Psychosocial determinants of sexual health in newly married couples: a protocol for a mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND: Regarding psychosocial factors affecting sexual health and in most cultures, healthy and pleasurable sexual relations are valued in the family context, the present study aims to identify the psychosocial determinants of sexual health in newly married couples. METHODS: The present mixed-methods study will be conducted in three phases. The first phase will be carried out qualitatively based on which psychosocial determinants of the sexual health of newly married couples will be extracted. In the second phase, questionnaire items of psychosocial determinants of sexual health in newly married couples will be compiled, and face validity (quantitative and qualitative), content validity (quantitative and qualitative), and reliability of the questionnaire will be evaluated. In the third phase, which will be the quantitative phase of the study, the construct validity of the questionnaire will be assessed by analyzing the main items. Moreover, at this stage, the relationship between the extracted psychosocial determinants and the sexual health of newly married couples will be investigated. DISCUSSION: By explaining the psychosocial determinants of sexual health in newly married couples, it is possible to identify key variables for designing interventions that improve the sexual health of this group, based on their cultural sensitivities.