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The document titled "Author Index to Volume 52, 2024" from the journal "Psychodynamic Psychiatry" provides a comprehensive list of authors and their respective articles published in the volume. The articles cover a wide range of topics related to mentalization-based treatment, psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychiatry, and various therapeutic approaches. The document also includes book reviews on relevant subjects, offering a diverse and informative collection of research and insights in the field of psychiatry. [Extracted from the article]

Sexual scripting theory, a widely used tool in sexuality research, was originally developed by Gagnon and Simon to illuminate the social nature of sexual practices and identity construction. Later, they sought to develop the theory further to align with a social constructionist perspective. However, vestiges of individualism and cognitivism haunt sexual scripting theory largely due to the use of the symbolic interactionist concept of performance. To address this, we draw on the performance–performativity approach in critical discursive psychology that develops the notion of performance from a discursive perspective and offers a way of extending sexual scripting theory that offers a truly social explication of sexual identity construction. We provide a practical illustration of this extended theorising, drawing on data from a project about young people's online engagement with pornography. We demonstrate how developing the notion of sexual scripts as discursive resources that enable the performance of sexual identities allows us to illuminate the social and situated nature of identity construction. This framework enhances understanding of the process of sexual identity construction and provides a valuable tool for studying how broader sexual scripts that are sociohistorically specific provide a scaffolding for the ways an individual can construct sexual identities. Overall, this paper offers a valuable contribution to discursive scholarship in psychology by presenting a nuanced analytical framework that coheres with a constructionist, performative view of identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the issue of harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) presented by young people, advocating a preventative approach through an increased focus on primary education. The definition of HSB, contributing factors and recent prevalence among young people is discussed. Much of the research and policies explored relate directly to England and the UK, however the advocated approaches and conclusions have an international relevance. The paper establishes the damaging impacts of HSB on young people and teachers, demonstrating the serious need for action across the education system. A preventative approach advocating the important role of primary education in reducing HSB and peer on peer abuse is presented, exploring three key areas: education, pastoral support and staff support. Policies and practices comprising such an approach are critiqued, and their relevance to primary education established. The need for future research into the needs of primary education and the prevalence of HSB in pre-secondary education is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest in understanding how sexual arousal unfolds between partners, and how this may change over the course of a relationship and in the face of sexual distress. To capture the variable, dynamic, and dyadic nature of sexual responding, this paper introduces the concept of sexual synchrony, defined as the temporal, reciprocal, and coordinated interchange between partners' subjective and genital sexual arousal. Sexual synchrony is a key mechanism for understanding how partners experience and adapt their sexual arousal responses as they evolve over time. Its relevance lies in examining the mechanisms that may disrupt and facilitate synchrony and exploring how it may contribute to sexual well-being by enabling partners to mutually regulate their sexual arousal within and across sexual interactions. The paper also discusses how sexual synchrony may evolve throughout relationship development and its potential role in sexual problems, offering valuable insights into improving sexual relationships. Suggestions are provided for future research, together with a discussion of the methodological and statistical issues involved when examining sexual dynamics. Understanding how partners jointly regulate their sexual responses allows the development of dyadic models of sexual arousal which will inform treatments for improving couples' (sexual) well-being. The study of sexual synchrony also exemplifies the importance of translational research that is relevant across disciplinary borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate and sexually transmitted infection rates among developed countries. One common approach that has been implemented to reduce these rates is abstinence‐only‐until‐marriage programs that advocate for delaying sexual intercourse until marriage. These programs focus on changing adolescents' beliefs toward abstinence until marriage; however, it is unclear whether adolescents' beliefs about abstinence predict their sexual behavior, including sexual risk behavior (SRB). An alternative approach may be encouraging youth to delay their sexual debut until they reach the age of maturity, but not necessarily until marriage. Methods: To address this question, we compare the longitudinal association between abstinence beliefs (i.e., abstaining completely until marriage) and beliefs about delayed sexual debut with subsequent SRB 24 months later. The harmonized data set included 4620 (58.2% female, Mage = 13.0, SDage = 0.93) participants from three randomized controlled trials attending 44 schools in the southern United States. Negative binomial regressions were employed to examine the association of abstinence until marriage beliefs and beliefs regarding delaying sex with SRB. Results: We identified that beliefs supporting delaying sex until an age of maturity were associated with lower odds of engaging in SRB, such as having multiple sex partners and frequency of condomless sex, for both sexes. However, stronger abstinence beliefs had no significant associations with all SRB outcomes. Conclusions: Findings suggest prevention programming that focuses on encouraging youth to delay sex until an appropriate age of maturity may be more effective at preventing SRB and consequent negative sexual health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Numerous studies highlight a common