The effect of Ex-PLISSIT-based prenatal sexual education on postpartum women’s sexual life*

Altunbaş N., GÖLBAŞI Z., Koçun G.

Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/14681994.2026.2681524
  • Dergi Adı: Sexual and Relationship Therapy
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Gender Studies Database, Psycinfo, Violence & Abuse Abstracts, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO), Sociology Database (ProQuest), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: counseling, Ex-PLISSIT model, postpartum period, pregnancy, sexual education, sexual function, sexual quality of life, sexual satisfaction
  • Lokman Hekim Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aimed to examine the effects of sexual education and counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model during pregnancy on postpartum sexual life. A quasi-experimental pre-test- post-test control group design was used. A total of 43 primigravida women were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups using simple random sampling. The experimental group received two sessions of sexual education and counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model tailored to individual needs between weeks 8th-16th and 18th-26th weeks of pregnancy. Both groups completed a pretest in early pregnancy (8–16 weeks) and a posttest at 13 weeks postpartum. The findings showed that women in the experimental group had significantly higher scores in postpartum sexual function (OR = 25.4; 95% CI: 24.15–26.67; p =.009), sexual satisfaction (OR = 125; 95% CI: 123.51–132.01; p =.000), and sexual quality of life (OR = 74.44; 95% CI: 70.87–76.33; p =.01) compared to the control group. These results suggest that model-based sexual education during pregnancy contributes positively to postpartum sexual well-being. Linear regression analysis showed that Ex-PLISSIT-based sexual education and counseling was a significant predictor of postpartum sexual outcomes and accounted for 65.6% of the variance in the model (R2 = 0.656, F = 14.350, p <.001).