title: The Relationship Between Body Image and Sexual Function in Middle-Aged Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An individual's social and marital function, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life may, sometimes be affected by negative body image. This study is aimed at determining the relationship between body image and sexual function in middle-aged women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 437 middle-aged women, who were referred to various public healthcare centers in Ahvaz, Iran during 2014-2015, were selected. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) were used for data collection. Chi-square, one-way analysis of variance, Spearman's correlation test, and logistic regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 58% of the participants expressed satisfaction with their body image, 35% were mildly dissatisfied, and 7% were moderately dissatisfied with their body image. Body image had a significant negative relationship with sexual satisfaction and sexual function (p=0.005). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between body image and sexual desire (p=0.022), pain (p=0.001), sexual arousal (p<0.0005), sexual orgasm (p=0.001), and sexual satisfaction (p<0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the results indicated, body image is an important aspect of sexual health. In this study, women with a positive body image had higher sexual function valuation, compared to women with a negative body image. Also, body shape satisfaction was a predictor of sexual function.
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Midwifery, Assistant Professor, Menopause Andropause Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Poorandokht
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Afshari
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Midwifery, Lecture in Midwifery, Department of Research, Faculty of Nursing, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran.
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Houshyar
authors.affiliation: Ph.D. of Reproductive Health, Assistant Professor, Reproductive Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur, University Of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Javadifar
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics Sciences, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pourmotahari
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of midwifery, Lecture in Midwifery, Menopause Andropause Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur, University Of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jorfi
keywords: Body image; Middle-aged women; Sexual function