Sexual Satisfaction in Spouses of Ex-POWs: The Role of PTSD Symptoms and Self-Differentiation. Issue 8 (17th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lahav, Yael; Price, Naomi; Crompton, Laura; Laufer, Avital; Solomon, Zahava
• Is Part Of: Journal of sex & marital therapy. Volume 45:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 755
• Page End: 766
• Publication Date: 2019-11-17
• Subjects: Sexual disorders -- Periodicals; Sexual deviation -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Marital psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Marriage; Sex Disorders; 616.8583005
• DOI: 10.1080/0092623X.2019.1594478
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0092-623X

Abstract

Abstract: Spouses of former prisoners-of-war (ex-POWs) are at risk for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and marital distress. This study assessed the implications of PTSS and self-differentiation for sexual satisfaction among 90 ex-POWs' spouses and 75 matched combatants' spouses from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Standardized questionnaires were used. Ex-POWs' spouses had elevated PTSS and imbalanced self-differentiation. PTSS were associated with poorer self-differentiation and lower sexual satisfaction. Imbalanced self-differentiation mediated the association between PTSS and sexual satisfaction. The findings imply that PTSS and imbalanced self-differentiation contribute to low sexual satisfaction among spouses of primary trauma survivors.