Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteem

Introduction: The postpartum period is associated with stress due to extensive psychological and physiological changes that occur in women. These changes may result in a re-evaluation of sexual function and related factors.  Objective: The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship b...

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Main Authors: Mahin Noroozi Dashtaki, Mohammad Sadegh Zamani Zarchi, Ali Hosseinzadeh Oskouei, Mona Baghbani Nader, Amir Sam Kianimoghadam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Guilan University of Medical Sciences 2024-06-01
Series:Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery
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Online Access:http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2373-en.pdf
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author Mahin Noroozi Dashtaki
Mohammad Sadegh Zamani Zarchi
Ali Hosseinzadeh Oskouei
Mona Baghbani Nader
Amir Sam Kianimoghadam
author_facet Mahin Noroozi Dashtaki
Mohammad Sadegh Zamani Zarchi
Ali Hosseinzadeh Oskouei
Mona Baghbani Nader
Amir Sam Kianimoghadam
author_sort Mahin Noroozi Dashtaki
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The postpartum period is associated with stress due to extensive psychological and physiological changes that occur in women. These changes may result in a re-evaluation of sexual function and related factors.  Objective: The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body image concern and sexual function with the mediating role of sexual self-esteem among women in the postpartum period.  Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical correlational research, the study population consisted of all women referring to medical centers affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran City, Iran, in 2022. The sample consisted of 239 participants selected by multi-stage convenient sampling. The female sexual function index, body image concern inventory, and sexual self-esteem inventory were used to collect data, which were analyzed using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling. Results: The data analyses from 239 participants with a mean age of 32.42±6.60 years indicated a significant correlation between body image concern and sexual self-esteem (P=0.01, r=-0.54). In addition, there was a significant correlation between sexual self-esteem and female sexual function (P=0.01, r=0.43). Although there was a significant relationship between body image concern and female sexual function, this correlation was not strong enough (P=0.01, r=-0.24). The results of path analysis also indicate that body image concern is not directly related to women’s sexual function. Still, it can indirectly play a role in women’s sexual function through sexual self-esteem.  Conclusion: Based on the results, body image concern affects sexual function among women after childbirth through sexual self-esteem. Thus, mental health professionals are recommended to consider body image concerns and sexual self-esteem to select the most appropriate treatment for sexual dysfunction in women.
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spelling doaj-art-2a89b9a9c103438792ccb1ae6b36743e2025-08-20T04:02:28ZengGuilan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery2588-37122588-37202024-06-01343245253Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteemMahin Noroozi Dashtaki0Mohammad Sadegh Zamani Zarchi1Ali Hosseinzadeh Oskouei2Mona Baghbani Nader3Amir Sam Kianimoghadam4 MSc in Family Counseling, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. PhD Student of Counseling, Department of Counseling, School of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. PhD Student in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. MSc in Family Counseling, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Introduction: The postpartum period is associated with stress due to extensive psychological and physiological changes that occur in women. These changes may result in a re-evaluation of sexual function and related factors.  Objective: The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body image concern and sexual function with the mediating role of sexual self-esteem among women in the postpartum period.  Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical correlational research, the study population consisted of all women referring to medical centers affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran City, Iran, in 2022. The sample consisted of 239 participants selected by multi-stage convenient sampling. The female sexual function index, body image concern inventory, and sexual self-esteem inventory were used to collect data, which were analyzed using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling. Results: The data analyses from 239 participants with a mean age of 32.42±6.60 years indicated a significant correlation between body image concern and sexual self-esteem (P=0.01, r=-0.54). In addition, there was a significant correlation between sexual self-esteem and female sexual function (P=0.01, r=0.43). Although there was a significant relationship between body image concern and female sexual function, this correlation was not strong enough (P=0.01, r=-0.24). The results of path analysis also indicate that body image concern is not directly related to women’s sexual function. Still, it can indirectly play a role in women’s sexual function through sexual self-esteem.  Conclusion: Based on the results, body image concern affects sexual function among women after childbirth through sexual self-esteem. Thus, mental health professionals are recommended to consider body image concerns and sexual self-esteem to select the most appropriate treatment for sexual dysfunction in women.http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2373-en.pdfbody imagepostpartumself-esteemsexualwomen
spellingShingle Mahin Noroozi Dashtaki
Mohammad Sadegh Zamani Zarchi
Ali Hosseinzadeh Oskouei
Mona Baghbani Nader
Amir Sam Kianimoghadam
Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteem
Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery
body image
postpartum
self-esteem
sexual
women
title Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteem
title_full Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteem
title_fullStr Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteem
title_full_unstemmed Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteem
title_short Body Image Concern and Sexual Function Relationship in the Postpartum Period: The Mediating Role of Sexual Self-esteem
title_sort body image concern and sexual function relationship in the postpartum period the mediating role of sexual self esteem
topic body image
postpartum
self-esteem
sexual
women
url http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2373-en.pdf
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