The Mediating Role of Caregiving Dimensions in Relationship between Attachment Dimensions and Sexual Satisfaction among Couples

The present study aims to investigate the mediating role of caregiving dimensions in the relationship between attachment dimensions and sexual satisfaction among couples. The research method was correlation and the statistical population included Iranian couples with academic education, who live in Tehran Sample included 508 people (254 couples) who were selected by purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods. The tools which were used in this study include Kunce & shaver’s Caregiving Questionnaire (CQ), Larson’s Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSSQ), and Griffin & Bartholomew’s Relationship Scales Quest -ionnare (RSQ). To analyze the data, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and path analysis were used. The results supported the expected links between sexual satisfaction, caregiving and attachment dimensions. Findings generally showed that the attachment insecurities had negative effects on the caregiving sensitivity and proximity, and had positive effects on the caregiving control and compulsion. On the other hand, the sensitivity and proximity were found to be positive predictors of sexual satisfaction but control and compulsion were found negative predictors of sexual satisfaction. Based on these findings, it is suggested to family therapists and sex therapists to help improve couples’ sexual satisfaction, increase the sense of secure attachment and caregiving sensitivity and proximity, and reduce control and compulsive caregiving among couples.