The Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Relationship betweenAttachment Pathologies and Sexual Disorders

The present research aimed to examine the mediating role of fear of intimacy in the relationship between attachment pathologies and sexual disorders. A total of 450 individuals (227 Women, 223 Men) with sexual disorders participated in this study. Participants were asked to complete the Adult Attachment Inventory (Besharat, 2011, 2013), Fear of Intimacy Scale (Descutner & Thelen, 1991), and Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (Rust & Golombok, 1986). The results indicated that attachment pathologies had a significant positive association with sexual disorders and fear of intimacy. Fear of intimacy also showed a significant positive association with sexual disorders. The results of path analysis indicated that the relationship between attachment pathologies and sexual disorders was mediated by fear of intimacy. Based on the results of the this study the impact of attachment on both intimacy mechanisms and sexual functioning was approved. Using these findings in preventing sexual disorders as well as treating sexual disorders in couples can be considered as practical achievements of this study.