Despite the importance of cognitive aspects in psychological research, application of concepts like beliefs, modes, and schema to the domain of sexual dysfunctions has been studied only recently. Clinical observation and theoretical models emphasize the role of core cognitive structures on sexuality and identity processes, indicating a central role on the onset and maintenance of sexual dysfunction.
Due to the lack of Italian measures of sexuality cognitive aspects, the current project aims to translate and explore the validity of three measures in an Italian group of 800 men and women: Sexual Dysfunctional Belief Questionnaire, the Sexual Modes Questionnaire and the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context. The questionnaires will be translated into Italian; validity and reliability will be evaluated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Cronbach¿s alpha. Given the lack of empirical evidence on sexual beliefs, modes and cognitive schema role as vulnerability factors for sexual difficulties in Italy, we aim to test the possibility to differentiate between clinical and control men and women with the Italian versions of SDBQ, SMQ and QCSASC.
The use of that tools is recommended in both clinical and research field, to better understand the cognitive and cultural influence on sexual health and to deal with dysfunctional thoughts in therapy.
Sexuality is a social construction influenced by the context (Weeks, 1985) and culture has a substantial impact on individual and couple¿s expectations on sexual relationship (Abdolmanafi et al., 2017; Raisi et al., 2015). Consequently, social factors have a strong effect on sexual cognition and may lead people towards different outcomes on sexual issues. Other studies showed a strong presence of conservative, restrictive and sexist attitudes toward sexuality in Italian man and women (Caricati et al.,2016; Lingiardi et al., 2016; Guerrina, 2014; Baiocco et al., 2013). Italian society is still conservative, even if it is slowly evolving. Catholic morality and religion have a profound influence on sexual beliefs and scripts. Catholic precepts preach that sex is only for married couples and for reproduction, pleasure should not be achieved as first aim, masturbation is wrong, anal sex is prevention and much more. Given the role of cultural background in Italy, the present project aims to extend the current knowledge about cognitive aspects in connection with sexual function.
The assessment of dysfunctional sexual beliefs, automatic thoughts and rigid cognitive schema is an important domain to take into consideration in the evaluation and treatment of sexual problems. Referring to a biopsychosocial model, that factors could have a very important role on clinical work. During the assessment phase, clinicians should explore beliefs about gender, sexual behavior and relationship. They should take care of the emotional value given to that thoughts and explore which is the automatic reaction in stressing situation (such as a sexual symptom). Cognitive elements should be considered, in addition to other biopsychosocial variables, and evaluated as predisposing, precipitating, maintaining, contextual, and protective factors. In sexual therapy, clinicians should include tools and techniques able to deal with cognitive aspects, in an integrated way with feelings, relationships and other psychological facets. Therefore, is important for clinicians to have good, valid and reliable instruments which could help in the evaluating process.
The use of that questionnaires could be important also on the research side. New validated tools foster innovative studies, giving the instrument to measure new aspects of our cognition and behavior. Moreover, having the same questionnaires validated in different languages/countries enable the possibility to conduct multicentral and multicultural studies.