Environmental and psychosocial stressors, such as self-reported stress and experiences of discrimination, are overrepresented in racial/ethnic minority women. Female sexual function is a reflection of a complex interplay of psychosocial, psychological and sociocultural factors. While there is a well-established relationship between pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, and female sexual function, the impact of other factors and in particular psychosocial stressors in sexual function among racial/ethnic minority women with and without PFDs has not been well-explored. Specifically, it is unclear the mediating role of environmental/psychosocial stressors in existent racial disparities between PFDs and sexual function among racial/ethnic minority women

We use data collected through conducted a subset analysis of a cross-sectional study of Spanish and English-speaking Latina women recruited from community sites in Los Angeles. Women responded to a demographic questionnaire, that included an acculturation and Latino values scale, tThe Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function questionnaire (PISQ-9),  is a short-form of the PISQ-12 validated to assess sexual function in women without PFDs, . Self-reported psychosocial stress was assessed with the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), PSS subscores representing protective and negative domains,  and the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS), as well asand a chronicity-weighted EDS (CEDS) variable. We performed linear regressions analysis to assess the association between demographic factors, cultural,  and psychosocial stress metrics associated with sexual function (PISQ-9), significant at a value of p-value < 0.05.

We had data for a total of One hundred and ninety-six (99%) of the 198 community-dwelling women completed the questionnaire. For those women, tThe mean PISQ-9 score was 23.8 with behavior and partner domain scores of 7.8 and 8.9, respectively. Psychosocial metrics had mean values of 15.2 for PSS, 1.17 for EDS, and 216.1 for CEDS. For the linear regression of Considering the overall PISQ-9 score, better sexual function was positively associated  with Mexican-American values (MAV) of familism (p = 0.03), respect (p = 0.03), Mainstream mainstream value of independence (p = 0.005), and the Mexican Orientation Scale (MOS) (p = 0.04). Negative Inverse correlations were seen for age (p = 0.008), total PSS score (p = 0.02) and PSS protective subscore  (p = 0.02). No significant correlations was were observed for symptom scores associated with PFDs. When examining specific domains, CEDS, EDS, and higher education were positively correlated in the behavior domain; PFD symptom scores and CEDS were negatively inversely correlated with PISQ-9 score in the partner domain.

Sexual function among community-dwelling Latina women recruited in the community with and without PFDs was highly correlated with sociocultural identity values (MAV and MOS) and perceived stress. In a population with lower rates of PFDs , age Age  and perceived stress were the primary drivers ofassociated with worse sexual function, although whereas presence of PFDs and chronic discrimination had an inverse association  negative with impact on sexual function in the context of one’s partner and one’s behavior, respectively.

Our study highlights the rpossible role of sociocultural and psychosocial factors,  such as self-perceived stress and discrimination,  in sexual function among racial/ethnic minority women, regardlessindependently  of PFDs.