SEXUAL FUNCTIONING OF WOMEN IN SERBIA: RELATIONS WITH ATTACHMENT

Marija Zotović, Ivana Mihić, Ana Bilinović, Mirjana Andjelić, Aleksandra Kapamadžija

DOI Number
https://doi.org/10.22190/TEME200317033Z
First page
559
Last page
574

Abstract


Attachment style is an important element of partnership dynamics and can be related to different indicators of relationship quality, including sexual relationship. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between female sexual functioning (FSF) and characteristics of partner attachment. In this paper, female sexual functioning will be examined through the following dimensions: the intensity of sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual life satisfaction, and pain during intercourse. In case of existing issues, these categories of functioning are considered to be indicators of female sexual dysfunction. The research was conducted on a convenience sample of 284 female participants aged 18 to 65, from Serbia, all having partner relations longer than 6 months. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was present in 24.6% of the sample, while 75.4% had no symptoms. Looking at dimensions of sexual functioning separately, the most common issues were related to sexual desire and the least commonly reported problems were related to lubrication and pain. There were moderate correlations between the total measure of FSF and dimensions of attachment. Canonical correlation analysis indicated that attachment is highly correlated with subjective experience of sexual life satisfaction. Research results are in accordance with the results of foreign studies and, despite many limitations, they represent a significant starting point for future studies in our region relating attachment to sexual behaviour or dysfunctions.


Keywords

female sexual functioning, Serbia, attachment, anxiety, avoidance

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22190/TEME200317033Z

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