The Mediating Role of Sexual Function in the Relationship between Sensation-seeking, Gender Role Conflict, and Novelty-Seeking in Married Men in Bushehr (Iran) in 2020

Background: Potential problems among couples can negatively impact the lives of the family. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between sensation-seeking, gender role conflict, and novelty-seeking in married men with the mediating role of sexual function. Methods: This was a correlational study performed by path analysis. The statistical population comprised all married men in Bushehr (Iran) who visited marriage counseling centers in 2020. A total of 384 married men were selected as the sample using convenience sampling. The research tools included the Zuckerman Sensation-seeking Scale-V, the Gender Role Conflict Scale, Justification for Extramarital Involvement Questionnaire (JEIQ), and the Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale-Erectile Functioning (SSES-E). Data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation method and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Based on demographic results, the mean (SD) of the age of participants was 45.29 (6.37) years. The results revealed a significant relationship between sensation-seeking and sexual function, and between sensation and novelty-seeking in men (p 0.001). There was also a causal relationship between sensation-seeking and novelty-seeking mediated by sexual function in men (P=0.004). The findings also revealed a significant relationship between gender role conflict and sexual function as well as novelty-seeking (p 0.001), and a significant relationship between gender role conflict and novelty-seeking mediated by sexual function in men (P=0.012). Conclusion: According to the results, the proposed model had adequate fitness. Male sensation-seeking and gender role conflict lead to numerous problems for men, spouses, the family, and society.