Factor mixture modelling of the Giessen prostatitic symptom score and its relationships with psychosexual covariates

Abstract

The main goals of the present study were to explore the factor structure of a new tool in Estonia which is used to measure prostate disease symptoms (the Giessen Prostatitic Symptom Score). Subsequently, to reveal subtypes of prostate diseases and their respective relationships to psychosexual variables. A cross-sectional survey of 360 men with a mean age of 50.5 (SD=10.8) was conducted to investigate prostate-related diseases and pscychosexual factors. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the Giessen Prostatitic Symptom Score which revealed five factors: urinary problems, general fatigue, pain in lower body, erectile difficulties and prostate inflammation. Latent profile analysis was done based on these factor scores, revealing 4 subtypes of prostate-related symptom patterns. Relationships between these subtypes and sexual variables were then explored, indicating a large set (80% of the sample) of men with relatively little symptoms or obstruction from prostate disease symptoms, a group of younger men (10%) with relatively little obstruction in spite of prevalent symptomatology, and two smaller groups (7% and 2 %, respectively) of men with prevalent symptoms and obstructions in sexual life. The research supports and extends current theory on the occurence of prostate diseases and provides new insight into the relationships between prostate diseases and sexuality. A better understanding of the impact of prostate diseases on sexual behaviour helps clinicians to better assess and treat ailments co-occurring with said diseases.