The mediating role of emotion regulation difficultiy on the relationship between attachment pathologies and sexual disorders

Identifying factors behind sexual disorders is of paramount importance. Knowing how these variables work and impinge on each other can improve the quality of couple's sexual life, and reduce the psychological and sociological costs of prevention and treatment of sexual disorders. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties and their impact on the relationship between attachment pathologies and sexual disorders. A total of 450 individuals with sexual disorders (227 females, 223 males) participated in this study. Participants completed the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). The results indicated that attachment pathologies had a significantly positive association with sexual disorders and emotion regulation difficulties. Emotion regulation difficulties also showed a significantly positive association with sexual disorders. The results of path analysis reveald that the relationship between attachment pathologies and sexual disorders was mediated by difficulties in emotion regulation. Based on the results of the present study the impact of secure attachment on both emotion regulation mechanisms and sexual functioning was approved. Using the findings of the present study to prevent sexual disorders as well as treatment of couples, sexual disorders in couples can be considered as practical implications of the study.