Diagnostic Analysis of Cognitive Sexual Schemas, Sexual Beliefs, and Guilt Sensations in Women Afflicted with Primary Vaginismus and Healthy Married Women, Considering the Mediating Role of Marital Satisfaction
Description
This study aims to comparatively analyze cognitive sexual schemas, sexual beliefs, and perceptions of guilt within the context of vaginismus, a sexual disorder that introduces complexities to marital relationships. Using a descriptive cross-sectional approach, the research examines a sample of 206 married women from Tehran, comprising 63 women diagnosed with vaginismus and 143 healthy women. The research instruments encompass the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Unsuccessful Sexual Situations, Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire, Mosher Sexual Guilt Questionnaire, Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Female Sexual Function Index. Data analysis, conducted using SPSS-26 software, reveals noteworthy differences between the two groups in terms of cognitive sexual schemas, beliefs, and guilt perceptions. Of particular importance, marital satisfaction emerges as a mediating factor that mitigates substantial discrepancies between the groups. Consequently, the study underscores the imperative of comprehensive diagnostic assessments and recommends tailored interventions to effectively address vaginismus and its impact on marital dynamics.
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Procedure Participants meeting the specified inclusion criteria were selected for participation. Upon obtaining informed consent, eligible participants were provided access to a secure online platform to complete the designated questionnaires. The research instruments, chosen for their established reliability and validity, comprehensively assessed cognitive schemas, sexual beliefs, sexual guilt, marital satisfaction, and sexual function. Data analysis The collected data underwent comprehensive statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize demographic variables and questionnaire scores. Relationships among variables were explored using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and hierarchical regression analyses. These analyses aimed to predict sexual function based on cognitive schemas, sexual beliefs, sexual guilt, and marital satisfaction. Ethical considerations Ethical principles were rigorously upheld in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The study received ethical approval from the university's ethics committee (Approval code: IR.KHU.REC.1401.076). Participants willingly provided informed consent, and stringent measures were taken to ensure confidentiality, safeguarding their identities and ensuring their comfort throughout the study.