The Effectiveness of Sexual Cognitive Reconstruction Training on Sexual Self-efficacy and Sexual Assertiveness of Women with Sexual Problems

Sexual problems and disorders are more common than previously thought. Therefore, it requires study and treatment attention. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of sexual cognitive reconstruction training on sexual self-efficacy and sexual assertiveness of women with sexual problems.

The research method was semi-experimental which was carried out with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research included all women in the range of 25 to 40 years with sexual problems who were referred to the psychiatric centers of Ardebil in 2022. 30 women were selected with the available sampling method. They were randomly replaced in the experimental and control groups. To collect data, the questionnaire of women's sexual disorders (Izodori et al., 2010), sexual Self-efficacy of vaziri-latfi kashani (2009) and Hulbert's sexual assertiveness index (1992) were used. Then experimental group received 8 sessions of 90 minutes of cognitive restructuring therapy (Rao and Kakar, 2019). Data analysis was done with MANCOVA multivariate analysis of covariance test with SPSS20 software.

Based on the findings, the average pre-test score of sexual self-efficacy for the cognitive reconstruction group is 11.40 and post-test is 18.53. Also, for the control group, the average pre-test score is 12.06 and post-test is 12.33.
For sexual assertiveness, the average score of pre-test for the cognitive reconstruction group is 55.13 and post-test is 70.06. Also, for the control group, the average score of pre-test is 55.53 and post-test is 55.93. The experimental conditions were effective on increasing sexual self-efficacy (F=534.452, p<0.001) and sexual assertiveness (F=405.73, p<0.01) of the experimental group. Due to the results, sexual cognitive reconstruction training can increase the rate of sexual self-efficacy and sexual assertiveness of women with sexual problems.

Therefore, counselors and therapists can use that treatment method to increase sexual Self-efficacy and sexual assertiveness