Effectiveness of Cognitive–Behavioral Sexual Skills Training (Masters and Johnson) on Sexual Satisfaction and Sexual Intimacy in Married Women
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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral sexual skills training (Masters and Johnson) on sexual satisfaction and sexual intimacy in married women attending health centers in Tehran.
Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental design with pretest–posttest and control group was used. Thirty married women were selected via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group received eight weekly two-hour sessions of cognitive–behavioral sexual skills training, while the control group received no intervention. Sexual satisfaction and intimacy were measured before and after the intervention using standardized questionnaires. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA with SPSS 26, and assumptions of normality, homogeneity of variances, and regression slopes were verified.
Findings: The results showed significant improvements in the experimental group compared to the control group. Sexual satisfaction increased from pretest (M=84.93, SD=14.10) to posttest (M=133.86, SD=8.62) in the experimental group (p<0.001, η²=0.924). Sexual intimacy also increased significantly in the experimental group from pretest (M=85.73, SD=11.64) to posttest (M=110.60, SD=5.65) (p<0.001, η²=0.849). The control group showed no significant changes.
Conclusion: Cognitive–behavioral sexual skills training effectively enhanced sexual satisfaction and intimacy in married women. These findings suggest that structured educational interventions based on the Masters and Johnson method can improve marital relationship quality, emotional closeness, and sexual well-being.
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