The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapies on Sexual Function, Sexual Distress, and Depression in Women: A Meta-Analysis Study.

Summary

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapies significantly enhance women's sexual function, with a standardized mean difference of 0.461 across 11 studies. These therapies also effectively reduce sexual distress (SMD = -0.352) and alleviate symptoms of depression (SMD = -0.217). The high level of heterogeneity among studies suggests varied outcomes, but overall, these interventions show promise in addressing sexual dysfunction and related emotional challenges. With a focus on improving well-being, mindfulness-based approaches can play a vital role in women's mental health and intimacy.

Abstract

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapies adapted for sexual function concerns on women's sexual function, sexual distress, and depression levels. Methods: For this meta-analysis study, a review was conducted by screening studies published in the last 10 years on PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, and YÖK National Thesis Center databases from February to May 2024. After this initial review, 11 studies were included in this study. Considering the study design, quality assessment tools developed by JBI were used to evaluate the risk of bias. CMA version 2 was used for data synthesis. Data were synthesized using meta-analysis and narrative synthesis methods. Results: In this meta-analysis, mindfulness-based cognitive therapies were found to be effective in improving sexual function in women, and a high level of heterogeneity was detected among studies (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.461, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.163 to 0.760; Z = 3.027, p = .002, I2 = 79.083). Additionally, it was also determined that mindfulness-based cognitive therapies were effective in reducing sexual distress in women (SMD = -0.352, 95% CI = -0.638 to -0.066; Z= -2.412, p = .016, I2 = 78.377). Finally, mindfulness-based cognitive therapies were also determined to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression in women (SMD = -0.217, 95% CI = -0.420 to -0.015; Z= -2.101, p = .036, I2 = 27.688). Conclusions: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapies were found to be effective in decreasing women's sexual dysfunction and reducing levels of sexual distress and depression.

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