The effect of counseling based on Bandura’s self-efficacy theory on sexual self-efficacy and quality of sexual life

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to determine the effect of counseling, based on Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, on sexual self-efficacy and quality of sexual life. This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 96 newlywed women in Zanjan, Iran during 2015–2016. The participants were assigned to the control and intervention groups through block randomization. Six 90-minute counseling sessions were held weekly for participants in the intervention group. Questionnaires of sexual self-efficacy and quality of sexual life were completed before and 8 weeks after the end of intervention. No significant difference was observed between groups in sexual self-efficacy and quality of sexual life at baseline (p > .05). Using ANCOVA, the mean score for sexual self-efficacy in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group 8 weeks after the intervention ended (mean difference in scores = 9.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6 to 16.2; p = .007). However, no significant difference was observed in the quality of sexual life between the two groups (mean difference in mean score = 2.1; 95% CI −2.5 to 6.7; p = .365). Thus, counseling had a positive impact on sexual self-efficacy. However, the intervention had no significant impact on the quality of sexual life, which may be attributed to the short duration of follow-up.