Effect of Vaginismus-Specific Schema Therapy and Conventional Schema Therapy on Sexual Self-Assertiveness & Self-Esteem in Women with Vaginismus Disorder

Aims: Vaginismus disorder is the second most common sexual dysfunction in women, and it is a significant issue in the lives of those affected. This disorder has unfortunate and destructive consequences for the individual’s health, the family unit, and the couple’s intimacy. This study aimed to compare vaginismus-specific schema therapy with conventional schema therapy in terms of their effects on sexual self-assertiveness and self-esteem in women with vaginismus disorder. Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental research employed a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design, including a control group. The statistical population consisted of women with vaginismus disorder who were referred to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of Payambaran Hospital in Tehran, Iran, in ۲۰۲۱, of whom ۴۵ individuals were selected using a purposive sampling method, and were randomly assigned to three groups through a simple lottery method (n=۱۵ per group). The Persian version of Halbert’s Sexual Self-Assertiveness Questionnaire and the Female Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory (SSEI-W) developed by Zeanah and Schwarz were used. The two experimental groups received treatment in ten sessions, each lasting ۹۰ minutes, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post-hoc test using SPSS ۲۲. Findings: Both vaginismus-specific schema therapy and conventional schema therapy were effective in increasing sexual self-assertiveness (Eta=۰.۸۳) and self-esteem (Eta=۰.۹۴) in women with vaginismus disorder compared to the control group (p=۰.۰۰۱). A comparison of the mean differences between the two intervention groups and the control group revealed that vaginismus-specific schema therapy was more effective in improving self-assertiveness and sexual self-esteem in women than conventional schema therapy (p=۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Vaginismus-specific schema therapy for vaginismus enhances sexual self-assertiveness and self-esteem among women with vaginismus by helping them identify their problems.