Etiological correlates of vaginismus: sexual and physical abuse, sexual knowledge, sexual self-schema, and relationship adjustment.
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.
Reissing
Elke D
ED
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Binik
Yitzchak M
YM
Khalifé
Samir
S
Cohen
Deborah
D
Amsel
Rhonda
R
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