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

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 27, pages 81–85 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Emilia Parafita and Malena Nazzaro for their contribution to recruitment a part of sample. This work was supported by MIUR-PRIN and FIRB grants from the Italian Ministry of University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy,

    G Ciocca, E Limoncin, S Di Tommaso, D Mollaioli, G L Gravina, E Carosa, S Di Sante & E A Jannini

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Teramo Hospital, Teramo, Italy

    A Marcozzi & A Tullii

  3. Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy,

    D Gianfrilli & A Lenzi

  4. Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy,

    E A Jannini

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  1. G Ciocca
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Correspondence to E A Jannini.

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Competing interests

Professor Jannini is a speaker for and consultant to Janssen, Bayer, Lilly, Pfizer and Menarini. All the other authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Ciocca, G., Limoncin, E., Di Tommaso, S. et al. Attachment styles and sexual dysfunctions: a case–control study of female and male sexuality. Int J Impot Res 27, 81–85 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2014.33

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