Cognitive Determinants of Sexual Dysfunction: A Psychometric Study of the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ)

For the assessment of sexual function several questionnaires were developed.
Beside the assessment of sexual function en sexual disorders, it's also
important to gain more insight in determinants of sexual (dys)function. A
measurement which can help to gain more insight in these determinants is the
Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ) (Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia, 2003), because it
focusses on cognitions, emotions and sexual respons. Several studies showed a
role of cognitions and emotions in the sexual respons and its influence on
sexual dysfunction. This is a reason for the need to obtain a valid and
reliable measurement to assess determinants of sexual function. This is why the
Sexual Modes Questionnaire was developed.
Originally de SMQ was a Portugues questionnaire, currently a Dutch translation
of an Englisch SMQ is used in the Netherlands. Due to this translation process
(once from Portuguese to Englisch and once from Englisch to Dutch) there is a
risk of losing important information. The currently used SMQ has not been
validated in a Dutch population. Therefore we want to translate the original
Portugues SMQ directly to Dutch en validate this translation in a Dutch
speaking population.

Goal of this study is to determine wether the Dutch translation of the SMQ is
capable to assess the cognitive and emotional determinants of sexual function
in a valid and reliable way. The central question of the study: Is the
translated SMQ valid and reliable? The intern consistency, test retest
reliability, convergent, divergent and discrimant validity are being determined

Respondents will be approached via internet (Facebook), or during their visit
to the departments of gynecology, urology and MuCeS at the Maxima Medical
Centre. Flyers will also be present at these departments. These calls for
participation will contain general information about the study. Persons who are
willing to participate can go to an online link where they find the
questionnaire. Before they can start the questionnaire they can read the
respondentinformation and fill in a consent form by giving their name, email
address, date, place of residence and electronic signature via touchpad
(laptop, smartphone or tablet). This consentform and signature will be saved as
pdf and a copy is send to the researcher. After completing the consent form the
respondents will receive a email. This email contains a öne-time" login link
which gives access to a anonymous guest-account, also a private password can be
created. This anonymous account provides access to the questionnaire and will
not be linked to the email address
The instruction of the questionnaire also points out the possibility to stop at
any time in case they decide not to participate anymore.
Several questionnaires have been combined to one and questions focus on several
demographics, cognitions during sexual activity and associated emotions and
subjective sexual response with these cognitions, sexual function, sexual
distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms and resilience.
The completed questionnaire is stored in a data file and is not traceble to a
persons identity.
It will take 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

Questions about sexual function can be considered as intimate and private.
These kind of questions can also elicit negative emotions, like shame or
sadness. This problem will be partly solved because participation is voluntary
and people are informed about the nature of the questions and anonymity of the
study in advance: People who have an issue with answering these kind of
questions will be less motivated to participate. Also people with sexual
problems who participate and have applied at MuCeS fot treatment, means they
are likely to be prepared and willing to answer these kind of questions.