Influence of personality traits on sexual self-perception and sexual functioning in schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Personality traits are an important factor in one's life satisfaction and can therefore influence sexual self-perception and sexual life. Our aim was to determine effects of personality traits on sexual self-perception and sexual dysfunctions in schizophrenic patients.Research was conducted on 100 schizophrenic patients and 100 healthy individuals. Instruments used: NEO-PI personality questionnaire, Bezinović's questionnaire for sexual self-perception and Arizona sexual experience scale.Sexual drive and excitement are linked with all personality traits in schizophrenic patients. That means that stronger sexual drive and easier sexual arousal are connected with higher extraversion, pleasantness, consciousness and openness, as well as with lower neuroticism. Among healthy individuals, personality traits don't predict sexual dysfunctions. In schizophrenic patients, personality traits significantly influence all aspects of sexual self-perception except sexual adventurism. However, higher openness is the basis upon which sexual adventurism can be predicted. Pronounced sexual self-scheme is predicted by higher openness and consciousness. Higher openness also predicts higher consciousness of own sexuality. Higher neuroticism is a predictor of negative emotionality and sexual incompetence, and higher extraversion is a predictor of negative emotionality. In healthy individuals, personality traits are predictors of aspects of sexual self-perception. Higher openness and lower consciousness are predictors of more pronounced sexual self-scheme, higher perception of own sexuality and sexual adventurism. Higher openness and lower neuroticism are predictors of higher negative emotionality and sexual incompetence.We can conclude that personality traits affect aspects of sexual self-perception and sexual dysfunctions in schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals, but their influence differs in certain dimensions.