Table 1.
Exploratory factor analysis of the MED-QoL
| Factor | Item* | Factor 1 | Factor 2 | Factor 3 | Cumulative variance | Alpha | Eigenvalue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Control) |
1. I feel sexually frustrated because of my erection difficulties |
0.638* |
0.100 |
0.302 |
0.37 |
0.82 |
11.40 |
| |
2. My problem makes me feel depressed |
0.515* |
0.119 |
0.443 |
|
|
|
| |
3. I feel less of a man because of my problem |
0.576* |
0.296 |
0.448 |
|
|
|
| |
4. I’ve lost confidence in my sexual ability |
0.676* |
0.349 |
0.211 |
|
|
|
| |
5. I worry that I won’t be able to get or keep up an erection |
0.644* |
0.294 |
0.302 |
|
|
|
| |
7. I feel that I have lost control over my erections |
0.681* |
0.230 |
0.163 |
|
|
|
| |
10. I worry about the future of my sex life |
0.512* |
0.417 |
0.327 |
|
|
|
| |
12. I’m embarrassed about my problem |
0.532* |
0.236 |
0.480 |
|
|
|
| |
16. I get less pleasure from life because of my erection problem |
0.502* |
0.401 |
0.230 |
|
|
|
| 2 (Intimacy) |
11. I’ve lost pleasure in sex |
0.454 |
0.569* |
0.070 |
0.69 |
0.85 |
1.54 |
| |
17. I feel guilty about my erection problem |
0.219 |
0.521* |
0.478 |
|
|
|
| |
18. I am afraid to “make the first move” with my partner |
0.316 |
0.665* |
0.127 |
|
|
|
| |
19. I worry that my partner blames herself for my problem |
0.062 |
0.540* |
0.305 |
|
|
|
| |
20. I worry that I’m letting my partner down |
0.439 |
0.547* |
0.427 |
|
|
|
| |
21. I worry that I am not satisfying my partner sexually |
0.506 |
0.521* |
0.217 |
|
|
|
| |
22. I worry that we are going apart because of my problem |
0.257 |
0.605* |
0.265 |
|
|
|
| |
25. I worry that she thinks I don’t want her because of my problem |
0.194 |
0.690* |
0.300 |
|
|
|
| 3 (Emotion) |
6. My erection problem is always on my mind |
0.459 |
0.302 |
0.506* |
0.96 |
0.86 |
1.02 |
| |
8. I blame myself for my problem |
0.205 |
0.381 |
0.566* |
|
|
|
| |
9. I feel angry because of my problem |
0.313 |
0.168 |
0.676* |
|
|
|
| |
13. I worry about being humiliated because of my problem |
0.263 |
0.288 |
0.626* |
|
|
|
| Excluded |
14. I try to avoid having sex |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
|
| |
15. I feel different from other men because of my erection problem |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
|
| |
23. I worry that she is looking for someone else because of my problem |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
|
| |
24. I feel that she blames me for my erection problem |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
|
| |
26. I have trouble talking to her about my problem |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
|
| |
27. My erection problem interferes with my daily activities |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
|
| Scale total | .96 | .95 |
MED-QoL-R: male erectile dysfunction-specific quality of life revised scale. *Item numbers are based on the original MED-QoL scale. Factor analysis with varimax rotation, excluding items 14, 15, 23, 24,26 and 27.