Bridging the gap between sexual excitation/inhibition and female sexual function: The cognitive schema perspective (مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

چکیده

Background: Female sexual functioning is shaped by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and cognitive factors. While the Dual Control Model highlights the roles of sexual inhibition (SI) and sexual excitation (SE) in regulating sexual responses, little is known about the cognitive mechanisms underlying these processes. Aims: This study investigates whether cognitive schemas activated in sexual contexts mediate the association between SI, SE, and female sexual function. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 665 adult women recruited from administrative departments of universities in Tehran and Tabriz. Participants completed the Sexual Excitation/Inhibition Inventory for Women (Graham, 2006), the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schemas Activated in Sexual Context (Nober, 2013), and the Female Sexual Function Index (Rosen, 2000). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized mediation model. Results: Findings indicated that both SI (β= −0.32, p< 0.001) and SE (β= 0.27, p< 0.001) had significant direct effects on female sexual function. Importantly, cognitive schemas partially mediated the relationship between SI and sexual function (indirect effect: β= −0.12, 95% CI [−0.18, −0.07]), suggesting that maladaptive cognitive patterns contribute to sexual difficulties. The overall model demonstrated good fit indices (χ2/df= 2.35, CFI= 0.95, RMSEA= 0.05). Conclusion: This study supports the dual control model, with sexual inhibition and excitation affecting female sexual functioning, and cognitive model, with cognitive schemas influencing sexual functioning.