A psychometric evaluation of the Female Sexual Function Index in women treated for breast cancer.

Kieseker, GA; Anderson, DJ; Porter-Steele, J; McCarthy, AL

A psychometric evaluation of the Female Sexual Function Index in women treated for breast cancer.

Kieseker, GA Anderson, DJ Porter-Steele, J McCarthy, AL

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cancer Medicine, 2022, 11, (6), pp. 1511-1523
Issue Date:: 2022-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kieseker, GA
dc.contributor.author	Anderson, DJ
dc.contributor.author	Porter-Steele, J
dc.contributor.author	McCarthy, AL
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-26T03:43:27Z
dc.date.available	2021-11-22
dc.date.available	2022-09-26T03:43:27Z
dc.date.issued	2022-03
dc.identifier.citation	Cancer Medicine, 2022, 11, (6), pp. 1511-1523
dc.identifier.issn	2045-7634
dc.identifier.issn	2045-7634
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162066
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the psychometric properties and factor structure of the 19-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in 132 sexually active women previously treated for breast cancer. METHODS: Confirmatory factor analysis explored three models: (a) second-order six-factor, (b) six-factor, and (c) five-factor models combining the desire and arousal subscales. RESULTS: Results revealed excellent reliability for the total score (Cronbach's α = 0.94), and domain scores (all Cronbach's αs > 0.90), and good convergent and discriminant validity. The six-factor model provided the best fit of the models assessed, but a marginal overall fit (Tucker-Lewis index = 0.91, comparative fit index = 0.93, root mean square error of approximation = 0.09). Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) supported a four-factor structure, revealing an arousal/orgasm factor alongside the original pain, lubrication, and satisfaction domains. CONCLUSION: The arousal/orgasm factor suggests a "sexual response" construct, potentially arising from an underlying latent factor involving physical and mental stimulation in conceptualizations of arousal and orgasm in women treated for breast cancer. Finally, the EFA failed to capture an underlying desire factor, potentially due to measurement error associated with the small number of items (two) in this domain. Despite evidence that the FSFI has sound psychometric properties, our results suggest that the current conceptualizations of the FSFI might not accurately represent sexual functioning in women previously treated for breast cancer. Further research is required to elucidate the factors that influence desire, arousal, and orgasm in sexually active women in this population, and the reasons underlying sexual inactivity. Practical and theoretical implications for FSFI use in this population are discussed.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1056856
dc.relation.ispartof	Cancer Medicine
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/cam4.4516
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
dc.subject.mesh	Breast Neoplasms
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Psychometrics
dc.subject.mesh	Reproducibility of Results
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Breast Neoplasms
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Psychometrics
dc.subject.mesh	Reproducibility of Results
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Breast Neoplasms
dc.subject.mesh	Reproducibility of Results
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Psychometrics
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.title	A psychometric evaluation of the Female Sexual Function Index in women treated for breast cancer.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
utslib.for	1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-09-26T03:43:23Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	11
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the psychometric properties and factor structure of the 19-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in 132 sexually active women previously treated for breast cancer. METHODS: Confirmatory factor analysis explored three models: (a) second-order six-factor, (b) six-factor, and (c) five-factor models combining the desire and arousal subscales. RESULTS: Results revealed excellent reliability for the total score (Cronbach's α = 0.94), and domain scores (all Cronbach's αs > 0.90), and good convergent and discriminant validity. The six-factor model provided the best fit of the models assessed, but a marginal overall fit (Tucker-Lewis index = 0.91, comparative fit index = 0.93, root mean square error of approximation = 0.09). Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) supported a four-factor structure, revealing an arousal/orgasm factor alongside the original pain, lubrication, and satisfaction domains. CONCLUSION: The arousal/orgasm factor suggests a "sexual response" construct, potentially arising from an underlying latent factor involving physical and mental stimulation in conceptualizations of arousal and orgasm in women treated for breast cancer. Finally, the EFA failed to capture an underlying desire factor, potentially due to measurement error associated with the small number of items (two) in this domain. Despite evidence that the FSFI has sound psychometric properties, our results suggest that the current conceptualizations of the FSFI might not accurately represent sexual functioning in women previously treated for breast cancer. Further research is required to elucidate the factors that influence desire, arousal, and orgasm in sexually active women in this population, and the reasons underlying sexual inactivity. Practical and theoretical implications for FSFI use in this population are discussed.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162066