Abstract

Aim: Sexual health is a very important topic in diabetes. This paper examines the impact of diabetes on the sexual relationship of patients with diabetes and their partners.
Methods: A sample of 87 patients with type 2 diabetes and their partners participated in the study. Instruments used were: Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire (SDBQ), Sexual Beliefs and Information Questionnaire (SBIQ), Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS) and Diabetes Adherence (DA).
Results: Results showed that there were differences in psychological variables according to gender, age, education and illness duration. Adherence was positively correlated with sexual information and negatively with dysfunctional beliefs, in patients. Sexual satisfaction, in patients, was positively correlated with dyadic adjustment and negatively with dysfunctional sexual beliefs. Patient’s sexual satisfaction was also positively related with partner’s sexual information, dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction and negatively with dysfunctional beliefs. In both patients and partners, female gender, more sexual dysfunctional beliefs and less dyadic adjustment were predictors of sexual dissatisfaction.
Conclusion: This study highlights the intrinsic relationship between sexual beliefs, dyadic adjustment and adherence, in patients with diabetes type 2 and their partners emphasizing the need to use a dyadic approach in this population.