Validity, reliability and factor structure of the Female Sexual Well-Being Scale in married Iranian women

Background. Promoting the quality of women's sex life is crucial for their overall well-being. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Iranian adaptation of the Female Sexual Well-Being Scale (FSWB), and assess its cross-cultural comparability. Methods. The Persian version of the FSWB was developed through forward and backward translations, followed by revision by a research team and pilot testing. A total of 400 women completed the FSWB questionnaire. Test-retest reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient, whereas Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess internal consistency. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factorisation with varimax rotation, followed by confirmatory factor analysis. Results. Only one factor was found in the scale by factor analysis using the principal component method and varimax rotation. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure demonstrated high sampling adequacy (0.961), and Bartlett's test of sphericity confirmed the appropriateness of the correlation matrix for exploratory factor analysis (P < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the fit of the one-factor model based on various model fit indices. The intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was 96.8%, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 97.2%, demonstrating high reliability. Conclusions. The Persian version of the FSWB (consisting of 17 questions) and its scoring system showed robust validity and reliability in assessing women's sexual well-being in the Iranian context.