Intimacy and sexual well-being in couples coping with sexual interest/arousal disorder: the importance of perceived partner responsiveness.

Abstract

Background: Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD) is one of the most common sexual issues reported by women and a leading reason for seeking sex and couple therapy-yet is rarely studied from a dyadic perspective. Intimacy is one interpersonal factor that could promote greater sexual well-being in individuals with SIAD and their partners.

Aim: Using a dyadic cross-sectional design, this study examined the associations between the three components of intimacy (self-disclosure, perceived partner disclosure, and perceived partner responsiveness) and sexual satisfaction, sexual distress and sexual function among 263 couples coping with SIAD. The moderating role of couple type (cisgender heterosexual vs sexual/gender diverse) was also assessed.

Method: 263 individuals with SIAD (Mage = 34.16) and their partners (Mage = 35.71) completed validated questionnaires through the secure online survey platform Qualtrics.

Outcomes: Outcomes were The Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction; The Sexual Distress Scale and the Sexual Function Evaluation Questionnaire.

Results: Results showed that when partners of individuals with SIAD perceived greater responsiveness from the individual with SIAD, it was associated with their own higher sexual satisfaction and sexual function, and lower sexual distress, as well as with the individual with SIAD's greater sexual satisfaction. Additionally, in sexual/gender-diverse relationships, individuals with SIAD who perceived greater partner responsiveness reported better sexual function. In cisgender heterosexual relationships, when partners perceived higher responsiveness from individuals with SIAD, this was also linked to the individual with SIAD's greater sexual function. However, self-disclosure and perceived partner disclosure were not associated with sexual well-being in the couple.

Clinical implications: Enhancing feelings of closeness and connection through clinical interventions focusing on perceived partner responsiveness could help couples with SIAD better cope with the sexual challenges of SIAD.

Strengths & limitations: Strengths of this study include the large and diverse clinical sample of couples coping with SIAD, the dyadic design, and the use of moderation to examine the role of couple type in the associations between intimacy and sexual well-being. However, the cross-sectional design limits our ability to establish causation, and the interpretation of results should consider the reliance on self-report questionnaires.

Conclusion: Findings underscore the importance of understanding interpersonal dynamics in SIAD, highlighting the potential positive impact of perceived partner responsiveness on sexual well-being for individual with SIAD and their partners. The moderating effects of couple type on the individuals with SIAD's sexual function also underline the importance of including a diverse sample of couples in research on sexual dysfunction.