Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Evaluation of the relationship between emotional intelligence and sexual function of reproductive age women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Leila Asadi 1
. Mahshid Bokaie 2
. Farideh Khavari 3
. Maryam Mohammadi 3
. Sedighe Jamali Gandomani 4

1 Instructor of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

3 Instructor of Midwifery Education, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

4 Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Desirable sexual function is one of the symptoms of mental and physical health.
Many causes can cause sexual dysfunction. Emotional problems in marriage are one of the main
causes of sexual dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between
emotional intelligence and its components with sexual function of women of reproductive age.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a co‑relational–analytic study that was
performed on 165 women of childbearing age in the second half of 2018 in selected health centers.
Data were collected using a three‑part questionnaire including demographic questionnaire, FFI
standardized sexual function questionnaire, and Bar‑On Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. Data
were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman, and Pearson correlation.
RESULTS: Most of the study participants were in the age group of 26–30 years (30.4%). The results
showed a positive correlation and a statistically significant relationship between the mean score of
all the components of emotional intelligence except the interpersonal relationships, responsibility,
empathy, and self‑esteem with sexual performance score (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the positive correlation between some components of emotional
intelligence and sexual function, emotional intelligence can be considered as an important and effective
variable in improving women’s sexual function, so focus on emotional intelligence in counseling and
education Individuals and emphasis on promotion are recommended.