inadequacy among midwives in addressing sexuality and sexual health issues in pregnant women. These findings underscore the crucial need for sexual health education for midwives. Nevertheless, the specific training needs and preferences regarding sexual health education for pregnant women among midwives remain largely unexplored in existing literature. The aim of this study was to explore midwives' training needs and preferences for providing sexual health education for pregnant women. Methods. The research employed a mixed-methods, institution-based cross-sectional study design conducted from July to August 2021. Convenience sampling was applied for quantitative research, while purposive sampling was utilised for the qualitative component. Midwives from 19 hospitals in Guangdong Province were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey addressing training needs and preferences for sexual health education for pregnant women among midwives. Qualitative data analysis was performed using thematic analysis. Results. A total of 462 midwives participated in the quantitative study, while 12 skilled midwives were involved in the qualitative component. A significant majority (82.5%) of midwives expressed a strong desire to engage in sexual health education. Online education emerged as the preferred mode of training among participants. Key areas of interest included reproductive health, sexual psychology, sex sociology, and education methods, underscoring a consistent demand for comprehensive sexual health education within the midwifery community. Conclusions. Our study emphasises the pressing need for enhanced sexual health education for midwives and explores their preferences for future training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a summary of various articles and studies related to LGBTQ+ issues and mental health. The topics covered include LGBTQ+ affirmative practices and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Puerto Rico, South Africa, and the Philippines. The document also explores the experiences of transgender youth in school settings, changes in transprejudice among adolescents, and the experiences of same-sex couples in Taiwan. Additionally, it discusses LGBTQ+ rights and legislation in "neutral" countries, the impact of school climate on victimization among LGBQA+ students in China, and the representation of masculinities in South African film. The document concludes with summaries on sexual health needs of rural sexual minority adolescent males in the US, gender role discrepancy and male depression in Israel, and the impact of religiosity and sexual orientation on eating disorder symptomatology in Canada. These summaries provide valuable insights into the challenges and progress in LGBTQ+ rights and mental health support in diverse global contexts. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the implementation and impact of a Balint Group project in a UK Inner City training hospital's Sexual Health Department. Balint Groups, developed by psychoanalysts Michael and Enid Balint, offer healthcare professionals a space to reflect on their emotional reactions during clinical encounters. The project aimed to provide a safe environment for clinicians to discuss challenging interactions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article emphasizes the importance of considering factors such as gender, socio-economic background, and ethnicity when understanding patient behavior and clinician reactions. The project's findings highlight the value of Balint Groups in enhancing clinicians' emotional understanding and resilience, while promoting empathetic and effective patient care. The text also discusses the role of shame, jealousy, and control in human interactions, particularly in healthcare, and emphasizes the need to understand patients' backgrounds to improve the quality of care. It underscores the benefits of Balint Groups as a supportive space for clinicians to explore challenging cases and their own emotions and biases. Overall, the text advocates for a compassionate and inclusive approach to healthcare that recognizes the systemic factors contributing to inequality and discrimination. [Extracted from the article]

"Edward J. Dent: A Life of Words and Music" by Karen Arrandale delves into the life of Edward J. Dent, a figure who challenged norms in the music world, including critiquing Elgar's works and advocating for musicology. Dent's biography highlights his extensive network of friends and colleagues, his cosmopolitan nature, and his significant contributions to music scholarship and performance. The book also explores Dent's personal relationships, his upbringing, and his lasting impact on European and American music scenes. The biography offers a comprehensive look at Dent's multifaceted life and legacy, shedding light on his influence in the music world. [Extracted from the article]

Sexual satisfaction (SS) may be an important predictor of broader quality of life (QOL; e.g. life satisfaction, etc.). However, past studies have rarely examined moderating variables of this association. The current study examined gender differences in the association between QOL and satisfaction with both intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of sex (e.g. one's physical pleasure vs. quality of emotional connection with a partner). 188 adults completed measures of SS and QOL. SS was moderately correlated with a range of QOL outcomes. Satisfaction with intrapersonal aspects of sex was generally a stronger predictor of QOL for men whereas satisfaction with interpersonal factors was sometimes more predictive of QOL in women. Implications regarding the broader impact of sexual well-being are discussed. Men and women may differ regarding how sexual satisfaction is associated with quality of life. Satisfaction regarding internal components of sex like physical pleasure may most important for men, while satisfaction with interpersonal components of sex like emotional connection may be most important to women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a celebrated episode of Ariosto's Orlando furioso, Ruggiero luxuriates in the garden of the sorceress Alcina. A second sorceress, Melissa, travels to the garden and describes Ruggiero as effeminate, corrupt, and ill. She offers herself as the doctor who will cure the knight and drag him out of softness and into the violence of an epic destiny. She shames the knight into exchanging his soft dress for armour and leaving the garden. This transformation of Ruggiero's dress has been traditionally seen as a rightful shift from effeminacy to virility, from vice to virtue. My