Sexual self-perception and adjustment of cardiac patients: a psychometric analysis

Abstract

The psychological impact of a cardiac event includes anxiety and depression, poor sexual quality, and diminished sexual satisfaction. Few measures capture psychosexual recovery following a cardiac event. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Sexual Self-Perception and Adjustment Questionnaire (SSPAQ) among cardiac patients (N = 128), measuring sexual anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and satisfaction. Scale-level content validity was 0.97. After item analysis, 28 items were retained; Cronbach’s alpha is >0.90, indicating item appropriateness for the combined scale (0.97). A four-factor model was supported with each of the subscale items accounting for at least 64% of the variance. Construct validity comparing sexually active to inactive showed those inactive had significantly lower sexual self-perception. The SSPAQ is a cohesive measure of sexual self-perception, and findings suggest each subscale can be used independently for measures of sexual anxiety, sexual depression, sexual self-efficacy, and sexual satisfaction, and may be useful in research and clinical settings.