The Role of Biological Differences in Sexual Self-Concept and Mental Health in Homosexual and Heterosexual Women

Abstract

Nowadays, experts and health organizations consider mental emotions and sexual well-being the most crucial parts of sexual self-concept and mental health. Numerous variables can influence women's sexual self-perception and mental health. Consequently, this study aimed to examine the parameters associated with sexual self-concept and mental health in lesbian and heterosexual women. In this scoping review study, researchers performed computer searches on databases, Google Web, SID, Scholar Scopus, and PubMed, using keywords. Finally, the complete data of 29 articles have been used in this review article. Factors related to self-concept and mental health can be also enumerated, which were generally studied. The findings of the present review show that sexual self-concept and mental health as a key indicator in sexual activity and predict sexual behavior are influenced by various factors which includes the effect of hormones, genetic differences, age, gender, marital status, race, impotency and various diseases. Therefore, it seems that paying attention to relevant factors to the characteristics of each person can improve women's sexual health. In order to increase the depth and breadth of our knowledge of factors related to and affecting mental health and sexual self-concept, conducting studies with a qualitative approach is also recommended.