Erectile Dysfunction and Partner-Directed Behaviors in Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Suspicious...

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been shown to have a considerable impact on romantic relationships. The purpose of the present research was to examine whether the associations that ED had with men's mate retention behaviors, partner-directed insults, partner-directed violence, and injuries inflicted on the partner were mediated by suspicious jealousy but not reactive jealousy. These associations were examined using self-reports of men (Study 1) and partner-reports provided by women about their perceptions of their male partner (Study 2). The results of both studies indicated that suspicious jealousy (but not reactive jealousy) mediated the associations that ED had with the partner-directed behaviors of men in their romantic relationships. Specifically, higher levels of ED were associated with men experiencing (or being perceived to experience) more suspicious jealousy which, in turn, predicted their use of mate retention behaviors, partner-directed insults, and partner-directed violence as well as the infliction of injuries on their female partners. In our discussion, we address the evolutionary implications of these associations, as well as limitations and directions for future research on ED.