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Sexual satisfaction and dysfunction in marriages of male alcoholics: Comparison with nonalcoholic maritally conflicted and nonconflicted couples

By:OFarrell, TJ (OFarrell, TJ); Choquette, KA (Choquette, KA); Cutter, HSG (Cutter, HSG); Birchler, GR (Birchler, GR)

JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL

Volume: 58

Issue: 1

Pages: 91-99

Published: JAN 1997

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the contribution of alcoholism and marital conflict to male alcoholics' sexual problems. Method: Married couples with an alcoholic husband (n = 26) were compared with 26 maritally conflicted and 26 nonconflicted couples without alcohol-related problems on both sexual dysfunction and sexual satisfaction. Results: The male alcoholics and their wives experienced less sexual satisfaction across a range of variables and more sexual dysfunction-specifically husbands' diminished sexual interest, impotence and premature ejaculation, and wives' painful intercourse-than nonconflicted couples. However, impotence was the only aspect on which alcoholics reported more difficulties than did maritally conflicted couples. When husbands' age was considered, more frequent retarded ejaculation with older age was unique to the alcoholics since it did not occur in conflicted or nonconflicted husbands; and there was a greater decline in frequency of intercourse with older age among the alcoholic than among the conflicted couples. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with a biopsychosocial formulation of alcoholics' sexual adjustment problems that implicates (1) marital conflict as a major contributing factor to most of these problems and (2) the combined role of both marital conflict and the physical effects of chronic alcohol abuse as most relevant to the elevated rates of impotence and retarded ejaculation (among older alcoholics) and the steeper decline in intercourse frequency with age.

Keywords

KeyWords Plus:THERAPY

Author Information

Reprint Address: OFarrell, TJ (reprint author)

HARVARD UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT PSYCHIAT,HARVARD FAMILIES & ADDICT PROGRAM,BROCKTON,MA 02401, USA.

Addresses:

      [ 1 ] VET AFFAIRS MED CTR,BROCKTON,MA 02401

Publisher

ALCOHOL RES DOCUMENTATION INC CENT ALCOHOL STUD RUTGERS UNIV, PO BOX 969, PISCATAWAY, NJ 08855-0969

Categories / Classification

Research Areas:Substance Abuse; Psychology

Web of Science Categories:Substance Abuse; Psychology

Document Information

Document Type:Article; Proceedings Paper

Language:English

Accession Number: WOS:A1997VZ41600009

PubMed ID: 8979217

ISSN: 0096-882X

Other Information

IDS Number: VZ416

Cited References in Web of Science Core Collection: 24

Times Cited in Web of Science Core Collection: 24

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24 Times Cited

24 Cited References

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