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The effect of sexual health counseling with an emotion-focused approach on sexual self-control and desire for marriage of female students

Protocol summary

Study aim
Determining the impact of emotion-focused sexual health counseling on sexual self-control and desire for marriage among female students
Design
The present study is a randomized controlled clinical trial of a parallel two-arm design, which will be conducted on 60 undergraduate female students
Settings and conduct
The present study is a randomized clinical trial conducted on female undergraduate students in the medical sciences programs at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Initially, written informed consent is obtained from all participants. Then, demographic information questionnaires, sexual self-control, and desire for marriage questionnaires are completed by the students. The intervention group participates in weekly counseling sessions with an emotion-focused approach. After the sessions, and again one month after the end of the intervention, the self-control and desire for marriage questionnaires are completed once more by participants in both groups.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: having informed consent, being single, being an undergraduate student in semesters three to six. Exclusion criteria: receiving similar training or counseling, having a history of physical illnesses affecting sexual function or serious mental illnesses as self-reported (such as psychotic disorders; schizophrenia or severe depression), unwillingness to participate in the study.
Intervention groups
The intervention in this study is based on emotion-focused group counseling and is conducted in the form of 8 weekly 90-minute group sessions. Each session is interactive, focusing on exploring emotional experiences, internalization exercises, cognitive restructuring, teaching basic concepts, group discussion, and interpersonal exercises. No intervention is provided for the control group.
Main outcome variables
sexual self-control, desire for marriage

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20251230068498N1
Registration date: 2026-01-08, 1404/10/18
Registration timing: prospective

Last update: 2026-01-08, 1404/10/18
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-01-08, 1404/10/18
Registrant information
Name
Najmeh Soltanzadeh Torbati
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 51 3733 0676
Email address
soltanzade@shmu.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-02-01, 1404/11/12
Expected recruitment end date
2026-05-02, 1405/02/12
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effect of sexual health counseling with an emotion-focused approach on sexual self-control and desire for marriage of female students
Public title
The effect of sexual health counseling with an emotion-focused approach on sexual self-control and desire for marriage of female students
Purpose
Prevention
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
having informed consent being single being a third to sixth semester undergraduate student
Exclusion criteria:
Receiving similar training or counseling having a self-reported physical illness affecting sexual function a serious mental illness (such as psychotic disorders; schizophrenia or severe depression) failing to participate in the study
Age
No age limit
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size: 60
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
For the initial randomization, the students are categorized by semester. The first class includes students in semesters two and four, and the second class includes students in semesters three and five. One of these two classes will be selected by drawing lots using a random number table (under the supervision of a statistical consultant) as the intervention group and the other class as the control group. Then, within each class (intervention and control), samples are selected through stratified random sampling.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics committee of Shahrud University of Medical Sciences
Street address
Shahroud, Haftom Tir Square - Shahroud University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
City
shahrud
Province
Semnan
Postal code
3614773943
Approval date
2025-12-27, 1404/10/06
Ethics committee reference number
IR.SHMU.REC.1404.123

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Sexual health and readiness for marriage
ICD-10 code
Z70.3
ICD-10 code description
Counseling related to combined concerns regarding sexual attitude, behavior and orientation

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Sexual self-control
Timepoint
Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention
Method of measurement
Jafari Sexual self-control Questionnaire

Secondary outcomes

1

Description
desire for Marriage
Timepoint
Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, one month after the intervention
Method of measurement
Heidari and Pour's desire for Marriage Questionnaire

Intervention groups

1

Description
Intervention group: The intervention in this study is based on group counseling with an emotion-focused approach and aims to promote sexual self-control and desire for marriage, and is held in the form of 8 weekly 90-minute group sessions over a two-month period. :Each session is held interactively, based on exploring emotional experiences, internalization exercises, cognitive restructuring, teaching basic concepts, group discussion, and interpersonal exercises. The meeting atmosphere is created with an emphasis on psychological safety, empathy, acceptance without judgment, and respect for individual boundaries. In each session, the counselor regulates the dialogue between group members, facilitates the expression of emotions, and guides internal exercises such as the "two-chair" technique, mindfulness, or personal narrative. At the beginning of each session, the assignment from the previous session is reviewed, and at the end, exercises appropriate to the goals of the session are given to the participants
Category
Behavior

2

Description
Control group: They receive no intervention.
Category
N/A

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Shahrud University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Najmeh Soltanzadeh Torbati
Street address
Hafte Tir Blvd
City
Shahrud
Province
Semnan
Postal code
3614773943
Phone
+98 23 3239 5054
Email
mah_poorheidary@yahoo.com

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Shahroud University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Hossein Ebrahimi
Street address
Hafte Tir Blvd
City
Shahrud
Province
Semnan
Postal code
3614773943
Phone
+98 23 3239 5054
Email
Ebrahimi@shmu.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Shahroud University of Medical Sciences
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahroud University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Najmeh Soltanzadeh Torbati
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Midwifery
Street address
Hafte Tir Blvd
City
Shahrud
Province
Semnan
Postal code
3614773943
Phone
+98 23 3239 5054
Email
najmesoltanzadeh0542@gmail.com

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahroud University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Najmeh Soltanzadeh Torbati
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Midwifery
Street address
Hafte Tir Blvd
City
Shahrud
Province
Semnan
Postal code
3614773943
Phone
+98 23 3239 5054
Email
najmesoltanzadeh0542@gmail.com

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahroud University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Najmeh Soltanzadeh Torbati
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Midwifery
Street address
Hafte Tir Blvd
City
Shahrud
Province
Semnan
Postal code
3614773943
Phone
+98 23 3239 5054
Email
najmesoltanzadeh0542@gmail.com

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Not applicable
Data Dictionary
Not applicable
Title and more details about the data/document
All data is potentially shareable after de-identifying individuals.
When the data will become available and for how long
12 months after results are published
To whom data/document is available
Researchers working in scientific and academic institutions
Under which criteria data/document could be used
Can be used according to the rules and conditions of Shahrood University of Medical Sciences
From where data/document is obtainable
Najmeh Soltanzadeh Email: najmesoltanzadeh0542@gmail.com
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
Written request, approval from the project manager and project partners
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