Cross-sectional and prospective associations between self-compassion and sexual distress in couples coping with sexual interest/arousal disorder

Abstract

Background: When an individual in a relationship is coping with low desire/arousal, both partners experience difficulties, including higher levels of sexual distress. Effective emotional regulation strategies, such as self-compassion, could have individual and interpersonal benefits for couples with sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD). Aim: Using a dyadic design, we examined the role of self-compassion in the sexual distress of couples coping with SIAD, accounting for overall relationship satisfaction. The associations were analyzed cross-sectionally and prospectively. We also explored the moderating roles of having at least one member identify as sexually or gender diverse within the couple in the potential associations between self-compassion and sexual distress. Methods: Individuals with SIAD and their partners (N = 263 couples) completed online measures at baseline and 6 months later. Outcomes: Individuals with SIAD and their partners completed the Sexual Distress Scale-Short Form and the Couples Satisfaction Index. Results: Controlling for relationship satisfaction, when individuals coping with SIAD and their partners reported greater self-compassion at baseline, they also reported lower sexual distress. For partners only, greater self-compassion was associated with the person with SIAD's lower levels of sexual distress at baseline. No statistically significant prospective associations were found between levels of self-compassion and sexual distress 6 months later. Belonging to a sexually diverse couple was a significant moderator of the cross-sectional associations between partners' level of self-compassion and their own level of sexual distress at baseline, such that the link between greater self-compassion and lower sexual distress was observed only in partners belonging to a sexually diverse couple. Belonging to a gender diverse couple did not moderate any of the associations. Clinical Implications: Findings indicate that self-compassion could be a promising tool to reduce sexual distress in couples coping with SIAD. Strengths & Limitations: Strengths of this study include the large, diverse sample of couples coping with SIAD, the use of a cross-sectional and prospective design, and the examination of the moderating role of belonging to a gender or sexually diverse couple. However, the possible lack of statistical power to measure moderation based on belonging to a gender diverse couple and the recall bias due to the use of self-report questionnaires should be considered when interpreting the results. Conclusion: Greater self-compassion is associated with lower sexual distress in both partners of couples coping with SIAD. Self-compassion may be particularly beneficial for partners of individuals with SIAD belonging to a sexually diverse couple.