Relationship between Sexual Behavior Change, family functioning and marital intimacy in married adults aged 20 to 50 years during the Covid-19 epidemic

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between changes in sexual behavior, family functioning, and marital intimacy in married adults aged 20 to 50 years during the Covid-19 epidemic. The present research is fundamental research in terms of purpose and a correlational study in terms of method. The study population consisted of all married employees of public and private offices in the city of Kudasht in 2021 (N = 1935), from which 338 people were randomly selected as a sample by the Morgan table. The instruments of this study included the sexual behavior change questionnaire (SBCQ) (2020), the family performance scale (FAD) (1983), and the marital intimacy scale (MIS) (1983). Data were analyzed using correlation coefficient and multiple regression stepwise. The results showed that there is a positive and direct relationship between sexual intercourse, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and family functioning with marital intimacy and has the highest correlation between the components of sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy (P <0.01). Also, regression analysis showed that sexual satisfaction, family performance, sexual desire, and frequency of sexual intercourse explain a total of 0.54 variance in marital intimacy (P <0.01). Therefore, factors of sexual behavior and family functioning were important independent factors that determined marital intimacy among people aged 20 to 50 years. It can provide support information for health care to create intervention programs and services to promote the harmonious development of intimate relationships.