ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Menstrual cycle has a significant impact on women's health from different perspectives, both physically and psychologically. The assessment of menstrual-related distress is of pivotal clinical interest, especially in women with chronic exposure to abnormal bleeding or pain. The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MEDI-Q) is a new tool originally developed in Italian that comprehensively evaluates menstrual-related distress. OBJECTIVE: To validate the English version of the MEDI-Q in an English-speaking population. METHODS: The study consisted of two phases: an initial translation phase of the original Italian version of the MEDI-Q, and a data collection phase to validate the new English version among 288 native English-speaking women. RESULTS: The English version of MEDI-Q showed excellent psychometric properties, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95). Construct validity was supported by significant correlations between MEDI-Q scores and scores on measures of psychological distress and premenstrual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The English version of the MEDI-Q is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of menstrual distress and its impact on psychological well-being. This tool can be utilized in research and clinical settings to comprehensively investigate the impact of menstruation on various populations, identify and monitor menstruation-related disorders promptly and effectively, and to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted treatments for menstrual distress.
Subject(s)
Menstruation Disturbances , Menstruation , Surveys and Questionnaires , Humans , Female , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Reproducibility of Results , Psychometrics , Translations , LanguageABSTRACT
Men with penis appearance concerns are more likely to experience sexual difficulties because they engage in spectatoring (i.e., negative self-critical attentional focus during sex). This preregistered study investigated whether anxious and distractible personality traits make men with penis appearance concerns more likely to engage in spectatoring and, in turn, experience sexual difficulties. In a sample of 858 sexually active men in predominantly mixed-gender relationships, we replicated previous findings that penis appearance concerns were associated with greater spectatoring, and in turn greater problems with erection and orgasm. Additionally, our novel hypotheses that anxiousness and distractibility would strengthen these associations were partially supported. Anxiousness strengthened associations between penis appearance concerns and sexual embarrassment, and in turn was associated with greater reports of erectile and orgasmic difficulties. However, anxiousness did not strengthen the mediated associations between penis appearance concerns, self-focus, and erectile and orgasmic difficulties. Distractibility strengthened associations between sexual embarrassment and erectile difficulties, and in turn strengthened the mediated associations between penis appearance concerns, sexual embarrassment, and erectile difficulties. However, distractibility did not strengthen associations between sexual embarrassment and orgasmic difficulties, between sexual self-focus and erectile difficulties, nor between sexual self-focus and orgasmic difficulties. Implications for therapeutic treatments are discussed.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/psychology , Penis/physiopathology , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Adult , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Men with penis appearance concerns are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction, but the processes underlying this association are unknown. This study investigated whether spectatoring (i.e., negative self-directed attentional focus during sex) mediates the association between penis appearance concerns and sexual dysfunction. Men in romantic relationships (N = 512, in predominantly mixed-gender relationships) reported on sex they had with their partner in the previous month. Indirect effects indicated that penis appearance concerns predicted greater spectatoring, and in turn predicted greater erectile and orgasmic dysfunction. Results suggest that spectatoring is a conduit through which penis appearance concerns impede sexual function.
