210 women aged 27.67 +/- 5.54 were included in the study. Most women (70.45%, and 70.50%, respectively) were academically educated and housewives. Approximately 52.90% of women reported that their husbands usually initiate sex. Most women (58.60%) stated that "man on top" was the most frequent sex position. Anal sex with their husbands was reported in 21% of women. Sexual knowledge and attitude (r = 0.437, P =.001), sexual efficacy (r = 0.226, P =.001), and sexual intimacy (r = 0.482, P =.001) were in a significantly positive relationship with sexual function. Depression, anxiety, and stress (r = 0.313, P.001), sexual quality of life (r = 0.284, P.001), sexual violence (r = 0.252, P.001), vaginal penetration cognition (r = 0.133, P =.05), and fear of sex (r = 0.318, P.001), on the other hand, were negatively correlated with sexual function. Additionally, depression, anxity, and stress (r = 0.532, P.001), sexual quality of life (r = 0.447, P.001), sexual violence (r = 0.355, P.001), vaginal penetration cognition (r = 0.373, P.001), and fear of sex (r = 0.464, P.001) all had a significant positive relationship with vaginismus. While, sexual knowledge and attitude (r = 0.345, P =.001), sexual efficacy (r = 0.225, P =.001), sexual intimacy (r = 0.462, P =.001), financial status (r = 0.182, P =.008), and sexual function (r = 0.352, P =.001) were negatively correlated with the diagnostic score of vaginismus.
The direct, indirect, and total effects (β values) of sexual health on sexual function and diagnostic score of vaginismus were β =0.57, β =0.02, β =0.59, and β = -0.55, β = -0.26, β = -0.81 respectively (all P<0.001). The results also showed that the direct, indirect, and total effects of vaginal penetration cognition (β =0.31, β =0, and β = -0.31) and fear of sex (β =0.20, β =0.14 and β =0.34) on the diagnostic score of vaginismus were significant (P=0.016; P=0.005).