Design and Validation of a Sexual Mindfulness-Based Intervention Package for Married Men with Sexual Dissatisfaction: A Qualitative Study

Ali  Heshmati; Omid Moradi; Mokhtar  Arefi

doi:10.61838/g2c37a06

Authors

Ali Heshmati Department of Counseling, Sa.C, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0820-4133
Omid Moradi Department of Family Counseling, Sa.C, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2761-4224
Mokhtar Arefi Department of Psychology and Counseling, Ker.C., Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1844-1926

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61838/g2c37a06

Keywords:

Sexual Mindfulness, Sexual Dissatisfaction, Married Men

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to design and validate a sexual mindfulness-based intervention package for married men experiencing sexual dissatisfaction.

Methods and Materials: This qualitative study was conducted using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. The study population consisted of married men reporting sexual dissatisfaction and experts in sex therapy, psychology, and family counseling. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. A total of 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted, including 10 married men with sexual dissatisfaction and 10 specialists. Data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with the assistance of MAXQDA software. Based on the extracted themes and categories, a sexual mindfulness-based intervention package was developed and subsequently evaluated for content validity through expert review and the Delphi method.

Findings: The qualitative analysis resulted in the identification of 68 open codes, 10 axial codes, and 5 overarching themes: disruption in sexual experience, mind–body disconnection, restrictive cultural and relational contexts, therapeutic requirements and intervention content, and intervention package structure and implementation. These findings provided the conceptual framework for the development of a structured intervention package consisting of 10 sessions, each lasting 80 minutes. Content validation demonstrated excellent levels of expert agreement, with a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.98 and a Content Validity Ratio (CVR) of 0.90, indicating strong relevance, clarity, and necessity of the intervention components. The inferential validation findings supported the adequacy and comprehensiveness of the package for addressing the multidimensional factors associated with sexual dissatisfaction among married men.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that sexual dissatisfaction among married men is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon influenced by cognitive, emotional, relational, and sociocultural factors. The sexual mindfulness-based intervention package developed in this study demonstrated strong content validity and theoretical coherence.

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