Attachment styles and sexual dysfunctions: a case–control study of female and male sexuality

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate attachment styles in a group of women and men with sexual dysfunction. We recruited 44 subjects (21 women and 23 men) with sexual dysfunction and 41 subjects (21 women and 20 men) with healthy sexual function as the control group. Validated instruments for the evaluation of male and female sexual dysfunctions (M/F SD) and a psychometric tool specifically designed to investigate attachment style were administered. In women, significant differences were found between subjects with sexual dysfunction and healthy controls. The scales indicating an insecure attachment showed: discomfort with closeness (FSD = 42.85 ± 11.55 vs CTRL = 37.38 ± 8.54; P < 0.01), relationship as secondary (FSD = 26.76 ± 2.60 vs CTRL = 18.42 ± 7.99; P < 0.01), and need for approval (FSD=26.38 ± 3.61 vs CTRL = 20.76 ± 7.36; P < 0.01). Healthy women also had significantly higher scores in secure attachment (confidence: FSD = 24.57 ± 3.89 vs CTRL = 33.42 ± 5.74; P < 0.01). Men with sexual dysfunctions differed from healthy men in confidence (MSD = 30 ± 6.33 vs CTRL = 36.05 ± 5.26; P < 0.01) and in discomfort with closeness (MSD = 39.08 ± 8 vs CTRL = 34.25 ± 7.54; P < 0.05). These results suggest that particular aspects related to insecure attachment have a determinant role in people with sexual dysfunctions. It is therefore fundamental to identify the attachment styles and relational patterns in patients receiving counselling and psychological treatments focussed on sexual problems.

Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Investigate Short-Term Variations in Sexual Functioning in a Sample of Peri-Menopausal Women from Iran

“…This is somewhat supported by the finding that stress and relationship satisfaction were independent from each other across all the assessment points. This contracts previous study findings highlighting the influence of stress (whether chronic or not) on marital quality and satisfaction [ 35 ]. Again, this might be explained by cultural differences where the woman’s stress and problems are left “outside” the marriage and considered something personal which has to be dealt with individually and therefore does not lead to alienation.…”

Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships With Gender Role

“…17 Attachment styles and the quality of primary bonds influence and play a pivotal role in adult life and in the couple relationship. 21 Moreover, scientific interest in attachment theory as a conceptual framework to better understand human sexual behavior is growing and flourishing 22 ; however, the potential link between attachment styles and sex roles has been poorly investigated. 23 If the gender role is a facet of sexual identity, together with biological sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, sexual orientation and gender identity are 2 different and independent aspects of sexual identity, 5 although gender identity is strictly linked to biological sex on a normal or pathologic continuum, as recently revised in the latest version of the International Classification of Diseases.…”

Treatment seeking for problematic pornography use among women

“…Perhaps the most important is gender. Males and females differ in terms of their physiology and psychology of sexual reactivity ( Ciocca et al., 2015 ; Levin, 2005 ), preferences, and activity ( Hsu et al., 1994 ; Wilson, 1987 ; Wilson & Lang, 1981 ; Wood, McKay, Komarnicky, & Milhausen, 2016 ). For example, let us take the classical four consecutive stages, such as excitation, plateau, orgasm, and resolution ( Georgiadis & Kringelbach, 2012 ; Gola, Kowalewska, Wierzba, Wordecha, & Marchewka, 2015 ).…”