Keywords

Emotional intelligence
fertility
sexual behavior
1. Salehzadeh M, Kajbaf M, Moulavi H, Zolfaghari M. Effectiveness
of cognitive‑behavior therapy on sexual dysfunction in women.
Psychol Sex Behav Psychol Publ 2012;1:157.
2. Jahanfar S, Mawleenejad M. Textbook of Sexual Disorders. 1st ed:
Publishing Community; Tehran, Iran. 1394: p23‑26.
3. Mohammadi K. Validity of the Persian version of the female sexual
function‑FSFI scale as an index of women’s sexual function. Monit
J 1387;7:269‑78.
4. Naldoni LM, Pazmiño MA, Pezzan PA, Pereira SB, Duarte G,
Ferreira CH. Evaluation of sexual function in Brazilian pregnant
women. J Sex Marital Ther 2011;37:116‑29.
5. Harris JM, Cherkas LF, Kato BS, Heiman JR, Spector TD. Normal
variations in personality are associated with coital orgasmic
infrequency in heterosexual women: A population‑based study.
J Sex Med 2008;5:1177‑83.
6. Moreira ED Jr., Brock G, Glasser DB, Nicolosi A, Laumann EO,
Paik A, et  al. Help‑seeking behaviour for sexual problems:
The global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Int J Clin Pract 2005;59:6‑16.
7. Murray SH, MilhausenRR. Sexual desire and relationship duration
in young men and women. J Sex Marital Ther 2012;38:28‑40.
8. Seftel AD. Re: Recent and Lifelong sexual dysfunction in a
female UK population sample: Prevalence and risk factors. J Urol
2012;187:233.
9. Safarinejad MR. Prevalence and risk factors for erectile
dysfunction in a population‑based study in Iran. Int J Impot Res
2003;15:246‑52.
10. Burri A, Schweitzer R, O’Brien J. Correlates of female sexual
functioning: Adult attachment and differentiation of self. J Sex
Med 2014;11:2188‑95.
11. Gibbs R, Danforth D, Karlan B, Haney A. Danforth’s Obstetrics
and Gynecology. Vol. 2. Tenth edition: publisher: Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams and wilkins; 2008. p. 1021‑3.
12. Bach A, Wincze J, Barlow D. Sexual Dysfunction, Clinical
handbook of Psychological Disorders: A Step by Step Manual.
New York: Guilford Press; 2005. p. 566‑72.
13. Nayyereh N. Sexual Vitality. Qom: Melina Publications; 1387.
14. Imam H, Jalilvand MA, Hadian M. Comparison of emotional
intelligence status in domestic violence victims with control
group. J Forensic Med 2009;15:14‑202.
15. Salovey, P. and Mayer, J. D. (1990) ‘Emotional Intelligence’,
Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9 (3), pp. 185–211.
16. Goleman D. Emotional intelligence: Issues in paradigm building.
The emotionally intelligent workplace. 2001;13:26.
17. Soleimanian AA, Mohammadi A. The relationship between
emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction. RIA Educ Res J
2009;19:88‑94.
18. Shafiee Z, Mohammadi RA. Predicting Quality of Marital
Relationship Based on Emotional Intelligence Scale In married
women and their wives. Educational and Cultural Journal of
Women and Family. 2017; 12 (41): 91‑106.
19. Ramadan M, Dolatian MS. Correlation of self‑esteem with
functional impairment and sexual satisfaction in women. Arak
Univ Medl Sci 2010;4:23‑8.
20. Ashtiani F, Dastani M. Psychological Tests, Personality
Assessment and Mental Health. First edition.Vo. 11. tehran: beesat
Publications Institute. 2013. p. 82.
21. Golparvar MA, Khaksar AF. The relationship between emotional
intelligence and its components with career progressivism among
factory and industrial workers. J Knowl Res Psychol 2005;7:75‑96.
22. Dehshiri G. Standardization of Bar‑On Emotional Behavior
Questionnaire among Tehran University Students and its
Functional Structure. Thesis Assessment and Measurement,
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh
Tabataba’i University; 1382.
23. Samui R. Standardization of Bar‑On Emotional Intelligence
Questionnaire. Tehran: Sina Psychological Institute; 2004.
24. Kermani YM, Bahraini SA, Rahmani AA. Group therapy and
emotional intelligence. J Psychiatr News 2010;16:124‑44.
25. Jafaryazdi H, Golzari M. Emotional intelligence and marital
adjustment of married women employed in education. J Train
Res 2009;1:35.
26. Dehnavi SY, Daramadi SP, Samavatian H. Between emotional
intelligence and cognitive three managers of education and its
relation to their job performance of the region. J Res Appl Psycho
2009;40:52‑62.
27. Bahrami N, Alizadeh S, Bahrami S. Prevalence of sexual
dysfunction in women of reproductive age and related factors.
J Fac Nurs Midwifery 2011;21:8‑13.
28. Jazz H, Abdullahi N, Aman Allah A, Aslani K. Predicting
sexual behavior based on attachment styles self‑differentiation
and education in married female students in Ahvaz: Journal of
Psychological Studies, Feb 2018. 20;13 (4):43‑58.
29. Azadi A, Fathi S. An investigation of homosexuality in Tehrani
couples and its impact on marital satisfaction. J Women Soc
2016;7:85‑104.
30. Zarch, Z.N., Marashi, S.M. and Raji, H., 2014. The relationship
between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction: 10‑year
outcome of partners from three different economic levels. Iranian
journal of psychiatry, 9 (4), p. 188.
31. Schutte N, Malouff J, Simunek M, McKenley J, Hollander S.
Characteristicemotional intelligence and emotional wellbeing.
Cogn Emot 2002;16:769‑85.
32. Shamsai MM, Nikkhah H, Akhadi M. The role of sense of identity
and emotional intelligence in marital satisfaction. J Appl Psychol
1395;1:57.
33. Stein SJ, Book HE. The EQ edge: Emotional intelligence and your
success. John Wiley and Sons; 2011 Apr 5.
34. Willi J, Burri A. Emotional Intelligence and Sexual Functioning in
a Sample of Swiss Men and Women. J Sex Med 2015;12:2051‑60.
35. Burri AV, Cherkas LM, Spector TD. Emotional intelligence and
its association with orgasmic frequency in women. J Sex Med
2009;6:1930‑7.
36. Koochak Entezar R, Nooraini O, Ghanbari Panah A. Relation
between emotional intelligence and forgiveness with marital
satisfaction. Int J Fundam Psychol Soc Sci 2011;1:21‑5.
37. Lavalekar A, Kulkarni P, Jagtap P. Emotional intelligence and
marital satisfaction. J Soc Psychol 2010;5:185‑94.
38. Karen J, Tamaren MA. Factor of Emotional Intelligence Associated
with Marital Satisfaction. New York: Cambridge University Press.
2010.
39. Burnette J, Taylor K, Worthington E, Forsyth R. Attachment and
trait forgivingness: The mediating role of angry rumination.
J Couns Dev 2006;8:312‑20.
40. Abdollahi A, Kafi S, Shahgholian M. The relationship between
emotional intelligence and coping styles with marital satisfaction
and marriage. Iran Psychol 1390;7:279‑85.
41. Dokanei Fard F, BehbudyM. Investigating the contribution of each
of the components to the predicting marital satisfaction of married
high school teachers in Ilam. J Educ Manage Res 1389;2:6161‑82. 
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 10, Issue 4
April 2020
Pages 1-7

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us