Model for the relationship between sexual function and social determinants of health: Path Analysis

Sexual motivation and sexuality, like all other fundamental human motives, form an inseparable part of its biological, psychological, and social nature and is associated with many factors. The present study was conducted to test the model for the relationship between the social determinants of health and sexual function in women.
This sectional descriptive-analytic study was performed on 400 women referred to the medical centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Iran, 2016). The participants were selected through multi-stage random sampling. For collecting the data, demographic and socio-economic status, Spielberger’s anxiety, perceived social support, domestic violence, unhealthy behaviors, beck depression and sexual function questionnaires were used.
The findings suggested a mean score of 16.6±68 for sexual function index in women. The mean score of depression was found to be 12.7 ± 10.3 and most of the subjects (44.8%) received moderate social support and 75%moderate anxiety. A total of 70.3% of the subjects had favorable economic conditions, while 50.5% suffered violence. According to the path analysis, depression (β = -0.34), anxiety (β = -0.24) and social support (β = 0.18) directly affect sexual function. Socioeconomic status and domestic violence were found to be indirectly associated with sexual function, and in the overall effect depression had the most effects on sexual function .The model proposed in the present study has a good fit (GFI =1 RMSEA =0.057, P value=0/015).
Sexual function was found to be associated with depression, anxiety, social support, domestic violence and socioeconomic status. Screening is recommended to be performed for the study variables.