Relationship Between Adult Separation Anxiety and Attachment Styles and Vaginismus

Abstract

Background Vaginismus has an unknown etiology, is comorbid with anxiety, and is the most common sexual dysfunction in sexual dysfunction outpatient clinics in Turkey. Aim This study aimed to determine the frequency of adult separation anxiety disorder (ASAD) and styles of attachment in patients with vaginismus and to investigate its relationship with female sexual dysfunction. Methods Sixty women with vaginismus and 60 healthy controls were compared using the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA-27). Outcomes We report the results of the questionnaires with their implication on the etiology of vaginismus. RESULTS Separation anxiety and fearful and dismissive avoidance attachment style in the vaginismus group were significantly higher than in the control group. Both total FSFI scores and arousal, pain, and satisfaction subscale scores were higher in the control group. Clinical Implications ASAD should be evaluated and addressed separately, when necessary, in the treatment of vaginismus. Strengths & Limitations The relationship between ASAD and vaginismus has been shown for the first time. Study limitations included the assessment of factors influencing the study results based on self-reporting and possible recall bias. CONCLUSION Attachment and comorbidity research in vaginismus needs to shift from just reporting disturbances, to identify various clinical variables, such as the severity of the vaginismus, response to therapy, and differences in therapeutic modalities, in terms of outcome.

Luxury brand attachment: Predictors, moderators and consequences

“…The second pattern is relevant to the conceptualization of a “secure base” (Ainsworth, 1982) that focuses on the ambience provided by the attachment figure to the attached person. The final notion, known as “separation protest”, refers to the enduring nature of the attachment whereby the people react to the loss of or distance from the attachment figure (Bowlby, 1979; Unlubilgin et al., 2021).…”

Examining the relationship between object relations, relationship attachment and separation anxiety in adults with depressive tendencies

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