Automatic Associations between Sexual Function Problems and Pursuing Help in Pelvic Physical Therapy Practice: The Psychometric Investigation of an Implicit Association Test

Figures & data

Table 1. Overview of self-report instruments, variables, items, and scoring ranges in this study.

Variable	Scale	Items	Scoring range	Maximum score	Cronbach’s Alfa (N = 398)
Sexual Functioning	FSFI	16 out of 19 items	0–30	30	.96
Sexual Desire	FSFI	1, 2	1–5	6
Sexual Arousal	FSFI	3, 4, 5, 6	0–5	6
Lubrication	FSFI	7, 8, 9, 10	0–5	6
Orgasm	FSFI	11, 12, 13	0–5	6
Pain	FSFI	17, 18, 19	0–5	6
Psychological Burden	PFC-PBI	All 10 items	0–6	60	.95
Sexual Distress	FSDS	All 12 items	0–4	48	.95
Physical Restrictions	QBPDS	All 20 items	0–5	100	.95

Note. Cronbach’s Alfa is calculated based on the data in this study sample.

Table 2. Demographics and mean scores of key variables in the total sample, and of (pregnant, parous, and nulliparous) participants receiving and not receiving pelvic physical therapy.

Sample	N	Age in years	Gestation Age of Pregnancy in weeks	Number of Children	Percentage of women receiving Pelvic Physical Therapy	Sexual Functioning	Psychological Burden	Sexual Distress	Pelvic Pain-related Daily Restrictions	PHSP-IAT Index
Ranges						0-30	0-60	0-48	0-100
Total Sample	398	31.26			22	20.14	14.64	12.21	13.74	−.530
Pregnant	46	31.04	25.93		54	20.28	14.85	12.12	25.54	−.441
Parous	117	32.43		1.56	37	19.79	17.34	14.45	15.23	−.527
Nulliparous	235	30.73			9	20.29	13.25	11.11	10.69	−.550
No Pelvic Physical Therapy	310	31.45				20.55	12.50	11.26	10.70	−.554
Pregnant	21	32.86	24.24			20.05	11.71	9.24	19.43	−.516
Parous	74	32.78		1.46		21.38	13.91	13.84	10.93	−.573
Nulliparous	215	30.85				20.31	12.10	10.58	9.76	−.551
Pelvic Physical Therapy	88	30.61				18.70	22.16	15.55	24.45	−.447
Pregnant	25	29.52	27.36			20.46	17.48	14.56	30.68	−.379
Parous	43	31.81		1.72		17.06	23.26	15.51	22.63	−.448
Nulliparous	20	29.40				20.04	25.65	16.85	20.60	−.530

Note. PHSP-IAT: Pursuing Help for Sexual Problems Implicit Association Test.

Table 3. Correlations between the Pursuing Help for Sexual Problems Implicit Association Test and the scores of neighboring and non-neighboring constructs.

	Measure	PHSP-IAT	FSFI	PFC-PBI	FSDS
Sexual Functioning	FSFI	−.026
Psychological Burden	PBI	.012	−.333***
Sexual Distress	FSDS	.002	−.297***	.501***
Physical Restrictions	QBPDS	−.088	−.229***	.606***	.261***

Table 4. Pattern matrix of principal component analysis of the implicit association test indices and the selected validation measures.

	Measure	Component 1	Component 2
Implicit Associations	PHSP-IAT		.960
Sexual Functioning	FSFI	−.602
Psychological Burden	PFC-PBI	.869
Sexual Distress	FSDS	.712
Physical Restrictions	QBPDS	.719
	Eigenvalue	2.143	1.027
	% of Variance	42.868	20.544
	Cumulative %	42.868	62.412

Data availability statement

Data is available under DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/268CP