The Relationship Between Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions and Attribution Styles Among Divorce Applicant Couples and its Impact on Sexual Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive distortions and attribution styles among divorce applicant couples and its impact on sexual satisfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study and its statistical samples were 55 divorce applicant couples (110 individuals) referred to Urmia courts, Urmia, Iran, from 2012 to 2013. The required data were gathered by interpersonal cognitive distortions, Larson sexual satisfaction and attribution style questionnaire.

RESULTS: The findings of the research indicated the existence of a significant relationship between attribution styles for pleasant events and cognitive distortions. The results showed that an increasing amount of pleasant events reduces cognitive distortions among the divorce applicant couples (P < 0.05, r = 0.19). Attribution style has a significant relationship with sexual satisfaction among the divorced couples. As stable-unstable variables increase (P < 0.05, r = 0.22), pleasant events, (P < 0.05, r = 0.19), attribution styles (total) (P < 0.05, r = 0.19) and sexual satisfaction increases and vice versa. Also, there was no significant relationship between sexual satisfaction and cognitive distortions (P < 0.05, r = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Normal and abnormal cognitive components are among the main factors affecting satisfaction or dissatisfaction in couples who are living together (sexual satisfaction is one of its main elements).