The Effect of Personality Traits on Sexual Function in Women with Type II Diabetes in Zarand, Iran, in 2016

Type II diabetes, a non-communicable disease, is a silent epidemic and health problem with physical, psychological, and social consequences. Sexual function in diabetic patients can be affected by several factors including their personality traits. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between personality traits and sexual function in women with type II diabetes.
This descriptive-analytic study was performed on diabetic women with type II diabetes in Zarand, Iran. Eighty-five patients were selected using convenience sampling and considering the possible 20% subject attrition, 102 diabetic patients were selected as the final sample. The participants completed the NEO Five-Factor and sexual function questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS, version19.
We found no significant relationship between the personality traits and sexual function in females with type II diabetes. None of the NEO Five-Factor personality traits, that is, emotional instability, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, was effective in sexual function.
Sexual function can be affected by various factors, and personality traits cannot always be influential in this regard. Thus, it is essential for midwives, mental health professionals, and nurses to identify the personality traits and other factors affecting diabetic patients such as lifestyle, healthy nutrition, exercise, and stress management.