Determining the Role of Protocol Type in the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Sexual Function
Keywords:
Women’s Sexual Functioning, Mindfulness Therapy ProtocolsAbstract
Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the role of protocol type in the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy on sexual function.
Methods and Materials: This research employed a meta-analytic design conducted to synthesize and analyze the results of various studies. The statistical population of this study included all research examining the effect of mindfulness-based therapies on female sexual dysfunction published in the Magiran and SID databases. The article search was carried out between 2014 and 2024. For data collection, a meta-analysis worksheet was used, which included information such as study identification, sample characteristics, and statistical indicators. After screening the studies, a total of 23 studies were included in the final analysis.
Findings: The results showed that for the MBSR protocol (8 sessions), the effect size in the fixed-effects model was 1.61 and in the random-effects model was 1.70, indicating a positive and significant effect on women’s sexual function. This protocol ranked highest compared to other protocols and clearly demonstrated greater effectiveness. In the 8-session mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) protocol, the effect size was 1.10 in the fixed-effects model and 1.62 in the random-effects model, which indicates a positive effect on women’s sexual function, but lower than that of the MBSR protocol. The 12-session MBCT protocol, with an effect size of 0.864 in the fixed-effects model and 0.893 in the random-effects model, showed weaker effectiveness compared to other protocols. Finally, the 6-session mindfulness-based sex therapy protocol, with an effect size of 0.707 in both the fixed- and random-effects models, had the lowest effectiveness among the therapeutic protocols studied.
Conclusion: In conclusion, overall, the 8-session MBSR protocol demonstrated stronger effectiveness on women’s sexual function compared to other protocols, while the mindfulness-based sex therapy protocol had the weakest effect.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sajedeh Behtaj (Author); Shahram Vaziri; Sara Hashemi (Author)
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