Empowerment Through Awareness: The Role of Sexual Mindfulness in Reducing IPV Victimization Among Iranian Women,

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the relationship between sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and factors such as sexual communication, sexual anxiety, sexual shame, and sexual self-esteem among an Iranian population. Data were collected from 359 women who had been in a relationship for at least one year, utilizing an online survey to reach a broad demographic. Our findings revealed that being female was significantly associated with lower levels of sexual communication, while no significant relationship was found with sexual shame or sexual anxiety. Although sexual IPV victimization was not significantly linked to levels of sexual communication, it was significantly associated with heightened sexual anxiety and sexual shame. The relationship between sexual victimization and sexual self-esteem was not significant. Furthermore, sexual mindfulness—specifically awareness—was found to significantly moderate the relationship between sexual IPV victimization and sexual anxiety. Notably, while sexual IPV victimization was significantly related to sexual shame, this association diminished when sexual mindfulness (encompassing awareness and non-judgment) was considered as a moderator. These results highlight the detrimental effects of sexual victimization and cultural beliefs on victims and underscore the importance of developing effective interventions for IPV survivors.