The Relationship of Adult Romantic Attachment, Body Image, and Gender Role Identity to Female Sexual Functioning and Sexual Assertiveness

Given that as many as a third of the world's women are affected by problems with sexual functioning, scientific research on the roots and correlates of sexual difficulties is crucial. The purpose of the present study was to examine specific psychological factors that may be associated with sexual functioning and sexual assertiveness in women. The variables examined were adult romantic attachment, body image, body image in a sexual context, and traditional ideas about gender interactions. Participants were 215 female students in various psychology classes at Old Dominion University. All were heterosexual and had been sexually active within the past year. They anonymously completed online questionnaires to assess romantic attachment style, body image anxiety in a sexual context, trait body image investment, and the endorsement of traditional gender role interactions. The women also answered standardized assessments of sexual functioning and sexual assertiveness. Anxious and avoidant romantic attachment patterns and body image anxiety in a sexual context were all significantly negatively related to the quality of sexual functioning. Body image anxiety in a sexual context was found to be the best predictor. Traditional attitudes about male-female interactions and body image anxiety in a sexual context were both significantly negatively related to sexual assertiveness, and both variables equally predicted lower sexual assertiveness. Romantic attachment dimensions were unrelated to sexual assertiveness. Body image investment was unrelated to any of the measures of sexuality. The present study suggests the need for more research on this relatively unstudied topic. Future research with samples that are more diverse in gender, age, and the extent of past and recent sexual experience is warranted.