Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
The interrelationship between women's help-seeking experiences for vaginismus and their sense of self: a qualitative study and abductive analysis.
Pithavadian, Rashmi; Dune, Tinashe; Chalmers, Jane; Ramanathan, Vijayasarathi.
Afiliación
  • Pithavadian R; School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
  • Dune T; Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
  • Chalmers J; Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
  • Ramanathan V; Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
Health Psychol Behav Med ; 12(1): 2396134, 2024.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39229352
ABSTRACT

Objective:

There is a lack of research on women's holistic experiences of vaginismus, also called sexual pain-penetration disorder, from their perspective. To address this gap, an abductive qualitative study aimed to examine women's help-seeking experiences for vaginismus, and its impact on their sense of self.

Methods:

This study was informed by a feminist approach to the theory of self focused on participants' negotiation of dis/empowerment when help-seeking for vaginismus. Twenty-one participants aged 19-37 years (mean 27.6 years) and diagnosed with vaginismus in Australia participated in semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analysed.

Results:

Three themes were developed Interconnected constructions of womanhood and help-seeking, Elicit agency to move forward, Resilience to surmount challenges with subthemes. Participant's overall help-seeking experiences, within and outside the healthcare system, shaped their sense of self in ways that drove their approach/es to future help-seeking behaviours.

Conclusions:

Positive help-seeking experiences for vaginismus strengthened participants' sense of self to persevere with treatment even when it was difficult. Conversely, negative help-seeking experiences led to participants' weakened sense of self which was often caused by a gap between their ideal and perceived self. This led to negative feelings and responses of demotivation or halting subsequent help-seeking. Recommendations are provided to improve health professional practice to support women help-seeking for vaginismus, and to help close the gap between their ideal and perceived selves. Such insight can help to empower women's sense of self and motivate them to persevere with help-seeking to experience improvement for their vaginismus and quality of life.
Palabras clave
Texto completo
Añadir a Mi BVS
Imprimir
XML
PubMed Links
Buscar en Google

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Idioma: En Revista: Health Psychol Behav Med Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Australia Pais de publicación: Reino Unido
Texto completo
Añadir a Mi BVS
Imprimir
XML
PubMed Links
Buscar en Google

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Idioma: En Revista: Health Psychol Behav Med Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Australia Pais de publicación: Reino Unido