title: The impact of parental bonding on sexual distress in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychosomatic and social issues have been found to be determinants of sexual distress in diabetic and non-diabetic populations. However, the role of parental bonding as a determinant for sexual distress has not been studied in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of parental care and overprotection, in the pathogenesis of sexual distress in women with DM-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven women with uncomplicated DM-1 and 77 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), the General Health Questionnaire-28, and the Parental Bonding Instrument were used to evaluate sexual distress, general health and bonding with parents, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the role of parental bonding as risk factor for sexual distress, in women with DM-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with DM-1 had significantly higher FSDS scores compared with controls. Furthermore, women with DM-1 had significantly higher maternal and paternal care, and lower maternal overprotection in comparison with the healthy ones. Paternal overprotection and general health were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Sexual distress was more frequent in women with DM-1 (31.43% vs. 8.57% of controls, P < 0.05). Diabetic women with sexual distress had lower maternal care, higher maternal overprotection and lower paternal overprotection compared to diabetics without sexual distress (P < 0.05). No difference was found in the paternal care between the two groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, sexually distressed DM-1 women had worse general health parameters in comparison with the non-sexually distressed diabetics (P < 0.05). In the DM-1 group, low maternal care and low paternal overprotection were significant risk factors for sexual distress (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parental care and overprotection can lead to sexual distress and, therefore, to Female Sexual Dysfunction in DM-1 women. Evaluation of parental bonding is necessary in DM-1 women with distressing sexual problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece. abargio@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bargiota
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dimitropoulos
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mouzas
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melekos
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzortzis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koukoulis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires