Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy最新文献

Pelvic floor evaluation is essential for assessing its mechanical and elastic properties to guide treatment decisions. The lack of objective instrumental tools creates challenges in both clinical practice and research. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic validity of subjective palpation for classifying pelvic floor muscle tone in comparison to biomechanical parameters obtained with myotonometry in healthy young women. A secondary aim was to explore the consistency of measurements between a novice and an experienced examiner. An observational study was conducted in the laboratories of the Universidad Europea de Madrid. Forty-nine healthy women (mean age 24.4 ± 7.23 years) were recruited. Each participant underwent pelvic floor assessment by palpation and myotonometry, performed independently by one novice and one experienced examiner. ROC analysis showed that tone and dynamic stiffness were reliable markers for identifying hypertonicity in subjective palpation. Significant differences were found across hypotonic, normotonic, and hypertonic classifications for both the novice (F = 24.581, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.517) and experienced (F = 28.219, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.551) examiners. Myotonometry measurements demonstrated significant alignment with palpation-based classifications of perineal body tone. Minimal differences between novice and experienced examiners suggest that myotonometry can provide consistent results regardless of experience.

Sanctification theory posits that normal aspects of life can take on special meaning or significance beyond the ordinary. One way that people may experience the sacred and connect with the divine is through sexuality. Sexual sanctification has been connected to beneficial sexual outcomes. However, current literature is lacking on clarifying the mechanisms through which sexual sanctification may lead to those outcomes. In this study, we looked at the dyadic data of 452 heterosexual committed couples who have been in a relationship for at least two years. Structural equation modeling was used to assess possible pathways through which sexual sanctification related to sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion including sexual mindfulness, sexual intercourse frequency, sexual communication, and orgasmic consistency. Sexual sanctification had statistically significant associations with all four mechanisms for females but not for males; however, sexual intercourse frequency did not have a significant relationship with either sexual outcome. Communication was the strongest mechanism through which sexual sanctification influenced sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion, followed by orgasmic consistency and then sexual mindfulness. These findings indicate the importance of sexual communication and orgasmic consistency as mechanisms for sexual sanctification and positive sexual outcomes.

The study aimed to explore the relative importance of socio-ecological predictors of risky sexual behavior among Chinese adolescents based on the socio-ecological systems theory. A total of 1,781 adolescents (mean age 17.76 years, range 15-21) were recruited from Shandong Province using a multistage cluster stratified sampling method. Participants included 400 males (22.46%) and 1381 females (77.54%). Dominance analysis was used to examine the relative importance of socio-ecological factors in predicting adolescent risky sexual behavior. Adolescents had a lower prevalence of sexual behavior (9.8%) but a higher prevalence of risky sexual behavior (87.36%). There were correlations among the socio-ecological predictors. Binary logistic regression showed that peer influence resistance had the strongest association with risky sexual behavior, but dominance analysis indicated that the strongest predictor was social norms cognition, followed by family support, peer influence resistance, self-efficacy, and sexual knowledge, accounting for 66.0%, 13.9%, 9.6%, 8.6%, and 1.9% of the predicted variance, respectively. Socio-ecological factors played different predictive roles in adolescent risky sexual behavior. To prevent risky sexual behaviors, related interventions need to focus on improving social norms cognition, emphasize the influence of family and peers, and mitigate the negative impact of high self-efficacy and sexual knowledge on risky sexual behavior.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a prevalent rheumatologic condition affecting adults. It is observed in ∼2.7% of the whole population. Sexual health is a complex and multifaceted condition that, like general health, cannot be explained solely by the absence of negative aspects. Considering the complex nature of sexual health, fibromyalgia patients are at higher risk of sexual dysfunction.

Materials and methods: The study included female patients aged 25-60 who had been married for at least two years. Participants were divided into two groups: the case group, which consisted of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia and receiving treatment at the physical therapy outpatient clinic, and the control group, which included women attending the urology outpatient clinic for reasons unrelated to fibromyalgia or any other comorbid conditions.

Findings: A total of 140 female patients participated in the study, with 75 diagnosed with fibromyalgia and 65 without fibromyalgia. When comparing the GRISS total and subscale scores between the two groups, the fibromyalgia group had significantly higher scores across all subscales, including anorgasmia, vaginismus, non-communication, infrequency, avoidance, non-sensuality and dissatisfaction (p < 0.001 for all).

Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in patients with fibromyalgia compared to those in the control group.

This study presents the development and validation of the Sexual Boredom Inventory (SBI), a 6-item measure assessing sexual boredom as a temporary, context-dependent state. Initial items were drafted from data obtained through qualitative analysis, and the SBI was tested using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a sample of adults reporting on their sexual experiences in the past month. A single-factor model was found to be the best fit, with four items dropped during refinement. The SBI demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .88) and evidence of discriminant validity, with significant negative correlations to sexual pleasure and well-being. Additionally, the SBI was positively correlated with attention difficulties and impulsivity, highlighting a link between sexual boredom and ADHD. Findings suggest that sexual boredom, as a transient experience, is associated with negative sexual outcomes. Further research should confirm these relationships and potential interventions. The SBI can serve as a valuable tool for assessing recent sexual boredom and differentiating it from other sexual concerns.

