualized Body Perception.