The Relationship between Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms and Sexual Functioning in Women mediated by Self-esteem

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 MSC in clinical psychology, Department of psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between body dysmorphic disorder symptoms and sexual functioning in women, through self-esteem. There fore, 378 married female students from University of Tabriz were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected using the Rosen Women's Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, the Littleton Body Image concern inventory (BICI), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). After statistical calculations using AMOS24 software and Structural equation metod. Data analysis indicated that the measured model had a good fit with the theoretical model, and self-esteem fully mediated the relationship. The results showed that there is no significant direct relationship between body dysmorphic disorder and sexual functioning in women. Additionally, there was a significant negative relationship between body dysmorphic disorder and self-esteem, as well as a significant positive relationship between self-esteem and sexual functioning in women. hence, it can be concluded that a decrease in self-esteem levels in women with body dysmorphic disorder may lead to the emergence or exacerbation of their sexual functioning issues, and by increasing self-esteem in these women, it is possible to prevent a decline in their sexual functioning.

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