title: Etiological correlates of vaginismus: sexual and physical abuse, sexual knowledge, sexual self-schema, and relationship adjustment.
abstract: This study investigated the role of sexual and physical abuse, sexual self-schema, sexual functioning, sexual knowledge, relationship adjustment, and psychological distress in 87 women matched on age, relationship status, and parity and assigned to 3 groups--vaginismus, dyspareunia/vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), and no pain. More women with vaginismus reported a history of childhood sexual interference, and women in both the vaginismus and VVS groups reported lower levels of sexual functioning and a less positive sexual self-schema. Lack of support for traditionally held hypotheses concerning etiological correlates of vaginismus and the relationship between vaginismus and dyspareunia are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Elke D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Reissing
authors.forename: Yitzchak M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Binik
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalifé
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amsel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012736:Sex Education; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012917:Social Adjustment