Sexual Satisfaction in Menopausal Women: Examining the Predictive Role of Personality, Mental Health, and Marital Intimacy

Abstract

Background: Menopause is associated with physical and psychological changes that may affect sexual satisfaction. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate sexual satisfaction and examine the associations of personality traits, mental health, and marital intimacy with sexual satisfaction among Iranian postmenopausal women. Methods: This correlational study was conducted in 2022 in Isfahan Province, Iran. A total of 300 postmenopausal women were recruited using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Larson Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, the NEO Personality Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and the Intimacy Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and stepwise multiple regression in SPSS version 24. Results: Sexual satisfaction was positively associated with marital intimacy (r = 0.58, P < 0.001), mental health (r = 0.41, P < 0.001), and agreeableness (r = 0.19, P < 0.01). It was negatively associated with age (r = -0.19, P < 0.01), duration of marriage (r = -0.24, P < 0.001), neuroticism (r = -0.24, P < 0.001), conscientiousness (r = -0.36, P < 0.001), and extraversion (r = -0.13, P < 0.05); however, openness was not significantly associated with sexual satisfaction (r = -0.03, P > 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that marital intimacy (β = 0.47), mental health (β = 0.15), duration of marriage (β = -0.16), and conscientiousness (β = -0.13) significantly predicted sexual satisfaction, explaining 42% of the variance (R2 = 0.42, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Marital intimacy, mental health, and personality traits were significantly associated with sexual satisfaction among postmenopausal women. Addressing relational and psychological factors may help to promote sexual well-being in this population.