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Volume 21, Issue 5
  • ISSN: 1573-4048
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6581

Abstract

Background

Sexual myths are mainly devoid of any substantial evidence and are passed on by word of mouth. Myths about sexuality may thus diminish the quality of sexual activities, cause sexual dysfunctions, including erectile dysfunction (impotence), vaginismus, difficulty reaching an orgasm, and premature ejaculation, and make individuals feel dread, anxiety, and failure or inadequacy, which can have adverse effects on their sexual identity.

Objective

This study investigated the factors affecting sexual myths in women and men based on the biopsychosocial model.

Methods

In this scoping review, the research databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, Magiran, PsycINFO, IranDoc, Ovid, ProQuest, Scientific Information Database (SID), and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. For this purpose, a systematic search was conducted to retrieve the relevant articles from November 3 to 21, 2023, using the keywords of “sexual myth, sexual beliefs, wrong beliefs, dysfunctional sexual beliefs, sexuality, opinions, and associated factors.” The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) further evaluated the quality of the included studies. The data were then extracted from all the articles that met the eligibility criteria based on the study objectives.

Results

In total, 12 articles were reviewed, whose data were grouped into three general categories, ., (i) biological factors (., age and gender), (ii) psychological factors (that is, sexual dysfunction, political opinions, opinions on virginity), and (iii) social factors (namely, educational attainment, occupation, place of residence, marital status, type of marriage, age at marriage, premarital sexual experience, parents’ educational attainment, spouse’s educational attainment, number of children, parent’s employment status, spouse’s occupation, primary source of information about sex and feelings about sexual conversations, information about sexual life, academic department, sexual health assessment, and religious beliefs).

Conclusion

Biopsychosocial factors could significantly affect sexual myths; therefore, considering their mediating role in providing sex education to women and men is crucial.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
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2024-10-31
2025-04-23

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Investigating the Factors Affecting Sexual Myths in Women and Men Based on the Biopsychosocial Model: A Scoping Review
Current Women's Health Reviews 21, E15734048319091 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734048319091241018072629
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048319091241018072629
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048319091241018072629
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  • Article Type:     Review Article
Keyword(s): associated factors; dysfunctional sexual beliefs; opinions; sexual beliefs; Sexual myths; sexuality; wrong beliefs

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