study will show how the Alcina episode is ambivalent about the gender shaming of Melissa. I argue that Ariosto exposes how a discourse of effeminacy fashions even typical courtly male dress and behaviour as corrupt and effeminate. Such effeminophobic rhetoric, Ariosto shows, removes men's agency and exerts social control over them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dilemas Contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores is the property of Dilemas Contemporaneos: Educacion, Politica y Valores and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Zimbabwe, like in most African countries, sexuality is strongly tied with national identities. Previous studies show that queer sexualities are associated with Western values. While this narrative is contested, it has, nevertheless, been promoted by the mainstream media. However, this article focuses on social media, Twitter to be specific, to examine how users discuss sexuality and national identities. The focus is on social media platforms as they enable users to bypass traditional gatekeepers and use reason and emotions to argue about different issues. The article uses the case studies of a Zimbabwean school teacher, Neal Hovelmeier, and a South African gay celebrity, Somizi Mhlongo, who became subjects of Twitter discussions in Zimbabwe because of their homosexual orientation. The article established that Twitter reflects a wide range of reactions and formulations of queerness within what is imagined to be normative identities in Zimbabwe. It further noted that queer struggles are tied to contemporary political and social struggles and Twitter users frame their responses in ways that show these intersections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Homographesis of Myrtle's Left Breast" is an article that delves into the author's experience teaching queer writing in a heterocentric academic setting. The author expresses their disappointment with students' lack of enthusiasm when exploring potential homosexual desire in The Great Gatsby, contrasting it with their own fascination with a graphic description of a character's exposed breast. The article challenges the conventional approach to academic writing, which prioritizes uncovering hidden meanings, and advocates for a more queer and embodied approach that embraces ambiguity and complexity. It also discusses the concept of queer writing, the limitations of context in interpreting homographs, and the author's personal experiences as a gay individual. [Extracted from the article]

Sexual sensation seeking (SSS) describes an individual's tendency to seek novel and risky sexual stimulation. In research, SSS has been measured through the Sexual Sensation Seeking scale or by examining relevant behaviors such as unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, and unfamiliar unique sex partners. While we know that pornography use and SSS are correlated, the direction of this association is unclear. Using panel data and Bayesian Multi-level Modeling, we examined the direction of the relationship between these two constructs. Using an MTurk.com sample of 312 participants, we collected data on pornography use and SSS once a month for six months. To measure pornography use, we used a newly validated measure that assesses frequency of use, duration per viewing episode, whether pornography exposure was accidental or intentional, and how much arousal the exposure to pornography produced. To measure SSS, we used the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale but omitted one item about pornography use to reduce the risk of a spurious finding. We observed that SSS and pornography use correlate at baseline, but their prospective predictive power is weak. These findings suggest that while SSS and pornography use tend to co-occur, we do not observe strong evidence that one causes the other. In this paper, we sought to understand whether pornography consumption causes changes in sexual sensation seeking (SSS) or whether higher SSS causes changes in pornography consumption. Although we found no evidence of the latter, we did find evidence to infer that pornography consumption may lead to lower levels of SSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropological accounts of sexual and gendered difference often serve the role of footnotes that buttress and even expand the reach of Euro‐American concepts. In contrast to this contained role for anthropology, queer footnotes can push the discipline toward more capacious and experimental engagements with powerful knowledge. In 2020, governments around the world introduced lockdowns and border‐control measures in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. This was the case in Australia, where I undertook fieldwork with trans‐ and queer Indonesians living in Melbourne. In Australia, COVID‐19 public health measures paralleled and exacerbated migration restrictions on people living with HIV and the criminalization of sex work. Asian, queer, trans‐, and sex worker bodies were addressed as a moral and physiological contagion. Queer anthropology is good for maintaining a critical ethnographic focus on how the state governs through a racial biopolitics of containment, and generates concepts for public health that shift the focus from security to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between sexology, censorship, and the regulation of sexual knowledge in early twentieth-century Britain and Germany. It argues that while censorship posed a threat to the dissemination of sexological knowledge, many sex researchers actually supported the careful regulation of sexual knowledge. They believed that scientific understanding of human sexuality was important and should guide sexual life. The article also discusses how appeals to nature were used to justify the dissemination of sexual scientific ideas and counter arguments against such knowledge. The understanding of the sexual instinct as changeable and open to influence shaped sex researchers' views on censorship and the emergence of sexology as a field. The article concludes by highlighting the complexities and contradictions surrounding censorship and the dissemination of sexual scientific knowledge. [Extracted from the article]

