The Relationship Between Sexual Health Literacy Levels and Sexual Myths Among Women Aged 18-49: Correlational Study 18-49 Yaş Aralığındaki Kadınların Cinsel Sağlık Okuryazarlık Düzeyleri ile Cinsel Mitler Arasındaki İlişki: Korelasyonel Çalışma
Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences, cilt.46, sa.2, ss.215-224, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 46 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.5336/medsci.2025-116753
- Dergi Adı: Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), CINAHL, EMBASE, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.215-224
- Anahtar Kelimeler: literacy, Sexuality, women
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between sexual health literacy and belief in sexual myths among women of reproductive age. Material and Methods: A descriptive and correlational study was conducted with women attending the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinics of a university hospital. A total of 254 women aged 18-49 years who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate were included. Data were collected using a “Personal Information Form”, the “Sexual Health Literacy Scale”, and the “Sexual Myths Scale”. Analyses were performed using R 4.5.1. Independent samples t-tests were used for 2-group comparisons, oneway analysis of variance for comparisons of more than 2 groups, and correlation analysis to evaluate relationships between variables. Results: The mean score of the Sexual Health Literacy Scale was 55.57±13.41, and the mean score of the Sexual Myths Scale was 63.01±20.71. A negative, weak, and statistically significant correlation was found between the total scores of the Sexual Health Literacy Scale and the Sexual Myths Scale (r=-0.255, p<0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that sexual health literacy significantly predicted belief in sexual myths (β=-0.255; t=-4.190; p<0.001), explaining approximately 6.5% of the variance. Conclusion: Among women aged 18-49 years, higher sexual health literacy was associated with lower belief in sexual myths. These findings suggest that sexual health literacy is an important factor related to sexual myths. Therefore, interventions aiming to reduce sexual myths among women of reproductive age should consider improving sexual health literacy.