The Significance of Primary Incompatible Schema Differentiation in Women with Primary and Secondary Dyspareunia: <span lang="EN-GB">A<span lang="EN-GB"> Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Background & aim: Dyspareunia negatively affects women’s intimate relationships. Although early maladaptive schemas (EMS) have been linked to sexual dysfunction, few comparative studies were conducted in non-Western contexts. This study compared EMS among women with primary and secondary dyspareunia with a control group. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May ۲۰۲۳, including ۱۹۱۲ women (primary dyspareunia: n=۴۰۲, secondary dyspareunia: n=۱۰۴, control: n=۱۴۰۶(, who referred to the sexual/reproductive health clinic of a private hospital in Tehran, Iran. Women aged ۱۸ to ۴۵, married for at least one year with experience of dyspareunia were included. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. The control group was matched for demographic characteristics. Data were collected using the validated Persian version of the Young Schema Questionnaire and analyzed using one-way multivariate analysis of variance and discriminant analysis in SPSS version ۲۶.۰.Results: Mean ages in the control, primary, and secondary dyspareunia groups were ۲۹.۴۹, ۲۸.۴۰, and ۳۰.۵۷ years, respectively. Women with dyspareunia exhibited significantly higher scores on EMS domains including disconnection/rejection, impaired autonomy, and over-vigilance/inhibition compared with controls (P< ۰.۰۰۱). Discriminant analysis yielded two significant functions (eigenvalues: ۰.۰۴۴ and ۰.۰۱۸), with a modest overall classification accuracy of ۴۸.۶%. No significant schema-pattern differences were found between two groups of primary and secondary dyspareunia (P > ۰.۰۵).Conclusion: EMS significantly contribute to dyspareunia, indicating potential benefits of schema-focused interventions. Further research should examine long-term treatment outcomes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dyspareunia ، Sexual dysfunctions ، Psychological ، Cognitive behavioral therapy ، Sexual health