Spirituality and demographic factors associated with sexual function in reproductive-aged married women in Iran

Sexual function problems are associated with fertility in reproductive-aged married women. The present study aimed to determine the status of married women’s sexual function and also strove to elucidate the association between both spirituality and demographic factors with sexual function.

This descriptive, analytical study was performed on 120 married women, referring to two active health centers from Nov 2021 to Feb 2022 in Amol, Iran.  Women's sexual function was measured using Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB) was also used to evaluate women’s Spirituality. The obtained data were analyzed by Pearson correlation (r) and linear regression analysis.

The mean values for female sexual function and spiritual health score were 25.7 ± 4.6, and 97.9 ±14.0, respectively. Spiritual health positively correlated with sexual function (rho=0.35, P<0.001). Also, spiritual health dimensions including religious well-being (rho=0.20, P<0.028) and existential well-being (rho=0.38, P<0.001) positively correlated with the sexual function of married women. There was a significant and positive correlation between religious well-being and some sexual function dimensions, including sexual arousal (rho=0.22, P<0.017), sexual orgasm (rho=0.20, P<0.027), and sexual pain (rho=0.20, P<0.026). Also, 12%, 4%, and 14% of sexual function of married women can be explained based on spiritual health, religious well-being and existential well-being, respectively. In addition, religious well-being did not have a significant association with sexual desire, sexual lubricant, and sexual satisfaction.

Spiritualty can lead to increased sexual health. Accordingly, spiritual lifestyle may help prevent sexual function problems and their negative effects on couples.