Archives of Sexual Behavior最新文献

Changes between heterosexual (straight) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (LGBQ) identities have been observed among a substantial minority of people in longitudinal studies. While a robust base of the literature has explored why women are more likely than men to identify as LGBQ, little research has investigated gendered social factors associated with changes in sexual identity—especially changes from an LGBQ identity to straight. To address this gap, we tested associations between preference for heterosexuality, endorsement of conventional family ideology, and changes in sexual identity in women and men. Analyzing data from a large and representative longitudinal study of Australian adults (ages 20–99 years, M = 50.63), we found a positive association between the endorsement of conventional family ideology and the odds of changing to a straight identity among LGBQ women but not men. Meanwhile, greater preference for heterosexuality increased the odds of changing to a straight identity among GBQ men but not LGBQ women. The vast majority of those changing to a straight identity had previously identified as bisexual, other, or unsure, with very few people changing from gay or lesbian to straight. Our results indicate that social factors are related to sexual identity change in gendered ways.

Diagnostic terminology used for disorders of sex development (DSD) has been controversial even before the introduction of the umbrella term at the 2006 International Consensus Conference on Intersex. Agreement on nomenclature can enhance communication among clinicians, researchers, patients, and their families. However, disagreements over the implications of nomenclature can also result in a proliferation of terms contributing to confusion. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the connotative meaning assigned by adolescent patients with a DSD and parents to the terms used to describe their medical condition. In a sample of 27 adolescents/young adults with a DSD and 22 of their parents/caregivers recruited from three pediatric medical centers in mid-West and mid-Atlantic states, a semantic rating scale measuring self-esteem was used to characterize the connotative meaning ascribed to the person’s specific diagnosis (or anatomical phenotype), the umbrella terms “disorders of sex development,” “intersex,” and “yourself”/“your child.” Youth and parents rated themselves or their children more positively compared to how they rated either the specific diagnosis, the umbrella terms DSD or intersex. The ratings for the latter three terms were generally neutral and did not significantly differ from each other. These pilot findings suggest that neither youth with DSD nor their parents equate the person with their diagnosis. They also evaluated the person more positively than any of the diagnostic or umbrella terms rated. In contrast with previous studies assessing “preferences” for particular terms, this study suggests a novel strategy for assessing the personal “meanings” ascribed to each.

The intentional alteration of the labia minora, known as labiaplasty, has shown increased prevalence across various populations in recent decades. While aesthetic, sexual, and psychological factors predominantly drive the desire for labiaplasty, there remain numerous unknown elements which influence a woman’s decision-making processes regarding this procedure. This study was undertaken to understand why Iranian women choose labiaplasty, examining the various motivations, influences, and considerations shaping their decision-making process. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were completed with 14 Iranian women who were seeking labiaplasty. The women were asked about their familiarity with labiaplasty, the motivations for undergoing the surgery, the sociocultural factors influencing their decisions, the process of seeking surgical intervention, their discussions with medical practitioners about concerns regarding their labia, and the reactions from their social circle about their decision to undergo surgery. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a content analysis. Three overarching clusters were derived from the analyses: (1) “Motivations” which included aesthetic concerns, physical or sexual discomfort; (2) “Influences”—a theme emerging from women’s narratives, encompassing factors such as facilitating beliefs, alongside the reported impact of health professionals, media, and social circle on their decision-making processes; and (3) “Navigating Stigma” which highlighted the stigma and sexual taboos which women identified as being linked to their experiences with choosing labiaplasty. The convergence of diverse personal and social dynamics plays a crucial role in shaping women’s decisions, leading them to seek labiaplasty. Consequently, preoperative psychological counseling appears to align more closely with the implementation of ethical principles, ensuring women make informed choices about their surgical options.

Despite the relevance of assessing the level of sexuality knowledge in people with intellectual disability, appropriate tools for measuring this domain are scarce. Our aim was to critically appraise, compare, and summarize the measurement quality and psychometric properties of all self-reported sexuality knowledge questionnaires for people with intellectual disability. To this end, a systematic search of the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases was performed. This review was based on the COSMIN methodology for systematic reviews of patient‐reported outcome measures. Eighteen studies were found that reported on the measurement properties of nine assessment tools. The psychometric properties of the instruments were generally indeterminate or not reported due to incomplete data, and the use of statistical methods not preferred according to the criteria of good psychometric measures. There was moderate quality evidence of the psychometric properties of the scales. The Detection of Sexual Abuse Risk Screening Scale and the Inventory of Sexual Knowledge of People with Intellectual Disability are instruments that have demonstrated potential for use, but their psychometric quality for non-Spanish populations should be assessed. In conclusion, future studies on property measurement instruments for the assessment of sexual knowledge are needed. Therefore, the instruments should be updated because most studies were performed nearly a decade ago.