Structural Relationships of Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation with Female Sexual Function: The Mediating Role of Sexually Dysfunctional Beliefs

Background: Sexual function is a critical aspect of human life, significantly impacting mental and physical health, social behavior, and quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the structural relationships among sexual inhibition (SI), sexual excitation (SE), sexual dysfunctional beliefs, and female sexual function. Methods: Employing a descriptive correlational design, the study administered questionnaires to 402 female employees in the administrative departments of Tehran and Tabriz universities, utilizing convenience sampling. The instruments included the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Questionnaire (SISE-W), and Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire (SDBQ). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24 and Lisrel version 8.8 software. Results: Our findings revealed that SE related to FSFI both directly (B = 0.29; P 0.01) and through the mediating role of sexual dysfunction beliefs. However, SI did not exhibit a direct relationship with FSFI (B = -0.07; P 0.05). Additionally, sexual dysfunction beliefs significantly predicted FSFI (B = -0.40; P 0.01). The assumed model demonstrated good fit with the acquired data (CFI = 0.98, NFI = 0.96, RFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.08). Conclusions: Therefore, it can be concluded that sexually dysfunctional beliefs play a mediating role in the correlation between inhibition, SE, and female sexual function.