Archives of Sexual Behavior最新文献

This study evaluated the association between HIV risk perception and sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics among cisgender female sex workers in the five regions of Brazil. A cross-sectional, multicenter study using respondent-driven sampling was used. Sex workers over 18 years of age and who reported commercial sex in the past four months were included. All participants completed a questionnaire with sociodemographic and behavioral factors. In addition, the participants were offered a rapid HIV antibody test. Unweighted bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Overall, 794 HIV-negative participants were included (mean age = 34.44 years [SD = 6.49]). Most participants were brown/pardo (59.47%), from social class D–E (82.24%), and with medium education (57.12%). Most women perceived themselves to be at low to moderate risk (68.26%), 7.56% at no risk, and 24.18% at high risk for HIV infection. Those who frequently or always had sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol had a 2.36 times higher probability of having a high HIV risk perception compared to those who never had sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol. The data from this study aid in a better understanding of HIV risk perception and its impact on sexual behaviors among female sex workers. Although the majority considered themselves to be at low to moderate risk for HIV, some higher vulnerability behaviors were prevalent.

Autogynephilia is a natal male’s propensity to be sexually aroused by the thought or fantasy of being a woman. Both male cross-dressers and transfeminine individuals (a broad range of individuals born male with a feminine gender identity; e.g., trans women) have been shown to be motivated or characterized by autogynephilia. Although there is a lack of research on whether other potentially related aspects of sexuality are comparable between them, the conceptual framework of autogynephilia offers several predictions that can be tested empirically. Following these predictions, the present study examined whether 10 diverse aspects of sexuality differed between 519 male cross-dressers and 288 transfeminine individuals recruited from online communities, as well as between both groups and 293 cisgender men and 301 cisgender women recruited as control groups. The overwhelming majority of male cross-dresser and transfeminine participants identified as heterosexual, bisexual, asexual, or pansexual. Compared with transfeminine participants, male cross-dressers reported more core and general autogynephilia, paraphilic interests, sociosexual orientation, sexual compulsivity, and problematic pornography use, but less bisexual attraction. Compared with cisgender men and women, male cross-dressers and transfeminine participants as a combined sample reported more bisexual attraction, sexual orientation ambiguity, core and general autogynephilia, paraphilic interests, analloeroticism, sexual compulsivity, and problematic pornography use, but less perceived desirability as a partner. Differences were larger comparing male cross-dressers and transfeminine participants with either control group than with each other. Results suggest that while autogynephilia is especially important to the sexuality of male cross-dressers, it also figures importantly in the sexuality of transfeminine individuals, even if it is expressed and organized differently.

“Partner number sexuality” (P#S) refers to how many partners individuals have/are interested in having. Those with P#S outside of monogamous desires and/or practices commonly face stigma in North America and elsewhere. Yet theories of sexuality do not always make room for diverse P#S. One theory that does is sexual configurations theory (SCT), which visually models gender/sex and sexuality (van Anders, 2015). In this study, we investigated what insights SCT could provide into P#S, whether SCT was useful to those with minoritized P#S, and how those with minoritized P#S made use of SCT. To do so, we conducted online interviews, asking participants (N = 26) to complete two SCT diagrams and report on their experience. We used template analysis to analyze transcripts and compiled “SCT heatmaps,” aggregates of SCT diagrams. We constructed 11 major themes, including diverse understandings of eroticism and romantic/platonic relationships, the impacts of hermeneutical injustice (the injustice of knowledge systems) on participants’ abilities to conceptualize and discuss their P#S, and how SCT facilitated conversations about P#S. The heatmaps showed that participants made use of most of both SCT diagrams, showing branchedness in P#S between “eroticism” and “nurturance,” and between status, identity, and orientation. Our study highlights that the lived experience of partnering, especially of those with minoritized P#S, extends far beyond commonly understood categories, and that SCT is a useful tool that can accurately reflect diversity in P#S.

We examined whether beliefs about autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking explain some of the gender differences in self-reporting paraphilic sexual interests in 672 university students. A serial mediation model was used to test the direct association of gender and the indirect associations of positive interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking on paraphilic sexual interests. Anxiety sensitivity (e.g., the belief that anxiety sensations are dangerous) was included in the serial mediation model to evaluate the relationship between negative interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations and paraphilic interests. As predicted, men reported more paraphilic interests, sexual sensation seeking, positive beliefs about autonomic arousal sensations, and lower anxiety sensitivity than women. Participants' gender was indirectly related to paraphilic interests through positive beliefs about autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking. Notably, positive interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations had a greater association with paraphilic sexual interests than anxiety sensitivity. When autonomic arousal sensations are interpreted positively, they may facilitate sexual sensation seeking, and people may endorse more paraphilic sexual interests. Future research on paraphilias should further examine positive interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations as they may relate to sexual sensation seeking and the endorsement of paraphilic interests.

Critiques from queer theory have suggested that the legalization of same-sex marriage (SSM) predominantly benefits White, middle-class segments of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community. This study investigates the impact of the legalization of SSM on mental health among Black LGB individuals, focusing on those with lower incomes in the UK. Using a nationally representative panel sample and employing a quasi-experimental methodology, we analyzed changes in psychological distress and life dissatisfaction following the legalization of SSM. Results indicate that the legalization of SSM significantly reduced psychological distress and improved life satisfaction for Black LGB individuals in the UK, with stronger benefits among those with lower incomes. Specifically, the study found a decrease in psychological distress by 2.61 (95%CI: − 5.07 to − 0.15) points and life dissatisfaction by 0.56 (95%CI: − 0.98 to − 0.14) points relative to Black heterosexual counterparts. When compared to White LGB individuals, further reductions were observed. Notably, the most substantial benefits were seen among lower-income Black LGB participants, who experienced reductions in psychological distress of 5.31 (95%CI: − 9.52 to − 1.11) points and in life dissatisfaction of 1.21 (95% CI: − 2.02 to − 0.40) points compared to their lower-income White LGB counterparts. These findings challenge the assumption, suggested by queer theory, that the legalization of SSM primarily benefits White LGB people. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies that address broader social determinants of health to continue improving mental health for Black LGB individuals.

Over the past two decades, numerous HIV prevention trials have targeted thousands of young African women, aiming not only to reduce transmissions through biomedical interventions but also to promote safe sexual practices through intensive risk reduction sessions. The primary objective of this study was to review the impact of risk reduction sessions in HIV prevention trials conducted in Africa. We assessed changes in sexual behaviors among women enrolled in various biomedical intervention trials across the African region using both visual and quantitative evaluations. Meta-analysis techniques were used to estimate overall odds ratios. In a sub-group analysis, we also used semiparametric regression models to capture important features of the associations between sexual behaviors across the study visits with minimal statistical assumptions. Key time points were identified using the “zero-crossing” technique. Overall summary odds ratio (OR) for condom use in last sex was estimated as 2.21 (95% CI 2.06, 2.36). In our sub-group analysis, women who reported multiple sexual partners declined (adjusted odds ratios (aORs) range: 0.61–0.67) while condom use in last sex improved over time (aORs ranged from 2.22-to-2.60); 347(57%) women HIV seroconverted within the first 6-months which was the most crucial time point with substantial reductions in risky behaviors. This review highlights that the gradual cumulative effect of risk reduction sessions, rather than an immediate substantial impact, may have significant implications in clinical research settings. Effective and sustainable risk reduction programs should include biological components such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce HIV transmission.