Sexual attitudes and body dissatisfaction among Chinese women with disabilities: The mediating role of body esteem and sexual esteem

Xinyuan Zhang(1), Wanbing Shi(2),


(1) School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110000, Liaoning Province, China
(2) School of Management (Accessibility Management School), Nanjing Normal University of Special Education, Nanjing, 210038, Jiangsu Province, China
Corresponding Author

Abstract


Body dissatisfaction is prevalent among women with disabilities and exerts impacts on reproductive health, with sexual attitudes considered a influential factor. Based on social comparison theory and self-objectification theory, a survey was conducted with a valid sample of 406 adult women with disabilities in China. Data were collected using the BSAS, NPSS, PDSBE. A parallel mediation model of body esteem and sexual esteem between sexual attitudes and body dissatisfaction was constructed. Path relationships were tested and the results indicated that: (1) sexual attitudes exhibit a significant negative impact on body dissatisfaction. (2) body esteem and sexual esteem play parallel mediating roles between sexual attitudes and body dissatisfaction. (3) the mediating effect of body esteem is greater than that of sexual esteem. It is recommended that sexual attitudes, body dissatisfaction, sexual esteem and body esteem should be taken into consideration when intervening in reproductive health of women with disabilities.

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