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. 2025 Apr 12;15(1):12688.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-95911-0.

Translation and investigation of the psychometric properties of the revised female sexual distress scale among Iranian couples

Roghieh Bayrami  1 , Hamid Sharif-Nia  2   3 , Roksana Janghorban  4 , Daniz Montakhabi Oskuii  5 , Esmaeil Hoseinzadeh  6
Affiliations

Translation and investigation of the psychometric properties of the revised female sexual distress scale among Iranian couples

Roghieh Bayrami et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Women's sexual distress is often complicated by a combination of physical, psychological, and relational factors. Many women experience a cycle of dysfunction that affects not only their sexual health but also their overall quality of life and emotional well-being. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the revised Female sexual distress scale (FSDS-R) among Iranian couples. During a methodological study conducted from April to July 2024, 400 Iranian couples were chosen using a convenience sampling method. The FSDS-R was translated and its psychometric properties were assessed through tests of construct validity, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and divergent validity. Additionally, the study examined the scale's internal consistency to confirm its reliability. The mean age of the participants was 37.95 (SD = 8.96) years. An exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors that accounted for 39.24% of the variance in 13 items. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the data fit the model. The internal consistency for all factors was deemed acceptable, indicating good reliability and consistency in the constructs. The Persian version of the FSDS-R scale, with 13 items representing 39.24% of the variance, is a reliable and valid scale for measuring sexual distress in Iranian couples. This instrument can help healthcare programs identify and educate couples to reduce distress.

Keywords: Men; Reliability; Sexual distress; Validity; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Ethics Committee of Urmia University of Medical Sciences gave its approval to this study (Approval code: IR.UMSU.REC.1402.165). The study protocol adhered to the principles outlined in the Helsinki Declaration, which provides guidelines for ethical research involving human participants. When distributing the questionnaire of this study, the study’s goals were clearly communicated to participants. They were informed that their participation in the study was voluntary and that their data would be kept confidential. Informed consent to participate in the study was obtained from all participants.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
First order CFA of Persian version of the revised women’s sexual distress scale (n = 200).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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