"Virginia Woolf and Poetry" by Emily Kopley is a comprehensive and scholarly analysis of Virginia Woolf's relationship to poetry. The book explores the instances in Woolf's writings where poetry is evoked and discusses the ways in which poetry served as both a rival and a muse for her. Kopley's study delves into the historical and nuanced expressions of Woolf's use of poetry, blending biography, formal analysis, genetic criticism, and literary history. The book also examines Woolf's reservations against poetry, her reframing of it as an outdated literary medium, and her calls for a poetic prose. Overall, "Virginia Woolf and Poetry" provides valuable insights into Woolf's complex engagement with poetry and is an essential read for those interested in her work. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the significance of social dancing in George Eliot's novel Adam Bede. It argues that the dance scene in the novel reflects a longing for rural life while also exploring themes of desire and class dynamics. The dance serves as a platform for participants to display their social status and attractiveness, satisfying both erotic and class-based desires. However, the dance also reveals the presence of jealousy and transgressive desires, challenging the idealized harmony of the community. Overall, the dance scene in Adam Bede highlights the changing times and the potential disruption of societal hierarchies by individual desires. [Extracted from the article]

Erectile dysfunction is a major chronic condition affecting hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. This review provides a concise overview of research on the psychological experience of erectile dysfunction. There is evidence that psychological factors such as personality, depression, stress, and cognitive interference (e.g., performance worry, shifts in attentional focus) contribute to erectile problems. There is also evidence that the experience of erectile dysfunction can have negative psychological effects, including feelings of emasculation and humiliation, decreases in self-confidence and feelings of self-worth, feelings of isolation and loneliness, increases in depression, and decreases in subjective well-being. Effects on the affected individuals' sexual partner include feelings of being unattractive, feelings of rejection, feeling unloved, decreases in self-esteem, and frustration. Psychological interventions (particularly multimodal interventions) show promise for treating erectile dysfunction, but more research is needed to help establish their effectiveness. We present a brief research agenda of critical areas in need of further study. This review should be of interest to the general public and also researchers looking to develop a program of research in sexual health psychology that focuses on the psychological experience of erectile dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined whether perceptions of the partner's dyadic coping (DC) and of how partners cope together (common DC) are associated with sexual well‐being in couples seeking assisted reproductive technology. Background: Although infertility has been associated with significant sexual concerns, little is known about the relational processes underlying couples' sexual well‐being. Method: A sample of 232 couples with medical infertility completed questionnaires assessing DC and sexual well‐being (infertility‐related sexual concerns, distress, and satisfaction). Results: Individuals who perceived that their partner engaged in higher negative DC reported lower sexual well‐being (actor effects). Men who perceived that their partner engaged in higher positive DC reported higher sexual satisfaction, whereas women reported greater infertility‐related sexual concerns (actor effects). Perceptions of higher common DC were associated with higher sexual well‐being for men and women (actor effects). Women whose partners reported perceptions of higher common DC also reported fewer infertility‐related sexual concerns (partner effect). Analyses adjusted for relationship satisfaction. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for future longitudinal research to gain a better understanding of the associations between dyadic factors and infertile couples' sexual well‐being. Implications: These results suggest that the interpersonal context surrounding infertile couples' sexual well‐being should be routinely discussed and could be facilitated by promoting greater common DC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: In Africa, remnants of colonisation and the effects of coloniality have influenced childhood in ways dissimilar to those in other parts of the world. Objectives: This article contests against universalised theorising of children, advocates for Afrocentric approaches to childhood studies on African children, and makes a case for Afrocentric pedagogy in the psychology of child sexual violence and childhood trauma. Methodology: The arguments in this article are informed by a rapid review of doctoral research on the history of violence in South Africa and developmental theory to understand how children make meaning of the experience of sexual violence-related trauma. Results: South Africa's history of colonisation and Apartheid significantly contributes to child outcomes. Decolonial thought and African-centered theorising must be applied to childhood studies in Africa for a contextual understanding of African childhoods. They must centre on the needs and worldviews of Africans. Conclusion: Education is an instrument of enculturation; therefore, pedagogy should reflect the people it studies. The methods and practice in teaching childhood studies in psychology in Africa must humanise both children and professionals. Contribution: The article addresses the questions of relevance in childhood studies in Africa and advances recommendations for how academics and practitioners in childhood sexual violence and psychology should work with complex knowledge in childhood studies pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meanings of sexuality in seniorhood are found at the base of a complex interrelation between social, cultural and personal factors. The present research aimed to explore the psychological meanings that senior adults in Mexico City confer on sexuality, sexual pleasure and sexual desire; through the use of modified natural semantic networks. The sample consisted of 204 people: 162 senior women and 40 senior men, between 60 and 100 years old, attending a continuing education centers for senior adults in Mexico City. The study was mixed, descriptive, non-experimental, with non-probability and convenience sampling. The results show how the psychological meanings that the studied senior adults have related to sexuality, desire and sexual pleasure are predominantly positive, encompassing feelings, behaviors and sensations. Differences by gender are identified as proposed in the research hypothesis, but similarities within these meanings were also found. The senior women studied define