Attachment styles and sexual dysfunctions: a case–control study of female and male sexuality

• Published in: International journal of impotence research Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 81 - 85
• Main Authors: Ciocca, G, Limoncin, E, Di Tommaso, S, Mollaioli, D, Gravina, G L, Marcozzi, A, Tullii, A, Carosa, E, Di Sante, S, Gianfrilli, D, Lenzi, A, Jannini, E A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.05.2015; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/477; 692/699/2732/515; Adult; Attachment behavior; Care and treatment; Case-Control Studies; Demographic aspects; Dyspareunia - physiopathology; Dyspareunia - psychology; Erectile Dysfunction - physiopathology; Erectile Dysfunction - psychology; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Marriage; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mens health; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Object Attachment; original-article; Personal relationships; Psychological aspects; Psychological research; Psychotherapy; Reproductive Medicine; Risk factors; rology; Sex (Psychology); Sex differences (Psychology); Sexual disorders; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - physiopathology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - psychology; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - physiopathology; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - psychology; Sexuality - physiology; Sexuality - psychology; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urology; Vaginismus - physiopathology; Vaginismus - psychology; Womens health; Italy
• ISSN: 0955-9930; 1476-5489; 1476-5489
• DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2014.33

The aim of this study was to investigate attachment styles in a group of women and men with sexual dysfunction. We recruited 44 subjects (21 women and 23 men) with sexual dysfunction and 41 subjects (21 women and 20 men) with healthy sexual function as the control group. Validated instruments for the evaluation of male and female sexual dysfunctions (M/F SD) and a psychometric tool specifically designed to investigate attachment style were administered. In women, significant differences were found between subjects with sexual dysfunction and healthy controls. The scales indicating an insecure attachment showed: discomfort with closeness (FSD=42.85±11.55 vs CTRL=37.38±8.54; P <0.01), relationship as secondary (FSD=26.76±2.60 vs CTRL=18.42±7.99; P <0.01), and need for approval (FSD=26.38±3.61 vs CTRL=20.76±7.36; P <0.01). Healthy women also had significantly higher scores in secure attachment (confidence: FSD=24.57±3.89 vs CTRL=33.42±5.74; P <0.01). Men with sexual dysfunctions differed from healthy men in confidence (MSD=30±6.33 vs CTRL=36.05±5.26; P <0.01) and in discomfort with closeness (MSD=39.08±8 vs CTRL=34.25±7.54; P <0.05). These results suggest that particular aspects related to insecure attachment have a determinant role in people with sexual dysfunctions. It is therefore fundamental to identify the attachment styles and relational patterns in patients receiving counselling and psychological treatments focussed on sexual problems.