Work

Investigation of the validity and reliability of the maternal sex during pregnancy scale in Muslim women

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to examine the maternal sex during pregnancy (MSP) score in a sample of Iranian pregnant women, while also evaluating the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the Persian version of the MSP. Methods A total of 400 pregnant women participated in the study. Of these, 30 were examined for their test–retest reliability and 370 for their construct validity. The participants completed a questionnaire on demographic characteristics as well as the MSP, the sexual function short form inventory (SFSI‐6), global measure of sexual satisfaction (GMSEX) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Test–retest reliability was determined using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess internal consistency. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal axis factorization (PAF) with varimax rotation followed by confirmatory factor analysis. Results The Kaiser‐Meyer‐Olkin (KMO) measure demonstrated high sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.88), and Bartlett's test of sphericity confirmed the appropriateness of the correlation matrix for EFA (P < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated an excellent fit of the unifactorial model for the MSP, (χ2/df = 1.79) (P = 0.084), comparative fit index (CFI = 0.999), Tucker‐Lewis index (TLI = 0.979), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA = 0.065), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR = 0.078). MSP scale demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.86 and Omega coefficients = 0.88). Conclusion The Persian version of the MSP scale and its scoring system demonstrated strong validity and reliability in evaluating pregnant women's attitudes toward sex during pregnancy in the Iranian context.

Source: International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics

DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.16193

Authors: Farzaneh Ashrafinia, Sofia Jawed‐Wessel, Saiedeh Haji‐Maghsoudi, Omolbanin Heydari, Fateme Shojaee Baghini

Institutions: Kerman University of Medical Sciences, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Language: English

Topic: Sexual function and dysfunction studies

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Gender equality

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W4407548503

FWCI: 0.618

Cites: 24

Cited by: 1

Related to: 10