sexuality from the interrelation between affective meanings and physical contact; the word "love" was the most referenced. In addition, they mentioned "pleasure", "desire", "caresses", "satisfaction", "kisses", "joy", "hugs", "health", "attraction", and "knowledge". Senior men, for their part, consider sexuality mainly as an attraction and include others such as: "satisfaction", "pleasure", "respect", "life", "fidelity", "complete", "unique", "woman", "touch", "important", "love", "knowledge", "passion", "desire", "need", and "affection". Women and men in the sample describe sexual desire and pleasure in a very similar way to their sexuality referents, which leads us to understand that the boundaries between the two terms are sensitive. Regarding sexual desire, senior women cite defining words such as: "caresses", "kisses", "love", "hugs", "pleasure", "desire", "necessary", "satisfaction", "natural", "attraction", "partner", "happiness", and "respect". In relation to sexual pleasure, they include the words: "enjoyment", "tenderness", "affection", "friendship", "joy", "it is the maximum", and "relaxing". For their part, senior men defined sexual desire as: "attraction", "love", "caresses", "satisfaction", "looks", "necessary", "natural", "woman", "kisses", "being alive", "respect", "passion", "libido", "important", "moving", "pleasure", "hug", "energy", "games", "excitement", "communication", "masturbation", "eroticism", and "taste". Sexual pleasure includes: "important", "fullness", "enjoyment", "respect", "pleasure", "joy", and "naturalness". The results show that the stage of sexuality in seniorhood is diverse and it is influenced by gender and social beliefs, which evidences the psychological complexity of this sphere of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laws act as levers to influence human behavior. Their effectiveness hinges on understanding an accurate model of human nature, particularly the psychological and behavioral components of that nature. Evolved sex differences in our sexual psychology are sometimes moderate to large in magnitude and highly replicable. Women, for example, typically judge the same set of actions—such as leering, sexual jokes, or unwelcome workplace advances—as more sexually harassing and upsetting than do men. When a generic "reasonable person" standard is applied to adjudicating sexual harassment cases, this standard can harm women if judges and juries are populated by "reasonable men." Other relevant sex differences involve fears evoked by stalking victimization, defenses against rape such as tonic immobility, and negative emotions in response to certain forms of unsolicited sexual imagery. This paper argues that existing psychological sex differences should inform the construction and implementation of policies and laws that regulate forms of sexual violence such as sexual harassment, mate stalking, and rape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pain is a prominent contributor to negative personal and social outcomes, including increased disability and mortality, in many rheumatic diseases. In the Biopsychosocial model of chronic pain, psychological and social factors share roles with the biology of the injury in determining each patient's pain and suffering. The current study explored factors associated with clinical pain intensity and interference among patients with chronic secondary musculoskeletal pain in rheumatic diseases. Methods: In total, 220 patients experiencing chronic secondary musculoskeletal pain participated. Biological factors (age, biological sex, pain condition, pain duration, pain sensitivity, and comorbidity), socio-economic factors, psychological factors (pain catastrophizing and depressive symptoms), and pain intensity and interference were measured. Descriptive, multivariable linear regression and partial correlation analyses were conducted. Subgroup analysis by sex was conducted to examine differences in how different factors affect the pain experience. Results: The mean age of the participants was 52.3 years (SD = 12.07) and ranged from 22 to 78. Average pain intensity was 3.01 (0-10 scale) and average total pain interference score was 21.07 (0-70 scale). Partial correlation found positive correlations between pain intensity and interference with depression (intensity: R = 0.224; p = 0.0011; interference: R = 0.351; p < 0.001) and pain catastrophizing (intensity: R = 0.520; p < 0.001; interference: R = 0.464; p < 0.001). In males, pain condition (β = -0.249, p = 0.032) and pain catastrophizing (R = 0.480, p < 0.001) were associated with pain intensity. In males, the simple correlation between pain intensity and depression (R = 0.519; p < 0.001) was driven by pain catastrophizing. In females, pain catastrophizing (R = 0.536, p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (R = 0.228, p = 0.0077) were independently associated with pain intensity. Age (β = -0.251, p = 0.042) and pain catastrophizing (R = 0.609, p < 0.001) were associated with pain interference in males, while depressive symptoms (R = 0.439, p < 0.001) and pain catastrophizing (R = 0.403, p < 0.001) were associated with pain interference in females. Again, in males, the simple correlation between pain interference and depression (R = 0.455; p < 0.001) was driven by pain catastrophizing. Discussion: In this study, females were more directly affected by depressive symptoms than males, regarding pain intensity and interference. Pain catastrophizing was a significant factor influencing chronic pain for both males and females. Based on these findings, a sex-specific approach to the Biopsychosocial model should be considered in understanding and managing pain among Asians with chronic secondary musculoskeletal pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Queer Natures, Queer Mythologies" is a collection of writings by the late Sam See that challenges queer theory's rejection of nature and explores the intersection of nature, myth, and queer historicist methodologies in modernist literature. See argues that nature and art are interconnected and that queer feeling can be viewed as an aesthetic and affective experience. The book examines the works of Virginia Woolf, Langston Hughes, Oscar Wilde, Walt Whitman, and others to demonstrate how these writers turned to nature to articulate desire outside of normativity and identity. The volume also delves into the role of myths in the historiography of queerness and sexuality. Overall, "Queer Natures, Queer Mythologies" offers a significant contribution to queer theory and queer modernist studies. [Extracted from the article]

