The relationship between attitude towards sexuality and rumination and sexual quality of life during pregnancy

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between attitude towards sexuality and rumination with quality of sexual life during pregnancy. The cross-sectional study was carried out between April 2024 and July 2024 with pregnant women who applied to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic of Balıkesir University Health Practice and Research Hospital. Using the Epinfo 7.0 program, the minimum sample size was calculated as 384 individuals at 95% confidence level with 50% prevalence and 5% deviation in an unknown population, and 432 individuals were reached. The research data were collected by face-to-face interview method using the Pregnant Descriptive Information Form, Attitudes Toward Sexuality in Pregnancy Scale, Sexual Quality of Life Scale-Female Form, and Ruminative Thinking Style Scale. T-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation were used in univariate analyses, and multiple linear regression analysis was used in further analyses. There was a positive correlation between attitude towards sexuality during pregnancy and quality of sexual life (r = 0.402, p < 0.001) and a negative correlation between ruminative thinking style and quality of sexual life (r = -0.101, p = 0.036). Regression analysis results showed that attitude towards sexuality during pregnancy significantly predicted sexual quality of life (β = 0.397, p < 0.001), while ruminative thinking had a limited effect (β = -0.073, p = 0.099). These findings suggest that positive attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy play an important role in improving women's quality of sexual life. Additionally, it was found that women with a tendency toward rumination had lower sexual quality of life during pregnancy. Supporting positive attitudes towards sexuality during pregnancy and developing strategies to reduce rumination will provide contributions in improving and protection the quality of sexual life of pregnant women.