The Relationship between Sexual Assertiveness and Positive Feelings towards Spouse in Married Women

Background aim: Stability and survival of marital life depends on the love and positive feelings towards spouse in married couples. Sexual assertiveness is considered as a person s ability to have intercourse to meet his/her sexual needs and promote sexual relationships with the spouse. The more couples are aware of each other s sexual needs and can satisfy those needs, the more desirably their emotional bond are developed. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between sexual assertiveness and positive feelings towards spouse in married women. Methods: This correlational study was conducted in 2016 on 60 women visiting Imam Reza Medical Center in Mashhad, Iran. The subjects who were selected through convenience sampling were married and involved in a heterosexual marriage for a minimum of one year. Data was collected using Halbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness and Positive Feelings Questionnaire. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient, multivariate regression, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-squared test were run in SPSS, version 16. Results: Higher sexual assertiveness scores were associated with more positive feelings towards spouse. The multivariate regression analysis reflected a significant positive correlation between sexual assertiveness and positive feeling toward spouse (r=0.5, P 0.01). Conclusion: Sexual assertiveness and positive feelings towards spouse are significantly associated, and they affect couples’ emotional and sexual relationship. Considering mutual agreement and sexual rights among couple, providing sexual care and consultancy services are recommended for married women to improve their sexual assertiveness and positive feelings towards their husband.