Low Relationship Satisfaction and High Partner Involvement Predict Sexual Problems of Women with Fibromyalgia

To examine the predictive potential of relationship variables on sexual functioning in women with fibromyalgia, we instructed 63 women (age 21–54 years) to fill out several questionnaires. Low relationship satisfaction was the strongest and most-frequent predictor of problematic sexual functioning. In addition, more fatigue and—only after taking account of relationship satisfaction—more active engagement (i.e., involvement) of the spouse were associated with reduced sexual functioning and satisfaction. Our study suggests that for women with fibromyalgia, relationship satisfaction is good for sexual functioning. Although having an involved spouse is good for the relationship, it may be bad for sexual functioning.

We thank the regional divisions of the Dutch Fibromyalgia Association (FES) for help with recruitment of patients, Rianny van den Berg for mediation, and Jos A. Vroege for giving permission to use the QSD-SF.

Notes

^a A positive r or β indicates that the predictor is related to more problems with desire, excitement, orgasm, and more negative emotions in the resolution phase; the β-values are of the full model, with all the predictors entered.

* p < .05.

† p < .01.

* p < 05.

† p < 01.