Predicting the signs of sexual desire / arousal in women with their attachment and differentiation styles mediated by marital conflicts

Female Sexual Interest-Arousal Disorder is one of the most common sexual problems in women and a multifactorial disorder. The aim of this study was to mediate the role of marital conflict in the relationship between attachment styles and their differentiation with signs of sexual desire / arousal in women.

The present cross-sectional study was performed on 322 married female employees of Shahed University and married students of Shahed, Al-Zahra and Shahid Beheshti who were selected by convenience sampling method. Data collection included demographic characteristics form, female sexual function index, Collins and Reed adult attachment style questionnaire, self-differentiation questionnaire and marital status questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS-21 and Amos software.

The results showed that in addition to the positive and significant relationship between secure attachment style and desire/arousal symptoms and also the negative and significant relationship between ambivalent and avoidant insecure attachment styles and signs of sexual desire/arousal, there was a direct and significant relationship between self-differentiation and signs of sexual desire/arousal. It should also be added that the aforementioned variables are indirectly related to the mediating role of marital conflicts with the criterion variable.

The present study showed that the root of marital conflicts is in their attachment and differentiation styles, which reveals the role of childhood experiences and communication with parents. the psychological components that are formed in the form of main family relationships can affect behavioral and marital patterns in the current family