Analysis the mediating effect of pelvic floor muscle strength recovery on sexual function and depression in postpartum women

Table 1 Comparison of total Female Sexual Function Index scores among postpartum women with different pelvic floor muscle strength recovery grades (mean ± SD, point)

Pelvic floor muscle strength recovery grade	Case (n)	II	F	P value	Post-hoc test (P value)
Excellent-good group	90	27.89 ± 3.25	49.546	< 0.001	Excellent-good vs moderate: < 0.001; Excellent-good vs poor: < 0.001; moderate vs poor: 0.001
Moderate group	28	23.15 ± 4.02
Poor group	12	18.62 ± 3.87

FSFI: Female Sexual Function Index.

Table 2 Comparison of Female Sexual Function Index dimension scores in postpartum women with different pelvic floor muscle recovery grades (mean ± SD, point)

Pelvic floor muscle strength recovery grade	Case (n)	Sexuality	Sexual arousal	Lubricating	Orgasm	Degree of satisfaction	Pain
Excellent-good group	90	3.68 ± 0.72	4.65 ± 0.92	4.89 ± 0.98	4.32 ± 0.95	4.95 ± 0.92	4.68 ± 0.95
Moderate group	28	3.12 ± 0.85	4.01 ± 1.02	4.25 ± 1.05	3.85 ± 1.01	4.42 ± 1.03	4.15 ± 1.02
Poor group	12	2.45 ± 0.78	3.21 ± 0.95	3.32 ± 1.01	3.02 ± 0.98	3.68 ± 1.05	3.35 ± 0.98
F value		17.388	15.026	15.391	10.799	11.081	11.632
P value		< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001

Table 3 Comparison of total Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores among postpartum women with different pelvic floor muscle recovery grades (mean ± SD, point)

Pelvic floor muscle strength recovery grade	Case (n)	FSFI	F value	P value	Post-hoc test (P value)
Excellent-good group	90	7.25 ± 2.85	27.839	< 0.001	Excellent group vs moderate group: < 0.001; excellent group vs poor group: < 0.001; moderate group vs poor group: < 0.001
Moderate group	28	9.86 ± 3.12
Poor group	12	13.52 ± 3.56

FSFI: Female Sexual Function Index.

Table 4 Comparison of postpartum depression symptom incidence among women with different pelvic floor muscle strength recovery grades, n (%)

Pelvic floor muscle strength recovery grade	Case (n)	No depressive symptoms	Depressive mood	Postpartum depression	χ2	P value
Excellent-good group	90	81 (90.00)	8 (8.89)	1 (1.11)	47.172	< 0.001
Moderate group	28	16 (57.14)	10 (35.71)	2 (7.14)
Poor group	12	3 (25.00)	4 (33.33)	5 (41.67)

Table 5 Correlation analysis of total Female Sexual Function Index and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores and pelvic floor muscle strength recovery in postpartum women

Correlation/indicators	Case (n)	mean ± SD	Pearson (r)	t	P value
FSFI total score and EPDS total score	130	FSFI: 24.35 ± 5.12; EPDS: 8.76 ± 3.25	-0.603	8.546	< 0.001
FSFI total score and pelvic floor muscle strength recovery degree	130	Pelvic floor muscle strength rating: 2.60 ± 0.58 (excellent = 3, moderate = 2, poor = 1)	0.687	10.702	< 0.001
The correlation between EPDS total score and pelvic floor muscle strength recovery	130	Pelvic floor muscle strength rating: 2.60 ± 0.58 (excellent = 3, moderate = 2, poor = 1)	-0.570	7.856	< 0.001

FSFI: Female Sexual Function Index; EPDS: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Table 6 Results of the mediation effect test for the recovery degree of pelvic floor muscle strength

Effect type	Coefficient	SE	t	P value	95% confidence interval	Effect proportion (%)
The direct effect of the independent variable (X) on the dependent variable (Y)	-0.301	0.071	4.267	< 0.001	-0.440 to -0.163	-
The effect of independent variable (X) on mediator variable (M), and the effect of mediator variable (M) on dependent variable (Y)	0.098	0.009	10.696	< 0.001	0.080-0.116	-
The effect of independent variable (X) on mediator variable (M), and the effect of mediator variable (M) on dependent variable (Y)	-1.553	0.494	-3.143	0.002	-2.522 to -0.585	-
Mediation effect (X → M → Y)	-0.153	0.051	-3.016	0.003	-0.252 to -0.053	33.603
Gross effect (X → Y)	-0.454	0.053	-8.552	< 0.001	-0.558 to -0.350	100.00