The effectiveness of sexual health group counseling based on cognitive behavioral therapy on sexual satisfaction of newly married women

The beginning of a marital relationship is very important as a part of a family relationship, and it satisfies many mental and physical necessities in a safe environment and has a great impact on people’s health. The aims of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of sexual health counseling based on cognitive behavioral approach on satisfaction and excitability of newly married women.

A randomized clinical trial study was conducted in 50 newly married women who referred to the health center of Jiroft City. They randomly divided into the intervention and the control groups. All of the participants completed Linda Berg’s Sexual Satisfaction Scale before intervention, 8 weeks after intervention and 4 weeks later (follow‑up). The interventional group participated in CBT (8 sessions, 90 min), but the control group received routine counseling. In all tests, a significance level of 0.05 was considered. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Descriptive test, t‑test, and repeated measure test used to analyze data.

In intervention group, sexual satisfaction was obtained 51.88 ± 12.27, 57.2 ± 12.88 and 62.76 ± 11.35 (P < 0.05) and in the control group was gotten 47.12 ± 9.6, 45.8 ± 8.07 and 43.48 ± 7.39 (P > 0.05) before intervention, 8 weeks after intervention and 4 weeks later (follow‑up), respectively. In intervention group, sexual excitability was obtained 82.80 ± 17.24, 91.72 ± 13.07, and 99.28 ± 11.2 (P < 0.05) and in the control group was gotten 87.04 ± 12.99, 87.48 ± 11.64, and 81.96 ± 12.83 (P > 0.05).

It can be concluded that cognitive‑behavioral counseling can help to improve the sexual satisfaction and excitability of the newly married and can be used to improve and promote women’s sexual health.