Effect of Body Image on Tunisian Women’s Sexual Functioning

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the perception of body image by Tunisian women and their spouses and to examine its impact on female sexuality. Our study involved 300 Tunisian women who had been married for at least 1 year and consulted in primary care medicine during the months of June and July 2016. Each participant completed a questionnaire covering four areas: women’s perception of their body, the perception of the spouses of the latter as it was reported by the participants, sexual activity, and the impact of body perception on sexual activity. The participants were satisfied with their bodies in 51% of cases. This satisfaction was associated with perceiving the body as physically attractive (p = 0.007), young (p = 0.047) and as a source of confidence (p < 0.001). Compared to women dissatisfied with their bodies, those satisfied declared satisfaction of sexual desire (p = 0.005), reaching orgasm (p = 0.001), taking the initiative in sexual activity (p = 0.003) and preparation for sex (p = 0.006). Perceived satisfaction of the partner with the female body was related to a more positive sexuality in women, specifically to women’s sexual satisfaction (p = 0.018), women taking sexual initiative (p = 0.014) and preparation for sex (p = 0.001). Our study indicates the important impact of a positive perception of the body image of Tunisian women by themselves and by their spouses on their sexuality. It would be interesting to consider these aspects in the management of female sexual disorders.