Mediating role of body image between sexual functioning and marital intimacy in Pakistani women with breast cancer.

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the mediating role of body image (dissatisfaction) between sexual functioning (SF) and marital intimacy in Pakistani women with breast cancer. Correlation research design was used. One hundred and eighteen women suffering from breast cancer with age (M = 39.58, SD = 11.06) were taken from both Government and Private Hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. The participants were asked to fill out a set of questionnaires including a Demographic Form, Female Sexual Function Index, Body Image Scale, and Marital Intimacy Questionnaire (MIQ). Correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between higher SF and positive determinants of marital intimacy (consensus, openness, affection, and commitment). Body image dissatisfaction had a negative relationship with positive determinants of marital intimacy and positive relationship with intimacy problems (dimension of MIQ). SPSS (Process) revealed that SF came out to be a positive predictor of marital intimacy while body image (dissatisfaction) came out to be a negative predictor of positive dimensions of marital intimacy. There was a mediational role of body image (dissatisfaction) between SF and all dimensions of marital Intimacy. It was concluded that women who perceived their bodies positively had better marital intimacy, which lead to a healthy marital life.