Abstract
Sexual self-efficacy is essential for appropriate and desirable sexual function and sexual quality of life. This study aimed to compare sexual quality of life and sexual self-efficacy among women during reproductive-menopausal transition stages and postmenopause. This was a cross-sectional study of a sample of Iranian women. The sexual quality of life-female (SQOL-F) scale was used to measure sexual quality of life (SQOL) and sexual self-efficacy (SSE) was measured using the sexual self-efficacy questionnaire (SSEQ). Data were compared between the study groups using multiple linear regression. In all 340 women (170 in reproductive-menopausal transition stages and 170 postmenopause) were studied. The mean ages of reproductive-menopausal transition stages and postmenopausal women was 30.8 ± 6.55 and 56.3 ± 3.54 respectively (P < 0.001). Sexual self-efficacy and sexual quality of life were found to be significantly higher in reproductive-menopausal transition stages compared with postmenopause women (P < 0.001 and P = 0.017 respectively). Sexual and relationship satisfaction and sexual repression subscales differed significantly between the two groups (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively). Higher sexual self-efficacy contributed to higher sexual quality of life (P < 0.0001). Reproductive-menopausal transition stages women appear to enjoy higher levels of sexual self-efficacy and sexual quality of life. Given the importance of sexual quality of life, it is recommended to pay greater attention to sexual self-efficacy among postmenopausal women in order to improve sexual quality of life in this population.
Highlights
Sexual relationships, a fundamental dimension of human life, play a key role in the life of most individuals regardless of marital status [1]
Sexual self-efficacy was greater among the reproductive-menopausal transition stage women than among the postmenopausal women (p < 0.001)
The present study revealed that postmenopausal women had lower sexual self-efficacy compared to reproductive-menopausal transition stage women
Summary
A fundamental dimension of human life, play a key role in the life of most individuals regardless of marital status [1]. These relationships are reinforced or inhibited by emotions associated with selfefficacy [2]. Riazi et al womens midlife health (2021) 7:8 is essential for having appropriate and desirable sexual function at different ages [5], which in turn might improve sexual quality of life [6,7,8]. Having a desirable level of sexual quality of life is fundamental in sexual and reproductive health, and is associated with improvements in general quality of life [14]
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