This qualitative study explores experiences of intimacy and sexuality during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic of 3357 participants from Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and Turkey. Data were collected through open-ended questions within a survey on sexuality during the pandemic. Based on a reflexive thematic analysis three themes occurred. The first theme No change was described by 41% when summarizing their sex life during the pandemic. The second theme Positive change was experienced by 25%, and the third theme Negative change by 21%. An overarching theme then emerged as: "Still the same trajectories, but the pandemic could be a catalyst for improved or worsened sex- life." For those intimate partnered individuals who already had problems with intimacy and sexuality before the COVID-19 pandemic it seemed to remain the same or deteriorated throughout the pandemic. For those with positive experiences of intimacy and sexuality before the COVID-19 pandemic it remained the same or improved throughout the pandemic. These findings are relevant for researchers and clinicians in developing preventive and supportive interventions in the context of crisis and social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a survey of U.S. respondents using Survey Monkey in July of 2021. Our primary interest was in predicting interest in owning a sex doll. The sample consisted of 569 respondents, roughly split between men and women. The response variable was respondents' perceived chances of purchasing a sex doll in the future, on a scale from 0 to 100%. On the whole, men were more likely to intend to buy a sex doll: average estimated percent chance of buying a doll was 18% for males and 12% for females, a significant difference. However, fully 47% of men and 37% of women expressed some chance that they would buy a sex doll at some point in the future. The largest gender differences in perception of advantages/disadvantages of men or women owning dolls were that women were more likely to say they lead to objectification of real women and men were more likely to see an advantage for women in that they could engage in sexual practices with it that a real man/woman might object to. A multivariate model using Tobit regression revealed that gender, age, relationship status, and perceived advantages/disadvantages in owning a doll were all significant predictors of intention to own one. Aside from the aforesaid gender difference, intentions of buying a doll were higher for younger individuals and the unmarried, regardless whether the latter were in a romantic relationship already. For men, only perceived advantages were related to intentions to own a sex doll. For women, both perceived advantages and disadvantages of ownership influenced their intentions. Surprisingly, the overall gender difference in intended sex-doll ownership was comparatively small relative to other effects. Hence, future research should take a more gender-balanced approach to the study of interest in sex dolls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romantic relationships both buffer and exacerbate adverse health outcomes among bisexual individuals, so understanding determinants of their functioning may be key to correcting health inequities affecting this population. Binegativity (i.e., prejudiced attitudes about bisexuality) expressed from one's intimate partner has the potential to be uniquely impactful for bisexuals, but it is presently unknown how this experience might impact the quality (and therefore potential health promotive effects) of their romantic relationships. In addition, gender of one's current romantic partner may shape experiences of binegativity and relationship quality in important ways. The purpose of this report was to examine how binegativity from intimate partners impacts relationship functioning (i.e., relationship satisfaction and intimate partner aggression) among bisexual men (N = 113), and how the gender of one's partner might moderate this effect. Results suggested that binegativity is detrimentally associated with relationship satisfaction, and that bisexual men in relationships with women report more frequent intimate partner aggression. Furthermore, partner gender and binegativity showed novel interactive associations with intimate partner aggression, such that bisexual men in relationships with women tended to perpetrate less intimate partner aggression when experiencing more binegativity. These results are discussed with regard to future avenues for research into the health promotive benefits of relationships for bisexual individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sexual satisfaction is a defining feature of marriage, research has consistently found that sexual satisfaction declines over time. Recently, however, emerging findings provide a more optimistic perspective on sexual satisfaction development by suggesting that couples may follow diverse sexual satisfaction trajectories. Using Dyadic Latent Class Growth Analysis, the current study is among the first to examine heterogeneity in couples' sexual satisfaction trajectory patterns during the early years of marriage and the first to do so in a non-Western context. Specifically, we establish distinct trajectory classes among 268 mixed-sex newlywed couples in China based on two couple-level features – the absolute level of sexual satisfaction and synchrony over time – and then compare these classes on subsequent ratings of marital instability. Four distinct trajectory patterns were found: a stable high class, a wives low and simultaneous deterioration class, a husbands low decrease-wives high stable class, and a wives high decrease-husbands high stable class. Couples in the stable high class reported lower levels of marital instability at two-year follow-up compared to couples in the other classes, suggesting that high sexual satisfaction and synchrony is beneficial for couples' marital relationships. These results provide further evidence challenging the inevitability of sexual satisfaction declines and have important implications for interventions aiming to enhance couples' sexual relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasons for sex are associated with sexual and relational outcomes. This study investigated reasons for sex at last sex, with a focus on obligation (an avoidance motivation) and doing something nice for a partner (an approach motivation), and their associations with sexual and relationship satisfaction, while controlling for marital duration, age, and sexual desire. We investigated these reasons among married, midlife Canadian women (n = 324), men (n = 275), and 25 non-binary/gender