Self-esteem as a determinant of sexual function in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a cross-sectional study.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City, C.P. 14080, Mexico.
- 2Department of Molecular Biology and Histocompatibility, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico City, Mexico.
- 3Department of Medical Education, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
- 4Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City, C.P. 14080, Mexico. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
The correlation between self-esteem and sexual function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients remains unexplored. The objective was to assess the association between body self-esteem, global self-esteem, and sexual function in patients with SLE.Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center. We included patients aged 18 and older who met the EULAR/ACR criteria for SLE. Body self-esteem was measured using the Body Self-Esteem Scale (BSES), while global self-esteem was assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). Sexual function was evaluated using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire Short-Form questionnaire (CSFQ-14). Sexual dysfunction (SD) was defined as a total CSFQ-14 score of less than 41 points for women and less than 47 points for men. We assessed disease activity using the SLEDAI-2 K, and damage accrual with the SLICC damage index.Results
A total of 280 patients were included, the majority of whom were female (88.6%). The median age was 39 years (IQR 31 to 49). The median SLEDAI-2 K score was 2 (IQR 0 to 4), and the SLICC damage index was 0 (IQR 0 to 1). A total of 147 patients (52.5%) were classified as having SD. The BSES score showed a significant correlation with the total CSFQ-14 score (rho = 0.364, p < 0.001). Similarly, the RSE subcomponents, self-competence (rho = 0.262, p < 0.001) and self-liking (rho = 0.274, p < 0.001) showed both a significant positive correlation with the total CSFQ-14 score. Patients with SD compared to those without SD had significantly lower BSES scores, lower self-competence scores and lower self-liking scores. Female sex (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.0, p = 0.026), lower leukocyte count (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.3, p = 0.046), and lower BSES score (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 2.1, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for sexual dysfunction.Conclusions
This is the first study to evaluate self-esteem as a determinant of sexual function in SLE patients. Given the significant impact of self-esteem on sexual dysfunction, its relationship should be assessed during rheumatology evaluations.Clinical trial number
Not applicable.
Related
- Quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: positive associations with younger age, higher education, low disease activity, and corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide treatment—cross-sectional study in northwestern Poland
- Hydroxychloroquine therapy and its impact on bone mineral density among systemic lupus erythematosus patients: A cross-sectional study.
- The correlation between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and left ventricular systolic function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
- Ultrasensitive serum levels of interleukin 13 in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a cross-sectional study.
- Comparison Between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with and Without Family History of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus—A Single-Center Retrospective Study
BibTeX
@article{marengorodriguez2026selfesteem,
title = {{Self-esteem as a determinant of sexual function in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a cross-sectional study.}},
author = {Daniela Marengo-Rodríguez and María Espinosa-León and Monserrat Ibarra-Velasco-Siles and Paola Vázquez-Cárdenas and Erik Cimé-Aké and Jonathan Campos-Guzmán and Ana Barrera-Vargas and Javier Merayo-Chalico},
journal = {Advances in rheumatology (London, England)},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s42358-026-00570-y},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907934},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Self-esteem as a determinant of sexual function in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a cross-sectional study.
AU - Daniela Marengo-Rodríguez
AU - María Espinosa-León
AU - Monserrat Ibarra-Velasco-Siles
AU - Paola Vázquez-Cárdenas
AU - Erik Cimé-Aké
AU - Jonathan Campos-Guzmán
AU - Ana Barrera-Vargas
AU - Javier Merayo-Chalico
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Advances in rheumatology (London, England)
DO - 10.1186/s42358-026-00570-y
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907934
AB - Background The correlation between self-esteem and sexual function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients remains unexplored. The objective was to assess the association between body self-esteem, global self-esteem, and sexual function in patients with SLE.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center. We included patients aged 18 and older who met the EULAR/ACR criteria for SLE. Body self-esteem was measured using the Body Self-Esteem Scale (BSES), while global self-esteem was assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). Sexual function was evaluated using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire Short-Form questionnaire (CSFQ-14). Sexual dysfunction (SD) was defined as a total CSFQ-14 score of less than 41 points for women and less than 47 points for men. We assessed disease activity using the SLEDAI-2 K, and damage accrual with the SLICC damage index.Results A total of 280 patients were included, the majority of whom were female (88.6%). The median age was 39 years (IQR 31 to 49). The median SLEDAI-2 K score was 2 (IQR 0 to 4), and the SLICC damage index was 0 (IQR 0 to 1). A total of 147 patients (52.5%) were classified as having SD. The BSES score showed a significant correlation with the total CSFQ-14 score (rho = 0.364, p < 0.001). Similarly, the RSE subcomponents, self-competence (rho = 0.262, p < 0.001) and self-liking (rho = 0.274, p < 0.001) showed both a significant positive correlation with the total CSFQ-14 score. Patients with SD compared to those without SD had significantly lower BSES scores, lower self-competence scores and lower self-liking scores. Female sex (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.0, p = 0.026), lower leukocyte count (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.3, p = 0.046), and lower BSES score (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 2.1, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for sexual dysfunction.Conclusions This is the first study to evaluate self-esteem as a determinant of sexual function in SLE patients. Given the significant impact of self-esteem on sexual dysfunction, its relationship should be assessed during rheumatology evaluations.Clinical trial number Not applicable.
SN - 2523-3106
ER -