The relationship between sexual dysfunction and insomnia symptoms in older men with prostate cancer and their partners: an actor-partner interdependence model approach

Abstract

Introduction Insomnia symptoms and sexual dysfunction are common among prostate cancer (PCa) patients and their partners. We explored the dyadic association between sexual dysfunction and insomnia symptoms in PCa patients and their female partners.Methods 36 couples [PCa patients (69.1 ± 7.4 years old) and partners (66.2 ± 7.8 years old)] completed self-report measures of insomnia symptoms, sexual function, and psychological wellbeing. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to determine how sexual dysfunction is associated with self- and partner’s insomnia symptoms.Results 63.9% and 50.1% of patients and partners reported insomnia symptoms respectively. Patients and partners had similar levels of sexual dysfunction and frequency, but patients were more bothered by sexual dysfunction than partners. Patients reported comparable levels of intimacies, and symptoms of depression and anxiety as their partners. Both actor and partner effects were found between partners’ sexual dysfunction on their own (B = .721, 95% CI: .259–1.183, P = .004), and on patients’ insomnia symptoms (B = .441, 95% CI: .074–.809, P = .021) respectively. However, patients’ sexual dysfunction was not related to their own and partners’ insomnia symptoms.Conclusion Sexual dysfunction of partners of PCa patients may influence their own and patients’ insomnia symptoms.

Keywords

• Prostate cancer
• insomnia symptoms
• partners’ sleep
• sexual dysfunction
• dyadic effects