Journal of Sex Research最新文献

Vulvodynia, a long-term genital pain disorder with a high lifetime prevalence, profoundly impacts both the affected women and their partners. However, the experiences of these partners have been under-researched. Using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis, this qualitative study explored the experiences of male partners of women with vulvodynia. In individual interviews with seven men (20-32 years), four themes were identified: "Trying to be a good and caring partner," "Fear of sexual and emotional rejection," "Feelings of insecurity and being misled," and "Keeping up the façade." Despite efforts to support their partners, the men often faced rejection, leading to insecurities about their attractiveness, the relationship's future, and their ability to conform to social expectations. They coped by concealing insecurities from their partners and overemphasizing traditional masculinity among peers. We discuss these results using sexual script theory, suggesting that gendered sexual scripts play a significant role in relationships with vulvodynia, with prevailing cultural assumptions regarding masculinity challenging men's ability to be simultaneously caring and sexual. As a result, the men found themselves negotiating two contrasting ideals associated with masculine behavior: those of good caregiver and assertive, virile sexual partner. Our research suggests that male partners of women with vulvodynia tend to be left alone to deal with the resulting ambivalence and distress. Supporting these men could benefit both parties in managing vulvodynia.

When searching for a partner, people often rely on social cues to determine partners' suitability, finding those who attract attention from others particularly appealing. While people continue to evaluate their partners beyond relationship initiation, existing research has predominantly concentrated on the effects of observing others' choices during the stage of partner selection, neglecting to consider whether viewing others' attention toward current partners yields similar effects or instead elicits defensive devaluation. In three experiments, we exposed Israeli participants to situations where their partners received unsolicited flirtatious advances, utilizing visualization, virtual reality, and recall techniques. Participants then rated their desire for their partner and mate retention efforts. Results indicated that attention to partners led to decreased desire for them, subsequently predicting reduced relationship investment. These findings suggest that witnessing current partners receiving attention holds a different meaning than observing potential partners in a similar situation, making salient the risk of losing the partner.

Pregnancy loss has been linked to poorer mental and relationship well-being. Given that strong sexual well-being is associated with better mental and physical health, understanding sexual well-being following a recent pregnancy loss may contribute to education and treatment models. Yet, little research has examined the effects of pregnancy loss on both couple members' sexual well-being. Accordingly, using Marks' team-based method for inductive thematic analysis, this qualitative study examined three open-ended questions regarding how individuals' (N = 255 individuals, across 133 couples) sexual well-being reportedly changed - positively and negatively - and was supported following a recent pregnancy loss (i.e. within 5 months). We also considered if the identified themes differed in frequency between women and gender-diverse individuals who were pregnant when the loss occurred, and men, women, and gender-diverse partners who were not pregnant. Across participants, we found three themes regarding positive changes (e.g. Relationship growth; A new meaning to sex), five themes related to negative changes (e.g. Decreased desire and frequency; Health and body changes), four themes pertaining to support factors (e.g. Communicating openly; Offering support and respecting readiness), and three themes reflecting: No positive changes, No negative changes, and Nothing done to support sexual well-being. Results of this study may guide psychoeducation to increase awareness of potential changes following pregnancy loss and encourage supportive behaviors to benefit couple members' sexual well-being.

As people age, their sexual activity, including sexual and relationship satisfaction, may change due to the onset of health and sexual difficulties and the activation of internalized ageist sexual stereotypes. We studied whether ageist sexual stereotypes were relevant for the importance of sex for people aged 50+ and how sexual and relationship satisfaction are interlinked with health and sexual difficulties when ageist sexual stereotypes are considered. Data for the network analysis were collected from a sample of 897 Czechs and Slovaks aged 50-96 (52% men, mean age = 62.01). Two models were analyzed - with and without the inclusion of ageist sexual stereotypes. The findings indicated that ageist sexual stereotypes play an important role in the sexuality of women and men aged 50 + .The fewer ageist sexual stereotypes people had, the less sexual difficulties they reported and the more they perceived sex as important. The inclusion of stereotypes into the models, however, weakened the negative link between sexual difficulties and the importance of sex for both women and men. These findings show that the effect of ageist sexual stereotypes are likely complex in the sexual lives of people aged 50 +.