Many detransitioners struggle with significant regret and trauma. They deserve to be offered compassionate and trauma-informed care that is difficult for them to access, despite predictable harms that can occur without adequate preparation for the possibility of regret associated with irreversible side effects of gender medicine, including loss of sexual function. Medical care for detransitioners remains undefined and is not covered by insurance. Psychosexual recovery is a long-term process that will not restore what has been lost but should be facilitated via access to trauma informed psychotherapy as well as existentially focused sex therapy to promote post-traumatic growth and healing.

The objective of the present study was to investigate changes in sexual desire, lubrication, and sexual activity across the menstrual cycle. It was expected that, in addition to a small mid-cycle increase, women would show a high degree of variability in whether and in what phase of the menstrual cycle they report changes in these variables. A total of n = 585 women aged 18-40 provided complete data on an online survey in which they were asked whether they notice changes across the menstrual cycle in sexual desire, desire to masturbate, lubrication, and frequency of having sex, and if they do, during which phase of the cycle they experience an increase. Results suggest that an increase in sexual desire, and especially lubrication, were somewhat more common during the ovulatory phase. However, as hypothesized, across all four variables, there was a high degree of variability in the specific cycle phase in which participants reported experiencing increases. In some cases, age, having a partner, and hormonal contraception moderated menstrual cycle phase increases in these variables. These results confirm that women differ significantly in whether and when, during the menstrual cycle, they experience increases in sexual desire, lubrication, and sexual activity.

Sexual power dynamics (SPD) regroup sexual interests of dominance, submission, and tender sex. Interest toward sexual domination and/or submission has historically been pathologized and linked with higher levels of sexo-relational distress. Guided by sexual script theory, the consideration of one's attitudes toward gender roles (GR), as either gender transcendent or gender-linked, might help identify different profiles of clients in sex therapy. To our knowledge, studies have yet to explore the different profiles while considering both SPD and GR. The scarcity of research on these variables limits our understanding of their implications for individuals' sexo-relational well-being. The current study aimed to explore the presence of latent profiles based on SPD and GR reported by clients in sex therapy, and to compare the resulting profiles on possible correlates (i.e., sociodemographic characteristics, romantic attachment, relationship and sexual satisfaction). A sample of 325 adults in sex therapy, completed self-reported questionnaires at intake. Results revealed three profiles: (1) Dominant stereotypical thinkers (3.7%), (2) Tender conflicted traditionalists (15.4%), and (3) Flexible and coherent lovers (80.9%). Inter-profile comparisons revealed significant differences regarding gender, age, avoidant attachment and relationship satisfaction. Overall, results suggest the presence of an intricacy between SPD and GR, which would benefit from further exploration.

Many clinicians use partner gender as a proxy for a patient's sexual orientation. Yet partnership and orientation are distinct constructs, and their interaction may be particularly relevant for bisexual/pansexual (i.e., plurisexual) people who may be in same- or mixed-gender relationships. We explored the effects of plurisexual identity, partner gender(s), and their interaction in predicting sexual desire and fantasy, two fundamental components of sexual functioning. Undergraduate participants in relationships (n = 493; 80% cisgender women, 16% cisgender men, 4% gender minority) completed an online survey including items on plurisexual identity, partner gender(s), sexual desire and fantasy. There were significant interactions between plurisexual identity and partner gender in predicting desire and fantasy, such that among participants in mixed-gender relationships, plurisexual participants reported significantly higher sexual desire and more diverse and frequent sexual fantasies than monosexual participants. As the interaction between sexual orientation and partner gender can reveal more information about sexual desire and fantasy than either variable alone, these findings suggest that clinicians should collect both pieces of information when working with plurisexual patients.

The present cross-sectional study examined the chain mediating roles of spousal support and dyadic adjustment in the relationship between social media addiction and sexual functioning among 211 married women of reproductive age in Qazvin, Iran. Grounded in the Interpersonal Process Model of Intimacy, the study posited that excessive social media use displaces face-to-face interactions, thereby eroding emotional support and relational harmony, which are critical for sexual well-being. Participants completed validated measures assessing social media addiction, spousal support, dyadic adjustment, and sexual functioning through an online survey. Results showed that dyadic adjustment was positively associated with sexual functioning, while social media addiction negatively impacted sexual functioning through sequential reductions in spousal support and dyadic adjustment. More specifically, higher levels of social media addiction correlated with lower levels of spousal support, which in turn predicted poorer dyadic adjustment and subsequently diminished sexual functioning. The findings highlight the importance of dyadic adjustment as a mediator and underscore how spousal support buffers the detrimental effects of social media addiction on marital sexual health. These results suggest that interventions targeting couples' communication and support systems may mitigate the negative consequences of excessive social media use on intimate relationships.