The Relationship Between Sexual Dysfunction and Self-Conscious Emotions

Sexual activity is an important component of quality of life, and particularly, sexual functioning is related to psychological distress. Often, core beliefs related to sexual relationships play an important role in emotional patterns and behaviors even among educated and aware women. Feelings of guilt and shame are among the factors that contribute in maintaining of sexual dysfunction. The purpose of the current research is to investigate the relationship between self-conscious emotions (e.g. guilt, shame, and embarrassment) and sexual dysfunction. Hence, in a descriptive research, 186 married female students from Ahvaz’s universities were selected through convenience sampling method and evaluated for sexual dysfunction and self-conscious emotions. Data analysis using correlation coefficient and regression analysis presented that in level of p≤0/01 there is meaningful and positive relationship between feelings of shame and sexual dysfunction; and meaningful and negative relationship between feeling of guilt and sexual dysfunction. Additionally, the obtained results from regression analysis using simultaneous stepwise method showed that predictor variables can explain 0/18 of sexual dysfunction, which is significant in the confidence level of p≤0/001. Considering the result of the study, it can be concluded that sexual dysfunction is related to feelings of guilt and shame. The findings support the need to focus on relational and psychological factors in women’s experience of sex and sexual relationship.