The effect of mindfulness–basedsexualconsultancy on sexual distress, sexual distress,attitudeto sexuality and body images concern in pregnant women

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of mindfulness-based sexual counseling on sexual distress, attitudes towards sexuality and body image concerns in pregnant women. Material and Method: The research was carried out in a randomized controlled manner at Adıyaman Healthy Life Center (HLC) between August and December 2020. A total of 134 pregnant women who applied to the HLC and met the inclusion criteria were included in the sampling (67 experimental group, 67 control group). The experimental group was given conscious awareness-based sexual counseling consisting of 8 4-week sessions by the researcher. The Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R), Attitude towards Sexuality in Pregnancy Scale (ATSPS), and Body Image Worries During Pregnancy Scale (BIWDPS) were used to obtain the data. Results: It was determined that the pre-intervention sexual distress, attitudes towards sexuality and body image anxiety levels of the pregnants in the experimental and control groups were similar and the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). After the intervention, the mean scores of the pregnant women in the experimental group's FSDS-R and BIWDPS decreased significantly and the difference between them and the control group was statistically significant (p<0.05); It was determined that the mean of the ATSPS score in the experimental group increased significantly and the difference between them and the control group was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that mindfulness-based sexual counseling reduces sexual distress in pregnant women, positively affects attitudes towards sexuality and reduces body image concerns. It can be recommended to give trainings on mindfulness to midwives in the field. Keywords: Mindfulness, pregnant, sexual counseling, sexual distress, sexual attitude, body image, midwife