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

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.