Abstract
This study examined the influence of defense mechanisms and alexithymia on marital conflict and sexual dysfunction using structural equation modeling (SEM) in women. A clinical sample of 342 participants was selected using a purposive sampling as part of a descriptive design. The data was collected using the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (FTAS-20, the Kansas Marital Conflict Scale (KMCS), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The analysis found that defense mechanisms had a significantly direct influence on alexithymia, and defense mechanisms and alexithymia have significantly direct impacts on marital conflict and sexual dysfunctions. Defense mechanisms with the mediator role of alexithymia explained 72.6% of marital conflict and 75.5% of sexual dysfunction variations in females. Also, marital conflict indicated a significant positive relationship with sexual dysfunctions in married females. This study has shown a fitted SEM for the direct and indirect effects of defense mechanisms on marital conflicts and sexual dysfunctions concerning the mediator role of alexithymia in females. These results have practical implications for psychotherapeutic intervention and community-based programs among females affected by marital conflict.
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The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the relevant author upon reasonable request.
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Ramezani, E., Bougar, M.R., Alavi, P.S. et al. The effect of defense mechanisms and alexithymia on marital conflict and female sexual dysfunction. Curr Psychol 42, 28431–28440 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03937-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03937-8