The Mediating Role of Obsessive Beliefs in the Relationship between Sexual Desire and Marital Satisfaction of Women with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating contribution of obsessive beliefs in the relationship between sexual desire and marital satisfaction of women with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The research method was descriptive-correlation. The statistical population of this research was all married women suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder who referred to the outpatient clinic of Hafez hospital and several private clinics in Shiraz in 2021, and 200 of them were selected by available sample. All of whom completed the Hulbert Index of Sexual Desire, Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire, Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire, and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. The data were analyzed using correlation matrix, multivariate regression analysis and path analysis test. The main findings indicated that sexual desire had directly significant relation with marital satisfaction. Sexual desire indirectly had a significant relationship through the mediating role of obsessive beliefs with marital satisfaction. It seems that sexual desire directly and indirectly by mediating the role of obsessive beliefs predicted marital satisfaction. This study indicated the necessity of increasing awareness of beliefs, sexual knowledge and facilitating sexual counseling for married women.

Keywords

• marital satisfaction
• obsessive beliefs
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• sexual desire