queer participants 40 to 59 years of age. Participants were recruited from a Qualtrics analytics panel and completed an online questionnaire. Obligation was reported as a reason for having sex by 12.4% of women and 1.8% of men; "doing something nice" was reported by 10.2% of women and 9.5% of men. In regression analyses, women who reported having sex for obligation had significantly lower relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction than women who did not report this reason. In contrast, having sex to do something nice for one's partner was associated with higher sexual satisfaction among women. Findings indicate that having sex when feeling obligated may be associated with negative sexual and relational outcomes among midlife women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mate poaching is "behavior intended to attract someone who is already in a romantic relationship." We investigated actor and partner effects of the five-factor personality traits and the dark triad traits on several mate poaching experiences. We used actor-partner interdependence modeling with data secured from both members of 187 heterosexual married, cohabiting and dating couples from Croatia. In a round-robin design, each participant rated their own and their partner's personality traits, and their own poaching experiences. The results showed that men's lower agreeableness had the most consistent relationship with poaching experiences in both men (actor effects) and women (partner effects). The role of other personality traits from the five-factor model was limited to specific aspects of poaching. Regarding the dark triad traits, men's psychopathy and Machiavellianism were the most consistently related to poaching experiences in both men and women, whereas narcissism did not demonstrate a consistent actor or partner effect on poaching. The results showed that men's poaching is associated with their own personality traits, whereas women's poaching with their own and their partner's personality traits. We interpret the results in the context of life history theory and mate switching hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mate copying is a sexual strategy whereby individuals attend to socially available information about their prospective mate. This allows for more accurate decision making in regard to mating. This phenomenon was originally demonstrated among nonhumans, but there is an increasing weight of evidence suggesting that humans also engage in mate copying. Research typically focuses on heterosexual cisgender women, with no previous studies having looked at those identifying outside of the traditional gender binary. The current study aimed to address this gap by examining the impact of gender identity and sexual orientation on the propensity to engage in mate copying. Participants (N = 831) completed an online survey providing desirability ratings for photographs alone (T1) and then rated the same photographs after receiving social information about the relationship status and previous relationship history of the pictured individual (T2). It was found that both gender identity (F(4, 713) = 3.94, ηp2=.02) and sexual orientation (F(4, 713) = 4.40, ηp2=.02) influenced an individual's overall propensity to mate copy, and that desirability patterns for individuals were very different depending on these variables. It was concluded that while mate copying certainly is evident among humans, the phenomenon is extremely nuanced and sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is characterized by a persistent and distressing lack of sexual desire. Affected men report lower sexual well-being and romantic partners may also experience consequences. According to the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Model of sexual dysfunction, how couples manage their emotions in relation to sexual problems may promote or hinder sexual communication. In the first dyadic study to date of men with HSDD and their partners (n = 64 couples), we investigated associations between two emotion regulation strategies – reappraisal and suppression – and couples' communication about their sexual relationship. Participants completed measures assessing use of reappraisal and suppression about their sexual relationship, sexual communication, and sexual assertiveness. Men with HSDD who reported greater suppression also reported lower sexual assertiveness and both partners reported poorer sexual communication. Partners of men with HSDD who used greater suppression were less sexually assertive. In contrast, while reappraisal was only marginally associated with perceived quality of sexual communication, men with HSDD who employed more reappraisal were also more sexually assertive. While suppression may hinder sexual communication, reappraisal may allow men with HSDD to better assert their sexual needs. Findings may inform interventions to help couples navigate impactful emotional experiences associated with HSDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to dating folklore, playing "hard-to-get" is an effective strategy for attracting prospective mates. However, some research suggests that this strategy could backfire if it leads prospective mates to withhold their attraction in return. The present research aimed to review the scope of research on the link between playing hard-to-get – i.e., appearing uncertain in one's interest and/or difficult to attract – and romantic or sexual outcomes. A scoping search was conducted in the electronic databases of PsycINFO, Sociology Source Ultimate, Anthropology Plus, and Academic Search Ultimate using key words related to playing hard-to-get in the context of dating. A total of 18 studies were included in the review. Research suggests that playing hard-to-get may work if optimal levels of perceived uncertainty and difficulty are achieved. Additional variables were identified as being important when evaluating the tactic's efficacy. These include the pursuer's own level commitment to the pursued partner and aversion to uncertainty, and both the pursuer and pursued partners' gender and attachment styles. Directions for future research and the relevance of sociocultural norms in dating are discussed. Keywords: playing hard-to-get, dating, romantic relationships, mating strategy, attraction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving healthy and satisfying sexual relationships is a major developmental task in adolescence, but factors promoting sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic relationships remain underexplored. Since sexuality is shaped by relational experiences, strategies mobilized to