Childhood Sexual Abuse, Vaginismus and Labor Dystocia

The study aims to develop a theoretical model explicating the inter-relationships between Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA), Partial Vaginismus (PV) and Labor Dystocia (LD), including their associations with Depression (D) as a mediating variable. The following research hypotheses will be tested: 1. CSA will serve as a risk factor for D, PV and LD. * pregnant women with a history of CSA will have higher levels of D compared to pregnant women without a history of CSA. * pregnant women with a history of CSA will have more PV compared to pregnant women without a history of CSA. * pregnant women with a history of CSA will have higher levels of LD compared to pregnant women without a history of CSA. 2. D will serve as a mediator between prenatal PV and LD. 3. PV will serve as a risk factor for LD. 4. postpartum PV will be affected by childbirth (LD vs. no LD) contingent on the level of D.