Abstract
To examine female sexuality in physically abusive marriages, this study compared 60 abused women with a demographically matched sample of nonabused women in distressed marriages (aged 19–29). The physically abused women reported significantly lower levels of intimacy and compatibility in their marriages. In addition, abused women were found to evince a more traditional sex-role ideology, a greater negative or erotophobic disposition toward sex, and a stronger avoidance of sex than did nonabused women. Also, as compared to nonabused women in distressed marriages, the abused women rated themselves as having a lower degree of sexual assertiveness, arousability, and satisfaction. Despite these findings, the abused women reported a significantly greater frequency of sexual intercourse in their marriages than did the nonabused women.
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Apt, C., Hurlbert, D.F. The sexuality of women in physically abusive marriages: A comparative study. J Fam Viol 8, 57–69 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986993
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986993