negotiate conflicts in romantic relationships could be related to sexual satisfaction through comfort in negotiating sexual experiences. Sexual comfort refers to the ease of discussing sexuality, and feeling comfortable with one's own sexual life and with others' sexual behaviors. This cross-sectional dyadic study examined the mediating role of sexual comfort in the associations between perceived conflict negotiation strategies and sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic dyads. The actor-partner interdependence model guided the analyses of self-reported questionnaires from 104 mixed- and same-sex dyads (Mage = 18.99 years, SD = 1.51). An adolescent's higher compromise and lower submission were related to their own higher sexual satisfaction via their own higher sexual comfort. The results also revealed a direct association between an adolescent's higher domination and their own lower sexual satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of considering conflict negotiation strategies and sexual comfort as key factors related to adolescents' sexual satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mate retention behaviors are associated with several aspects of romantic relationships, but different categories of mate retention behaviors have divergent associations with relationship satisfaction. The present studies examined whether sexual communal strength – which refers to the motivation to meet the sexual needs of one's partner – mediated the associations that benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors had with relationship satisfaction. We investigated the associations that mate retention behaviors had with relationship satisfaction through sexual communal strength using men's self-reports (Study 1) and women's partner-reports (Study 2). We found that sexual communal strength partially mediated the associations that mate retention behaviors had with relationship satisfaction in both studies. Benefit-provisioning mate retention behaviors had a positive indirect association with relationship satisfaction through sexual communal strength in both studies, whereas cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors had a negative indirect association with relationship satisfaction through sexual communal strength in Study 1 but not in Study 2. We explore the reasons why sexual communal strength may play an important role in the connections that mate retention behaviors have with relationship satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the theories on interpersonal mattering, reciprocal interactions and mutual engagements facilitate the formation of interpersonal mattering within relationships. However, the theoretical framework on mattering has rarely been applied to understand the roles of sexual and verbal exchanges within intimate relationships. To fill this research gap, the authors proposed that heightened perception of mattering captures the common mechanism through which both frequent sex and communication predict greater marital satisfaction. Building on this perspective, the study examined whether frequent sex and communication can compensate for the other in predicting marital satisfaction by sustaining the sense of mattering between spouses. Two survey studies were conducted using cross-cultural online samples (Study 1: Nkorean = 307 and NAmerican = 277) and a community sample of married dyads (Study 2: N = 286). Across these samples, the results demonstrated that the perceived sense of mattering to spouse mediated the effects of both sexual frequency and communication quantity on the couples' overall satisfaction with their marriage. Moreover, the results of the moderated mediation analyses supported the hypothesis that sexual frequency and communication quantity can moderate the effects of the other on marital satisfaction by providing a buffer on the couples' perceived sense of mattering to spouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the theoretical and empirical study of the prerequisites for the formation of sexual perversions in modern youth, carried out by the scientific and pedagogical staff of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs (Ukraine), working in the field of social and behavioral sciences. The research was conducted using the following methods: «O. Potemkina's sexual profile assessment method», «Methodology for determining the tendency to deviant behavior according to M. Horska» and a Questionnaire for the existence of deviant sexual experience. The study involved 46 young respondents aged 19 to 30. The men presented a sample of 43.5%, and the women estimated 56.5%. The study was led in March-May 2022. The analysis of certain scientific research in the field of psychology on sexual perversions of the personality was performed, and the concepts and types of sexual perversions were disclosed. In particular, the main concepts of the study were described: autoeroticism; homosexuality; pedophilia; gerontophilia; necrophilia; zoophilia, bisexuality, exhibitionism, frotteurism, scopophilia, fetishism, coprophilia, transvestism, sadism, masochism, necrophilia, ephebophilia, porn, and porn addiction, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We provide a comprehensive review of androstadienone (AND) studies in physiology, behavior, cognition, and neural activity. • Inconsistent results and lack of standardized methods render the classification of AND as a "human sex pheromone" inconclusive. • Future research should follow rigorous pheromone identification steps, while application research may extend beyond its role and focus on practical effects. Androsta-4,16‑dien-3-one (androstadienone, AND), a steroid predominantly found in male secretions, has been associated with a variety of sex-specific effects on emotion, physiological states, cognition, and neural activity. An expanding body of literature has explored the influence of AND on human behavior and perception, leading to its frequent description as a "putative human sex pheromone." This article reviews the existing research on the physiological, cognitive, and neuroimaging effects of AND, critically assessing the evidence regarding its classification as a human sex pheromone. Additionally, it underscores the need for methodological standardization and rigor in future studies to establish clearer conclusions. Based on current evidence, the categorization of AND as a "human sex pheromone" remains inconclusive, highlighting the necessity for continued investigation. Future research directions are suggested to further elucidate AND's potential effects and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]