The Impact of Differentiation of Self and Spirituality on Sexual Satisfaction

This study examined the relationships between differentiation of self, spirituality, and sexual satisfaction. A sample of 164 adults from both clinical and nonclinical populations completed the Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI; Skowron & Friedlander, 1998), the Miller Measure of Spirituality (MMS; Miller, 2004), and the Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory (PSSI; Pinney, Gerrard, & Denney, 1987). Correlational analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between differentiation and sexual satisfaction but not between spirituality and sexual satisfaction. Regression analyses and path analysis were conducted, the results of both indicating that differentiation alone is a significant predictor of sexual satisfaction. Adding spirituality to the predictive model did little to increase its strength in explaining the variance on PSSI scores. Additional analyses revealed that spirituality was more significant for women than men. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. According to traditional sex therapy theories and models, sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction occur primarily as a result of anxiety and, more specifically, performance anxiety (Kaplan, 1974, 1979; Masters & Johnson, I966, 1970). The purpose of the interventions used in these approaches, such as sensate focus and bypassing, is to avoid feelings of anxiety in sexual encounters. Schnarch's (1991) quantum model of sexual arousal and response offers an alternative to traditional approaches by theorizing that sexual response, rather than a stage-oriented physiological process, consists of each individual's ability to respond to and process both physical stimuli and psychological processes. Like Kaplan and Masters and Johnson, Schnarch emphasizes the role anxiety plays in sexuality. Rather than focusing on the elimination of anxiety, however, Schnarch posits that in order to reach their sexual potential, which may or may not be accompanied by orgasm, individuals must learn to modulate their anxiety by increasing their differentiation of self in relation to thenpartners (I99I, 1997). Another aspect of Schnarch's (1997) quantum model is the proposition that when individuals reach their sexual potential, their sexuality and spirituality will be mutually enhanced. Clinical interest in spirituality has been growing in recent years, and whereas before it was a topic to be avoided in therapy, mental health professionals are now being encouraged to consider their clients' spiritual values and beliefs in the treatment of their mental, emotional, relational, and behavioral problems. Research has been proliferating on the impact of spirituality on sexuality and sexual satisfaction, showing that the two are linked in important ways to one another (Butler, 2003; Ferrer, 2006; Helminiak, 1998; Horn, Piedmont, Fialkowski, Wicks, & Hunt, 2005; MacKnee, 1997, 2002; McClintock, 2001; Murray, Ciarrocchi, & Murray-Swank, 2007; Murray-Swank, Pargament, & Mahoney, 2005; Wade, 2000). Schnarch (1991) has offered a theoretically rich description of the ways in which differentiation of self and spirituality shape sexual and marital intimacy. No research has been conducted, however, to examine directly the relationships between differentiation of self, spirituality, and sexual satisfaction. As a result, the purpose of this exploratory study was to determine if differentiation of self and spirituality are predictive of sexual satisfaction among community and clinical samples. Review of the Literature In order to frame this study and to assist in hypothesizing outcomes, a review of the literature was conducted in three areas: the impact of differentiation of self on relationships, correlates of sexual satisfaction, and previous research on spirituality and sexuality. Differentiation of Self Defining differentiation. According to Skowron, Holmes, and Sabatelli (2003), differentiation of self refers to the manner in which family patterns affect the trajectory of individual health and development and influence the extent to which individuals are able to act with an age-appropriate degree of autonomy, take personal responsibility for age-appropriate tasks, and experience strong connections with important others, (p. …