title: Aspects of sexual self-schema in premenopausal women with dyspareunia: associations with pain, sexual function, and sexual distress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although it is known that women with dyspareunia suffer from impaired psychological and sexual functioning, the study of the various dimensions of sexual self-schema and their associations with these outcomes has been neglected.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether self-image cognitions about vaginal penetration, body image, and feelings and beliefs about one's own genitals contribute to the variance in pain, sexual functioning, and sexual distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Premenopausal women (n = 231; M age = 24.85, SD = 5.55) with self-reported dyspareunia completed an online survey focusing on self-image cognitions about vaginal penetration, body image, female genital self-image, pain during intercourse, sexual functioning, sexual distress, anxiety, and catastrophizing.
  
  
  METHODS
  (i) Pain intensity during intercourse, (ii) the Female Sexual Function Index without the Pain subscale, and (iii) the Female Sexual Distress Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for anxiety and catastrophizing, negative self-image cognitions about vaginal penetration, negative body image, and negative genital self-image together accounted for a portion of the variance in increased pain intensity, sexual dysfunction, and sexual distress. However, only self-image cognitions about vaginal penetration (β = 0.25, P = 0.005) contributed uniquely to the variance in pain intensity, whereas self-image cognitions about vaginal penetration (β = -0.18, P = 0.048) and genital self-image (β = 0.21, P = 0.008) contributed independently to the variance in sexual functioning. Finally, self-image cognitions about vaginal penetration (β = 0.28, P < 0.001), body image (β = 0.24, P < 0.001) and genital self-image (β = -0.14, P = 0.006) each contributed independently to the variance in sexual distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that self-image cognitions about vaginal penetration and feelings and beliefs about one's own body and genitals are associated with pain and sexuality outcomes in women with dyspareunia.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pazmany
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Oudenhove
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enzlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D058443:Catastrophization; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017697:Premenopause; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body Image; Dyspareunia; Genital Self-Image; Pain; Pain During Vaginal Penetration; Self-Image; Sexual Distress; Sexual Functioning; Sexual Self-Schema