A study of sexual functioning and marital satisfaction in women with and without history of labor

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc. in clinical psychology, Instructor of Islamic Azad University, Branch of Torbat-e-Heydarieh, Club of Young Researchers, Torbat-e-Heydarieh, Iran

2 Assistant professor of psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual relationship is a natural attraction in a fitting family environment and its acceptance and satisfaction is necessary in maintaining the family system. Following the birth of a child, sexual behavior changes due to the certain circumstances of this period. Due to the prevalence of sexual problems and its relationship with the birth of the first child in women who experience motherhood for the first time first, this study aimed to assess the sexual functioning and marital satisfaction in primipar women and women without history of labor.
 Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study,120 married women (60 women with children and 60 women without children); ages ranging between 20-30 years were selected through simple-randomized convenience sampling among who referred the health centers and obstetrics and gynecologists offices in Mashhad, 2009. The participants fulfilled the Enrich Marital Satisfaction, sexual satisfaction and demographic form. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, through descriptive statistics, chi-square and ANOVA tests.
 Results: Findings showed that women who had not yet experienced pregnancy and childbirth, had better sexual function (P=0.017) and higher marital satisfaction (P=0.005). Mean sexual function score in women without children was 3.6 and for women with children was 3.3.
 Conclusion: The results suggest that married women without children have higher mean scores of sexual satisfaction and higher marital satisfaction than women who have experienced childbirth. This shows the key-role of sexual functioning in marital satisfaction and necessity of sexual problems in women after childbirth.

Keywords

Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 17, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
July and August 2015
Pages 202-208

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