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Relationship factors and sexual dysfunction. Implications for assessment and treatment
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie
|November 1, 1980
Summary
Sexual dysfunction and marital distress can be separate issues, not always linked. This finding impacts how therapists assess and treat couples facing sexual problems or relationship unhappiness.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Family Therapy
Background:
- Sexual dysfunctions are often treated within a marital context.
- The relationship between sexual functioning and marital happiness requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine conceptual issues in the behavioral treatment of sexual dysfunctions.
- To investigate whether sexual dysfunction and marital distress are independent phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Twenty couples from an outpatient family therapy unit were studied.
- Couples were classified into four groups based on marital happiness and sexual functioning scores: asymptomatic-control, sexual dysfunction, marital conflict, and combined.
- Standardized measures of marital happiness and sexual functioning were utilized.
Main Results:
- Sexual dysfunction and marital distress were found to operate independently in couples.
- The study identified distinct groups, suggesting that sexual problems do not solely stem from or lead to marital conflict.
Conclusions:
- Assessment and treatment strategies for sexual dysfunction should consider the potential independence from marital distress.
- Future research should explore the nuanced interplay between sexual health and relationship satisfaction.
- Behavioral treatment approaches may need to be tailored based on whether sexual dysfunction is linked to marital conflict.