Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Iran
2
Ph.D. Candidate in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Science and Art, Yazd, Iran
3
M.Sc. Student in General Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Arak, Iran
Abstract
Sexual behavior is a significant aspect of individuals' married life. Sexual knowledge and attitudes, along with feelings of guilt and shame, can influence one's sexual behavior. However, it is crucial to consider that individuals shape their sexual behavior within a gender system (gender role patterns). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between sexual behavior and sexual knowledge, attitudes, shame, and gender role patterns in women. To achieve this goal, 200 women who had referred to welfare centers in Tehran, Region 5, between the first of August and the end of September 2019, were voluntarily selected as the sample. The research tools included questionnaires on sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, self-consciousness, gender roles, and sexual behavior. Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis were employed for data analysis. The findings indicated a significant and positive relationship between sexual behavior and sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, masculinity patterns, and femininity patterns. Additionally, a significant and negative relationship was observed between sexual behavior and feelings of shame, guilt, and neutral gender role patterns. The stepwise regression analysis results revealed that, in order of importance, feelings of shame, guilt, sexual knowledge, and masculinity patterns could predict 45.0% of the changes in women's sexual behavior. Therefore, increasing women's sexual knowledge, alongside enhancing masculine traits such as courage in marital relationships and providing solutions to reduce feelings of shame and guilt in women, can increase desirable and satisfying sexual behavior.
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