Intimacy, Sexual Satisfaction, and Sexual Distress in XXXX Couples: An Observational Study.

@entity1 @entity2411 @entity158
OBJECTIVE: @entity2411 is a prevalent idiopathic @entity158 with deleterious consequences for the sexuality of affected @entity1 and their spouses. Intimacy has been identified as a facilitator of adjustment to health difficulties in couples. Two components of intimacy were examined among couples with @entity2411 -empathic response and disclosure-in relation to their sexual satisfaction and sexual distress. METHOD: Using an observational design, 50 @entity1 (Mage = 24.50 years, SD = 4.03) diagnosed with @entity2411 and their spouses (Mage = 26.10 years, SD = 5.70) participated in a filmed discussion focusing on the impact of @entity2411 on their lives. Empathic response and disclosure were assessed by a trained observer and self-reported by @entity1 after engaging in the discussion. The actor-partner interdependence model guided the data analyses. RESULTS: @entity1 's and spouses' higher observed and perceived empathic responses were associated with their own and their partners' greater sexual satisfaction. @entity1 's and spouses' higher perceived disclosures were associated with their own and their partners' greater sexual satisfaction. @entity1 's and spouses' higher observed empathic responses were associated with their own lower sexual distress. @entity1 's higher observed empathic responses were associated with their spouses' lower sexual distress. @entity1 and spouses' perceived greater empathic responses were associated with their own lower sexual distress. @entity1 's and spouses' greater perceived disclosures during the discussion were associated with their own and their partners' lower sexual distress. CONCLUSION: Promoting empathic response and disclosure through couple interventions may buffer against the sexual distress and sexual dissatisfaction of couples coping with @entity2411 . (PsycINFO Database Record
