Iranian Couples Conceptualization of the Role of Sexual Socialization in Their Sexual Desire: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Some researchers consider sexual desire as a biological phenomenon, while others stress its psychological aspect. The question is why people experience different levels of sexual desire in different societies. This question can be answered from a sociological perspective. Objectives: This study aimed at exploring Iranian couples' perceptions of the role of sexual socialization in their sexual desire. Methods: This research had a qualitative thematic analysis method. Data collection was performed through 14 individual semi-structured interviews with seven couples, selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was performed concurrently with data collection. Results: Analyzing participants' perceptions led to the extraction of 333 codes, five sub-sub-themes and two sub-themes "dual role of the parents" and "dual role of the community" in sexual development. The participants' dual role of parents, included parents' ability for sexual training of children and adolescents and the affectionate relationship between parents in the presence of children. Dual role of the community included sources of sexual information and sexual health education, beliefs and sociocultural taboos in sexual issues, and perception of couples from religious teachings about sexual issues. The main theme shared between sub-themes was "dual role of sexual socialization". Conclusions: Sexual desire was stronger in those whose sexual development had occurred in an active social context. In most cases, however, the couple's sexual desire had weakened because their sexual development had occurred in a passive social context. Educating sexual health experts, who can provide the sexual training needed at the individual, family, and community levels and act as reliable educational resources in line with the religious, cultural and social structure of the Iranian society seems necessary.