Author(s)

Yoshiko Miki^1*, Naohiro Hohashi²

¹Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Takamatsu, Japan.
²Division of Family Health Care Nursing, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between the sexuality of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and family functioning. Methods: The study took the form of a self-administered questionnaire survey, utilizing the Sexuality Satisfaction Index for IBD (SEXSI-IBD) for measuring sexuality and the Survey of Family Environment Survey of Family Environment (SFE) for measuring family functioning. SEXSI-IBD consists of 28 items and five domains, and SFE consists of 30 items and five domains. The participants were recruited at 15 self-help groups and 14 hospitals. Results: Of 146 participants, 48.6% were male and 52.4% female, with an average age of 41.1 years. A significant correlation was observed between the item average score of SEXSI-IBD and Overall Satisfaction Score (OSS) of SFE. Significant correlations were observed in two domains of the SEXSI-IBD, “Daily interaction” and “Sexual communication,” and in all five domains of the SFE. In particular, for “Daily interaction,” the strongest correlation was observed in the SFE’s “Macro system” and “Family internal environment system.” A correlation was observed between the “Physical contact importance” in SEXSI-IBD and the “Macro system” in the OSS of the SFE. Conclusions: Sexuality correlates with family functioning not only in the family internal environment system but also in the family external environment system. Through an approach aimed at elevating the degree of satisfaction for sexuality, it becomes possible to improve family functioning and realize a sense of family well-being.

Sexuality, Sexuality Satisfaction Index, SEXSI-IBD, Family Functioning, Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Miki, Y. and Hohashi, N. (2018) The Correlation between Sexuality and Family Functioning among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Japan. Open Journal of Nursing, 8, 717-730. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2018.810054.