Literature update: A critical review

Abstract

Can perfectionism contribute to marital and sexual dysfunction? The examination of a range of variables that may have an effect between degrees of perfectionism in a man or his partner and marital satisfaction and sexual functioning is reported (MARTEN DI BARTOLO, P. & BARLOW, D.H. (1996) Perfectionism, marital satisfaction and contributing factors to sexual dysfunction in men with erectile disorder and their spouses, Archives of Sexual Behavior, 25, pp. 581-588). Perfectionism was measured using the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) and measure of marital satisfaction by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Rating scores of organicity and psychogenicity contribution towards erectile dysfunction using various criteria and different clinicians for each rating were obtained. Higher overall levels of perfectionism were found to be associated with high clinician ratings with regard to the influence of psychogenic variables in contributing to dysfunctional men's erectile difficulties. Neither dysfunctional men's nor their spouses' marital satisfaction scores were correlated with psychogenic ratings. Dysfunctional men's overall MPS scores were not related to either their own or their partner's DAS scores, although dysfunctional partners' MPS scores were negatively related to both their own and their partner's DAS scores. This is preliminary evidence that women's but not men's perfectionist tendencies affect both their own and their spouses' marital satisfaction. The MPS scores were significantly higher in women than in men, suggesting that women may be exhibiting perfectionist tendencies to a degree that begins to impact adversely upon relationship satisfaction.