Recent Innovations in Psychology

Recent Innovations in Psychology

The Mediating Role of Trait Anxiety in the Relationship Between Physical Self-description and Negative Perfectionism with Sexual Performance Among Women with Vaginismus

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Bentol Hoda Nezami 1
Soheila Soltani Asl Heris 2
1 MSc. in General Psychology, Bahar Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Bahar Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/rip.2024.455867.1029
Abstract
The current study aimed to explore the mediating role of trait anxiety in the relationship between physical self-description and negative perfectionism with sexual performance among women diagnosed with Vaginismus. A sample of 280 women with Vaginismus was selected via convenience sampling. The data was collected using the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ), the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Female Sexual Performance Index (FSFI). Path analysis was employed to analyze the data. The results revealed that both physical self-description and negative perfectionism exert a direct and substantial influence on the sexual performance of the participants (P < 0.01). Moreover, the indirect effects of physical self-description and negative perfectionism on sexual performance, mediated through trait anxiety, were also found to be significant (P < 0.01). The findings indicated a relationship between physical self-description and negative perfectionism with sexual performance in women with Vaginismus. Furthermore, trait anxiety functions as a mediating role in this relationship. It appears that these findings could assist therapists in aiding patients suffering from Vaginismus.
Keywords
anxiety
perfectionism
physical self-description
sexual performance
Vaginismus
Subjects
 
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