The relationship of childhood trauma, anxiety, and sexual satisfaction in Turkish men with erectile dysfunction

Childhood traumas (CT), particularly sexual abuse, are linked with sexual dysfunction and reduced sexual satisfaction. This study explores the association between CT, anxiety, and sexual satisfaction in individuals with erectile dysfunction (ED).

The study cohort consisted of 93 patients with ED and 95 control group volunteers. Participants completed self-report forms on demographic data and sexual histories, along with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS).

Forty participants from the ED groups also had a co-diagnosis of premature ejaculation (PE). Those with co-morbid PE were categorized as a separate group (ED + PE). Physical abuse, sexual abuse, and minimization as measured by the CTQ, along with impotence, infrequency, and dissatisfaction as measured by the GRISS, were significantly lower in the control group compared to the ED and ED + PE groups (p<0.001). Anxiety scores were significantly different between the ED + PE group and both the ED and control groups (p<0.001). A history of childhood sexual abuse was linked to avoidance behavior (p<0.05). Significant correlations were observed between emotional maltreatment and PE (p<0.05), impotence and minimization (p<0.001), impotence and psychical neglect (p<0.05), and tactile avoidance and emotional neglect (p<0.01).

This study highlights the importance of CT, including types other than sexual abuse, in contributing to sexual dysfunction and diminished satisfaction.