title: Attachment styles and sexual dysfunctions: a case-control study of female and male sexuality.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate attachment styles in a group of women and men with sexual dysfunction. We recruited 44 subjects (21 women and 23 men) with sexual dysfunction and 41 subjects (21 women and 20 men) with healthy sexual function as the control group. Validated instruments for the evaluation of male and female sexual dysfunctions (M/F SD) and a psychometric tool specifically designed to investigate attachment style were administered. In women, significant differences were found between subjects with sexual dysfunction and healthy controls. The scales indicating an insecure attachment showed: discomfort with closeness (FSD = 42.85 ± 11.55 vs CTRL = 37.38 ± 8.54; P < 0.01), relationship as secondary (FSD = 26.76 ± 2.60 vs CTRL = 18.42 ± 7.99; P < 0.01), and need for approval (FSD=26.38 ± 3.61 vs CTRL = 20.76 ± 7.36; P < 0.01). Healthy women also had significantly higher scores in secure attachment (confidence: FSD = 24.57 ± 3.89 vs CTRL = 33.42 ± 5.74; P < 0.01). Men with sexual dysfunctions differed from healthy men in confidence (MSD = 30 ± 6.33 vs CTRL = 36.05 ± 5.26; P < 0.01) and in discomfort with closeness (MSD = 39.08 ± 8 vs CTRL = 34.25 ± 7.54; P < 0.05). These results suggest that particular aspects related to insecure attachment have a determinant role in people with sexual dysfunctions. It is therefore fundamental to identify the attachment styles and relational patterns in patients receiving counselling and psychological treatments focussed on sexual problems.
authors.affiliation: School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciocca
authors.affiliation: School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Limoncin
authors.affiliation: School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Tommaso
authors.affiliation: School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mollaioli
authors.affiliation: School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Teramo Hospital, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Teramo Hospital, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tullii
authors.affiliation: School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carosa
authors.affiliation: School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Sante
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gianfrilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Sexology, Course of Medical Sexology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy [2] Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009769:Object Attachment; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D052065:Vaginismus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology