The Relationship Between Body Image and Sexual Function in Middle-Aged Women

Authors

  • Zeinab Houshyar M.Sc. of Midwifery, Lecture in Midwifery, Department of Research, Faculty of Nursing, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran

Keywords:

Body image, Sexual function, Middle-aged women

Abstract

Introduction: 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). 

Conclusion: 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.

References

Beigi M, Fahami F, Hassanzahraei R, Arman S. Associative factors to sexual dysfunction in menopause

women. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2008; 13(1).

Arman S, Fahami F, Hasan Zahraee R. A comparative Study on women’s sexual functioning disorders

before and after menopause. Arak Med Univ J. 2006; 8(3): 1-7.

Slevec JH, Tiggemann M. Predictors of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in middle-aged women.

Clin Psychol Rev. 2011; 31(4): 515-24. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.12.002. PMID: 21239098.

Moghimian M, Salmani F, Azarbarzin M. Investigation of relationship between body image satisfaction

and academic field of study of female students of islamic azad university branch of najafabad. Iranian

journal of nursing research. 2012; 7(25): 64-71.

Asgari P, Shababi R. A comparison between the quality of life, life satisfaction, sex role attitude & self- esteem among students with high and low body image. Andisheh va raftar (Applied psychology). 2010;

(17): 9-18.

Dehghani M, Chehrzad M, Jafari AM,. Investigating the Relationship between Satisfaction from Body

Image and Socio Cultural Patterns among Female Adolescents in Rasht City. Scientific Journal of

Hamadan Nursing & Midwifery Faculty. 2012; 20(3): 26-36.

Riahi ME. Gender differences in the level of body image satisfaction. Woman In Development And

Politics. 2011; 9(3(34)): 5-33.

Pazmany E, Bergeron S, Van Oudenhove L, Verhaeghe J, Enzlin P. Body image and genital self-image in

pre-menopausal women with dyspareunia. Arch Sex Behav. 2013; 42(6): 999-1010. doi: 10.1007/s10508- 013-0102-4. PMID: 23605571.

Safarinejad MR. Female sexual dysfunction in a population-based study in Iran: prevalence and associated

risk factors. Int J Impot Res. 2006; 18(4): 382-95. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901440. PMID: 16395324.

Bagherzadeh R, Zahmatkeshan N, Gharibi T, Akaberian S, Mirzaei K, Kamali F, et al. Prevalence of

female sexual dysfunction and related factors for under treatment in Bushehrian women of Iran. Sexual

Disabil. 2010; 28(1): 39-49. doi: 10.1007/s11195-010-9149-5.

Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Linde JA, Operskalski BH, Ichikawa L, Rohde P, et al. Association between

obesity and depression in middle-aged women. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2008; 30(1): 32-9. doi:

1016/j.genhosppsych.2007.09.001. PMID: 18164938, PMCID: PMC2675189.

Sotoudeh G, Niyazi E, Khosravi Sh, Khajeh Nasiri F, Koohdani F. Prevalence and determinants of obesity

and overweight in pre-and post-menopausal women in Islamshahr: a population-based study. Hayat. 2010;

(2): 47-54.

Johnson KG. Serials-The Constant Midlife Crisis. Serial Rev. 2006; 32(1): 35-9. doi:

1016/j.serrev.2005.11.002.

Fakhri A, Pakpour AH, Burri A, Morshedi H, Zeidi IM. The Female Sexual Function Index: translation and

validation of an Iranian version. J Sex Med. 2012; 9(2): 514-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02553.x.

PMID: 22146084.

Mohammadi KH, Heydari M, Faghihzadeh S. The female sexual function index (FSFI): validation of the

Iranian version. Payesh. 2008; 7(3): 269-78.

Zeighami Mohammadi Sh, Mojdeh F. Correlation between body mass index, body image and depression

among women referring to Health Clinic of Hazrat-e-Ali Hospital Health Clinic in Karaj (2009). Mod Care

J. 2012; 9(1): 40-8.

Ackard DM, Kearney‐Cooke A, Peterson CB. Effect of body image and self‐image on women's sexual

behaviors. Int J Eat Disord. 2000; 28(4): 422-9. PMID: 11054789.

Pujols Y, Seal BN, Meston CM. The association between sexual satisfaction and body image in women. J

Sex Med. 2010; 7(2pt2): 905-16. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01604.x. PMID: 19968771, PMCID:

PMC2874628.

Davison TE, McCabe MP. Relationships between men’s and women’s body image and their psychological,

social, and sexual functioning. Sex Roles. 2005; 52(7-8): 463-75. doi: 10.1007/s11199-005-3712-z.

Satinsky S, Reece M, Dennis B, Sanders S, Bardzell S. An assessment of body appreciation and its

relationship to sexual function in women. Body Image. 2012; 9(1): 137-44. doi:

1016/j.bodyim.2011.09.007. PMID: 22018776.

Albertson ER, Neff KD, Dill-Shackleford KE. Self-compassion and body dissatisfaction in women: A

randomized controlled trial of a brief meditation intervention. Mindfulness. 2015; 6(3): 444-54. doi:

1007/s12671-014-0277-3.

Stokes R, Frederick-Recascino C. Women's perceived body image: relations with personal happiness. J

Women Aging. 2003; 15(1): 17-29. doi: 10.1300/J074v15n01-03. PMID: 12678183.

Moin V, Duvdevany I, Mazor D. Sexual identity, body image and life satisfaction among women with and

without physical disability. Sexual Disabil. 2009; 27(2): 83-95. doi: 10.1007/s11195-009-9112-5.

Khorashadizadeh F, Karamidehkordi A, Rahsepar A, Latifnejad RR, Salari M, Esmaily H, et al.

Determination of the association between body image with sexual function and marital adjustment in fertile

and infertile women by path analysis modeling. Journal of north khorasan university of medical sciences.

; 3: 23-32.

Steer A, Tiggemann M. The role of self-objectification in women's sexual functioning. J Soci Clin Psychol.

; 27(3): 205-25. doi: 10.1521/jscp.2008.27.3.205.

Published

2022-03-08