Sexual Dynamics of Married Women with Interpersonal Dependency: A Qualitative Study on Iranian Women

Background: Considering the lack of documented research on the sexuality of dependent persons, this qualitative study examined sexual dynamics among Iranian married women with excessive interpersonal dependency.

Methods: Interviews with 18 married women with high interpersonal dependency were coded using thematic analysis.

Results: Three major areas emerged from the data under which the themes clustered. These were (1) intrapersonal level which included confused sexual cognitions, intrusive thoughts during sex, preoccupation by sexual thoughts, low tolerance for reduction or interruption of sexual activity, and emotional distress during sex, (2) interactional dynamics including imposing pressure on the husband to have sex and assuming a submissive and receptive role during sex, and (3) contextual processes including social stigma and the effects of social phenomena.

Conclusions: These findings presented a relatively clear understanding of the impacts of interpersonal dependency on the sexuality of Iranian women. The majority of the women reported maladaptive sexual strategies, attitudes, and emotions. Moreover, there were several similarities between the sexual dynamics of the women and those of individuals with anxious attachment style. These findings suffer from some limitations in terms of generalization due to the small size of the sample and clinical and cultural considerations. The implications of these findings for practitioners are also considered.