Impact of Body Image Intervention on Sexual Confidence and Marital Intimacy in Women

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured body image intervention program on enhancing sexual confidence and marital intimacy in married women. A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 30 married women aged 25–45 years in Athens, Greece. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 15) that received eight weekly sessions of a body image-based therapy or a control group (n = 15) placed on a waitlist. Standardized instruments—the Sexual Self-Confidence Scale (SSCS) and the Marital Intimacy Questionnaire (MIQ)—were administered at three time points: pre-test, post-test, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to assess group-by-time interactions, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were conducted to identify within-group changes. Analyses were performed using SPSS-27. The results indicated significant Time × Group interaction effects for both sexual confidence (F(2, 54) = 35.41, p < .001, η² = .56) and marital intimacy (F(2, 54) = 39.03, p < .001, η² = .59). The intervention group showed significant improvements in sexual confidence from pre-test to post-test (mean difference = +12.74, p < .001) and from pre-test to follow-up (mean difference = +11.41, p < .001), with no significant decline at follow-up (p = .082). Similarly, marital intimacy improved significantly from pre-test to post-test (mean difference = +12.43, p < .001) and remained stable at follow-up (p = .119). No significant changes were observed in the control group. The body image intervention effectively enhanced sexual confidence and marital intimacy in married women, with improvements sustained over a five-month period. Addressing body-related cognitive and emotional patterns appears crucial for promoting sexual and relational well-being in women.