Comprehensive sex education (CSE) is linked to several favorable health outcomes yet is consistently underfunded and under-implemented. This is likely due to the perceived controversy of CSE, but research indicates that CSE in the K-12 system is widely supported in most areas of the U.S. Legislators, school board members, and funding agencies need a more thorough and accurate understanding of their communities' attitudes toward CSE. An attitudinal scale for the general adult population could help generate research that would give these stakeholders the confidence they need to make decisions about CSE in their local areas. The current study created this needed scale using a structured 6-step process that integrated several methods establishing validity and reliability. Scale structure was tested using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, in addition to invariance testing and validity checks. The scale performed similarly across several groups and met predictions for known-groups and predictive validity, while showing some evidence for convergent validity as well. However, although findings indicate that the one-factor model of the CSEA-K12 was the best fitting model, the fit was weaker than desired. Suggestions for future work further addressing internal consistency of the scale are noted.

High-quality sexual relationships significantly contribute to the development and maintenance of romantic relationships, with effective sexual communication playing a crucial role. In particular, how partners communicate and feel about sexual consent is essential for sexual and relationship well-being. There is limited research on sexual consent within established romantic relationships, and existing findings are mixed. Our research addresses this gap through three studies using cross-sectional, dyadic, and dyadic daily diary methods conducted in China. In Study 1 (N = 392 adult individuals in romantic relationships), individuals who felt higher internal consent and used more explicit-verbal cues to consent to sex during their most recent sexual encounter experienced greater sexual and relationship satisfaction. These effects extended to individuals' partners in Study 2 (N = 235 mixed-gender adult couples). Internal and explicit-verbal consent were associated with higher sexual satisfaction for both partners, while implicit-nonverbal consent was only associated with an individual's own sexual satisfaction. Study 3 (N = 103 mixed-gender adult couples), a 21-day dyadic diary study, confirmed that daily internal and explicit-verbal consent were linked to both partners' daily sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, daily passive consent was associated with lower daily sexual satisfaction for both partners and was associated with increased daily sexual distress for the person who provided passive consent. Our research highlights the critical role of internal consent and explicit-verbal consent communication for promoting sexual and relationship well-being.

Sexual education is important for young people's sexual health. Sexual education comes from a myriad of sources, but most research in this area has examined one source at a time, limiting a holistic understanding of how people learn about sexuality. The current study considered how different sources of information come together to inform a person's sexual education. We conducted qualitative interviews with 44 U.S. college students, with questions about their sexual educational experiences from eight possible sources (i.e., school, caregivers, siblings, extended family, peers, early partners, self-sought sources such as websites and books, and pornography). We analyzed these data using reflexive thematic analysis and generated three main themes. The first theme illustrated the common ways that participants acquired information about sex from four categories of sources over time, including (a) foundational (i.e. parents, schools), (b) secondary (e.g., friends, siblings), (c) self-sought (e.g., websites, books), and (d) incidental (e.g., partners, pornography). Second, participants' engagement with educational sources was informed by their previous experiences with those sources. Finally, the most influential source of participants' sex education was fundamentally linked to their comfort with the source. These findings further demonstrate the necessity of open communication about sexuality and sexual health from sexual educators.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread disruptions in various aspects of life, including sexual well-being and satisfaction, with sexual minority men (SMM) facing unique challenges. Understanding the impact of the pandemic on their sexual satisfaction is crucial for addressing SMM-specific needs and promoting sexual well-being. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively examine the existing literature on sexual satisfaction and its associated factors among SMM during the pandemic. After a literature search and review from six electronic databases according to PRISMA guidelines, only n = 8 studies met the eligibility criteria. Findings suggested that the evidence on the impact of the pandemic on sexual satisfaction was mixed. While some studies suggested that COVID-19 facilitated a more rapid establishment of sexual relationships, others claimed that lockdown measures prevented individuals from seeking sexual partners, resulting in lower satisfaction with their sex life. Greater sexual satisfaction was associated with younger age, being in a relationship, and residing in a large urban center. Conversely, it was negatively associated with distress, loss of connections to friends and the queer community, and experiencing relationship conflict. We thus highlight the complex interplay between the COVID-19 pandemic and sexual satisfaction among SMM. Further research is warranted to explore longitudinal trends, investigate the mechanisms underlying the identified associations, and develop targeted services to mitigate negative impacts and enhance sexual satisfaction among SMM. There is also a pressing need for research in low- to middle-income settings, where pervasive stigma surrounding sex may heighten vulnerabilities of SMM.