Etiological Correlates of Vaginismus: Sexual and Physical Abuse, Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Self-Schema, and Relationship Adjustment

Author: REISSING ELKE D.   BINIK YITZCHAK M.   KHALIF SAMIR   COHEN DEBORAH   AMSEL RHONDA  

Publisher: Routledge Ltd

ISSN: 1521-0715

Source: Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, Vol.29, Iss.1, 2003-01, pp. : 47-59

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Abstract

This study investigated the role of sexual and physical abuse, sexual self-schema, sexual functioning, sexual knowledge, relationship adjustment, and psychological distress in 87 women matched on age, relationship status, and parity and assigned to 3 groups- vaginismus, dyspareunia/vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), and no pain. More women with vaginismus reported a history of childhood sexual interference, and women in both the vaginismus and VVS groups reported lower levels of sexual functioning and a less positive sexual self-schema. Lack of support for traditionally held hypotheses concerning etiological correlates of vaginismus and the relationship between vaginismus and dyspareunia are discussed.