(295) ETHNICITY AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG FEMALES IN THE CITY OF POPAYáN-COLOMBIA
Authors: Tabares-Hernández C , Rubio-Aurioles E 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Introduction
The relationship between sexual dysfunction and mental health has been established [1]. This is particularly clear in the case of Depressive Illness [2]. The influence of cultural factors is often mentioned the influence of ethnicity [3] as a factor explaining the association mental health/sexual dysfunction. However, the relationship of ethnicity needs further clarification.

Objective
To assess the influence of ethnicity in the association of sexual function to indicators of mental health.

Methods
Two groups of Colombian women living in the city of Popayán, Colombia were compared. Sexual function was assessed via online survey with the Colombian version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) [4] and mental health with the Colombian version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) [5]. The associations mental health/sexual function and ethnicity were explored with bivariate correlations and then moderation effects of ethnicity were investigated.

Results
311 participants responded to the invitation. The final sample includes only women, who declared not belonging to any ethnic group and those who declared belonging to indigenous ethnicity and, who reported sexual activity in the last 4 weeks which lead to a final sample of 190 participants: 107 declared not belonging to ethnic group considered the comparison group (CG) and 83 declaring belonging to an ethnic group (EG). The instruments used performed well as to it reliability (Alpha Cronbach = 0.934 for FSFI and 0.967 for DASS-21) The comparison of dysfunctional vs. functional participants in the two groups resulted in no significant difference: CG 35.5 % dysfunctional, and 38.6 % for EG. The correlation analysis resulted in significant coefficients for FSFI and Total score of DASS-21 (r = -0.251, p &lt; 0.001) and FSFI and the Depression scale of DASS-21 (r = −0.268, p &lt; 0.001), and FSFI and the Anxiety scale of DASS-21 (r = -0.227, p = 0.002) and FSFI and the Stress scale of DASS-21 (r = 0.221, p = 0.002). The values for the correlation of EG with FSFI, all the domains to FSFI, total score DASS-21 and the subscales of depression, anxiety and stress were all non-significant. In view of these results an exploratory analysis of the potential moderator effect of ethnicity on the correlation between sexual function and mental health indicators, the moderation potential was explored among the dysfunctional females (defined by the cut point of 26.55) was performed: it was found that among the sexually dysfunctional females belonging to an ethic group has a moderator effect in the Total score of DASS-21 (z = 2.083, p = 0.037), the Depression scale of DASS-21 (z = 2.321. p = 0.020), but not significant moderation effect in Anxiety scale of DASS-21 and the Stress scale of DASS-21.

Conclusions
The association of mental health indicators with sexual dysfunction was corroborated. The effect of cultural difference, measured by the belonging of an ethnic group declared by participant was not demonstrated I the full sample, however, when the analysis was performed among the dysfunctional females, the moderator effect of ethnicity was statistically significant. This might imply that the effect of cultural influence is more manifest when problems in sexual function appear in women.

Disclosure
No.