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Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context: translation and psychometric properties of the Italian version

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 30, pages 253–264 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

The Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context (QCSASC) is a validated and widespread used measure to assess the self-schemas elicited during sexual negative events in both men and women. The current study aimed to test the psychometric characteristics of the Italian version of the QCSASC in both heterosexual men and women. After linguistic translation, the psychometric properties (internal consistency, construct and discriminant validity) were evaluated in 1038 participants (435 men and 603 women, 767 healthy and 271 clinicals complaining of sexual problems). Confirmatory factor analyses showed a not satisfactory fit of the original factor structure of the QCSASC versions. Principal component analyses were performed highlighting two new factorial structures, further validated with CFAs (“Helpless” and “Unlovable”). Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability and average variance extracted were used as internal consistency measures. Moreover, the QCSASC showed a strong association with emotional response and sexual functioning, being able to differentiate between sexually clinical and control group. Current findings support the validity and the internal consistency of the QCSASC Italian version and allows to assess dysfunctional cognitive schemas activated when facing sexual problematic situations for both clinical and research purposes.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185, Rome, Italy

    F. M. Nimbi & C. Simonelli

  2. Institute of Clinical Sexology, Via Savoia 78, 00198, Rome, Italy

    F. M. Nimbi, F. Tripodi & C. Simonelli

  3. Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto, Laboratório de Investigação em Sexualidade Humana (SexLab), Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal

    P. J. Nobre

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  1. F. M. Nimbi
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Appendices

Appendix A. Male version Italian Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context (QCSASC)

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figure a

Appendix B. Female version Italian Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context (QCSASC)

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figure b

Appendix C

Table 9

Table 9 Scoring male and female version QCSASC
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Nimbi, F.M., Tripodi, F., Simonelli, C. et al. Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context: translation and psychometric properties of the Italian version. Int J Impot Res 30, 253–264 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0055-1

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