Khola Tahir1, Nashi Khan2. 1. Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. 2. Rashid Latif Medical Complex (RLMC), Department of Psychology, Lahore, Pakistan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to explore the mediating role of body image (dissatisfaction) between sexual functioning (SF) and marital intimacy in Pakistani women with breast cancer. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: Correlation research design was used. One hundred and eighteen women suffering from breast cancer with age (M = 39.58, SD = 11.06) were taken from both Government and Private Hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. The participants were asked to fill out a set of questionnaires including a Demographic Form, Female Sexual Function Index, Body Image Scale, and Marital Intimacy Questionnaire (MIQ). FINDINGS: Correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between higher SF and positive determinants of marital intimacy (consensus, openness, affection, and commitment). Body image dissatisfaction had a negative relationship with positive determinants of marital intimacy and positive relationship with intimacy problems (dimension of MIQ). SPSS (Process) revealed that SF came out to be a positive predictor of marital intimacy while body image (dissatisfaction) came out to be a negative predictor of positive dimensions of marital intimacy. There was a mediational role of body image (dissatisfaction) between SF and all dimensions of marital Intimacy. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that women who perceived their bodies positively had better marital intimacy, which lead to a healthy marital life.
OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to explore the mediating role of body image (dissatisfaction) between sexual functioning (SF) and marital intimacy in Pakistani women with breast cancer. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: Correlation research design was used. One hundred and eighteen women suffering from breast cancer with age (M = 39.58, SD = 11.06) were taken from both Government and Private Hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. The participants were asked to fill out a set of questionnaires including a Demographic Form, Female Sexual Function Index, Body Image Scale, and Marital Intimacy Questionnaire (MIQ). FINDINGS: Correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between higher SF and positive determinants of marital intimacy (consensus, openness, affection, and commitment). Body image dissatisfaction had a negative relationship with positive determinants of marital intimacy and positive relationship with intimacy problems (dimension of MIQ). SPSS (Process) revealed that SF came out to be a positive predictor of marital intimacy while body image (dissatisfaction) came out to be a negative predictor of positive dimensions of marital intimacy. There was a mediational role of body image (dissatisfaction) between SF and all dimensions of marital Intimacy. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that women who perceived their bodies positively had better marital intimacy, which lead to a healthy marital life.