Childhood trauma, sexual function disorder and partner compliance in women who have married at an early age

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine effects of early marriage on sexual function and partner compliance of the couples and to research the childhood trauma caused in women who were forced to marry or have married early.

Methods: Women who have been referred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, including 50 women who had married before the age of 18 and 50 women who had married after that age were included into our study during the first six month of their pregnancy. Sociodemographic data Form, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale were applied to all participants.

Results: In the sociodemographic data form, it was detected that those who have married before the age of 18 tend to have a lower education level (3.02 years), generally live in rural areas, have seven or more siblings have married a relative. In early marriage, exposure to physical and sexual violence by the husband during the first years of marriage were found as 36% and 32%, respectively. In those who had married after the age of 18, these rates were reported as 4% and 5%, respectively. When Arizona Sexual Experience Scale scores were assessed, sexual desire (p=0.012), sexual arousal (p=0.034) and total scores (p=0.048) were found higher in the early married group than those who have married after 18 years. In CTQ, emotional abuse (p=0.04) subscale scores were significantly higher in the early married group. CTQ scale scores were compared by cut-off score (7 points) and physical negligence (p=0.035) was found significantly higher in early married women. The most common trauma type was determined as physical negligence (76%). For partner compliance, Emotional Expression Size (p=0.015) and Peer-to-Peer Association Size (p=0.003) subscales revealed significantly lower scores in the early married individuals than those married after the age of 18.

Conclusion: Women who get married under the age of 18 experience sexual dysfunction more often. Women who marry early experience more physical neglect and emotional abuse before marriage comparing to women who married later than age of 18. Women who married early have lower scores for Affectional Expression (degree to which respondent agrees with partner regarding emotional affection) and Dyadic Cohesion (degree to which respondent and partner participate in activities together) for dyadic adjustment and cannot get along with their spouses in terms of discussing maturely, doing activities together, exchange of ideas, type of loving.