Quality of Sexual Life in Married Women: Its Factor Structure and Determinants

Yang, Eun Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was examined the quality of the sexual life among married women in terms of the factor structure of Sexual Quality of Life(SQOL) and evaluated the predictive value of 11 variables for SQOL. METHOD: Two hundred and ninety-three married women completed the Korean version SQOL scale with information on age, education, length of marriage, family income, health, sexual knowledge, coital frequency, harmony with family members, levels of affection, and general and sexual communication. Data were analysed with principal components and regression analyses. RESULT: The SQOL scale had two clearly defined factors, Negative Quality of Sexual Life and Positive Quality of Sexual Life, on which all scale items were significantly loaded, accounting for 54.3% of the total variance. Independent regression analysis showed all variables except education to be significant predictors of SQOL with interpersonal variables (general and sexual communication, affection and harmony with family members) being the most powerful predictors. However when the 11 variables were combined together in stepwise analysis, only 6 variables (general communication, age, affection, coital frequency, sexual knowledge and health) were significant, accounting for 39% of the total variance.
CONCLUSION
The Korean version SQOL scale is a good measure to tackle SQOL in married women. To enhance SQOL, strengthening interpersonal interaction focusing on general/sexual communication, affection and harmony with family members seems to be more important than sexual activities and personal characteristics.