Are Personality Traits Effective in Marital Adjustment in Couples with Sexual Dysfunction? The Mediating Effect of Sexual Satisfaction

Abstract

The primary aim of the study is to investigate the relationships between personality traits, marital relationship and sexual satisfaction in couples with sexual dysfunction (SD). The secondary aim is to examine the mediating effects of marital adjustment between personality traits and sexual satisfaction, and of sexual satisfaction between personality traits and marital adjustment. The study was conducted with a total of 202 participants consisting of 101 married individuals diagnosed with SD and their spouses. Personal Information Form, Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Golombok-Rust Sexual Satisfaction Scale (GRISS), and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) were administered to the participants. High harm avoidance and low self-directedness were associated with decreased marital adjustment and reduced sexual satisfaction. Reduced sexual satisfaction was related to the decreased marital adjustment. According to the results of multiple mediating analyzes, mediating effect of marital adjustment was not significant in the relationship between personality traits and sexual satisfaction, while the mediating effect of sexual satisfaction was significant in the relationship between personality traits and marital adjustment. Namely, selfdirectedness predicted the marital adjustment through the mediating role of sexual satisfaction. The results of this study demonstrated that the effects of personality traits on sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment should be considered cautiously and in detail, especially in people with SD. Interventions designed to improve healthy marital functioning should include personality traits and sexual satisfaction. In the psychotherapy for SD, focusing on personality traits and sexual functions can affect marital adjustment.