Archives of Sexual Behavior最新文献

This study explored how cisgender women in Belgium experience and navigate genital self-image. Drawing on seven focus group discussions with cisgender women from the general population (n = 34) and six in-depth interviews with cisgender women who had undergone labiaplasty, the research situates surgical decisions within a broader continuum of responses to genital insecurity. Across both groups, participants described such insecurity as widespread. While many found reassurance over time—through sexual experience, peer conversations, or exposure to representations of vulval diversity—others sought to reshape their relationship with their bodies through body-positive art projects or surgery. Most interviewees described medical encounters in which clinicians validated their concerns and presented surgery as a means of correction, though one woman recounted a contrasting experience involving reassurance, information, and a mandatory reflection period. Although all interviewees expressed satisfaction with the outcome, many also reflected critically on the cultural and emotional pressures that informed their decisions. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive sex education, cultural interventions that affirm genital diversity, and improved clinical training to support informed, confident, and autonomous decision-making.

Numerous statistical procedures have been developed to examine the statistical relations between quantifiable aspects of an individual’s sibship and the likelihood of that individual manifesting a homosexual preference. Our purpose in this methodological paper is explaining how to use and how to interpret the multiple regression approach introduced by Ablaza et al. (2022), modified by Blanchard (2022), and reorganized by Zdaniuk et al. (2025)—hereafter, the ABZ model. First, we list the sibship variables of present interest (e.g., number of older brothers), summarize their previously observed associations with sexual orientation, and discuss the language and labels that we recommend for describing empirical results in this research area. We then explain, in concrete, practical terms, how to analyze these sibship variables using the ABZ method, and we present a model analysis using previously published data. Our subsequent sections, which go more deeply into the topic, include a discussion of the mathematical–statistical rationale behind the Ablaza et al. approach—more specifically, its foundation on the ceteris paribus condition of multiple regression in conjunction with a “subsetting” property of the relevant sibship data. Finally, we compare the performance of the ABZ model with an older, more frequently used logistic regression model, and we discuss the potential application of the ABZ model to outcomes other than homosexuality.

Gender differences in the content and impact (e.g., perceived harm) of peer teasing are documented but not well understood. Males tend to tease on a broader range of topics, but females anticipate more negative impacts from teasing. Yet, little research has investigated the complex associations between gender, content, and the impact of teasing. Our study explored these associations via qualitative interviews, asking postsecondary participants (N = 27; 63% female) to retrospectively recount teasing experiences (Grades K-12). Using thematic analysis, we found that males were predominantly teased about their physical appearance, identity, and ability, whereas females were teased about physical appearance, personality, and their relationship interests. Men found teasing about their identity particularly harmful. In contrast, women more frequently identified appearance-based teasing as more harmful. Practical implications include offering educators’ insights into which teasing topics may elicit more negative responses from adolescents and emerging adults, as well as how the impact of teasing may vary by gender. In the broader social context, understanding associations between gender, content, and the impact of teasing can help inform a gender-sensitive intervention framework, ultimately reducing negative impacts associated with peer teasing.

Body dissatisfaction contributes to distress in gender dysphoria, but longitudinal evidence on factors alleviating this discomfort is limited. This naturalistic study examined the effect of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) alone and in combination with gender-affirming surgery (GAHT + GAS) on body satisfaction. Eighty-two adolescents (mean age, 15.77 ± 1.37) referred to a specialist clinic were examined at two time points and classified into three groups at follow-up (mean interval, 1.93 ± 0.72 years): (1) no medical interventions or puberty blocking (n = 15; counts of birth-assigned females and males: 11F/4M); (2) GAHT (n = 40; 28F/12M); and (3) GAHT + GAS (n = 27; 26F/1M). Group-level changes in Body Image Scale over time, nonmedical predictors, and associations between different facets of body dissatisfaction and life satisfaction were examined. Compared to the no-intervention/puberty blocking group, adolescents showed significantly reduced body dissatisfaction after gender-affirming interventions with no statistically significant difference between the GAHT and GAHT + GAS groups. Although there were no predictors of change in body dissatisfaction, social transitioning and satisfying family functioning at baseline were associated with lower body dissatisfaction at follow-up. Body dissatisfaction and life satisfaction were negatively correlated. These results suggest gender-affirming interventions can alleviate body dissatisfaction, at least in the short term. Moreover, social transitioning and family support were factors linked to body satisfaction. Future research should further investigate the benefit-risk profile of gender-affirming interventions in the psycho-functional and somatic domains, applying more robust study designs that minimize selection and response bias, with longer observation periods and larger sample sizes.

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.