Perceptions & Correlates of Pubic Hair Removal & Grooming among College-Aged Women

Background:

Although much is known about behavioural indicators of pubic hair removal, current research lacks deeper cognitive reasoning and understanding through utilising quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The purpose of this study was to: (1) describe and understand pubic hair removal behaviours using a quantitative survey; and (2) examine the relationship between pubic hair removal, sexual behaviours and genital self-image using in-depth interviews

Methods:

Data were collected from women aged 18-24 years living in the United States. Overall, 663 participants completed an online survey and 53 completed in-depth interviews. Questions asked related to pubic hair removal and sexual history.

Results:

Participants removed hair for hygiene, comfort and sensation purposes, which was a personal decision influenced by family, friends and the media. Race, pubic hair removal initiation age, genital image and sexual behaviours were significantly related to pubic hair removal.

Conclusions:

Data from this study prove that further education regarding safe pubic hair removal methods is needed, especially for those who initiate pubic hair removal and sexual behaviours concurrently.

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By:  Andrea L. DeMaria A D, Beth Sundstrom B, Stephanie M. McInnis B and Emily RogersC 

A Department of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424-0001, USA. B Department of Communication, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424-0001, USA. C Women’s and Gender Studies Program, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424-0001, USA. D Corresponding author. Email: demariaa@cofc.edu 

Sex Health. 2016 Feb 18. doi: 10.1071/SH15034. 

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Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Male Genital Self-Image Scale in Iranian Men

INTRODUCTION:

Certain sexual health problems in men can be attributed to genital self-image. Therefore, a culturally adapted version of a Male Genital Self-Image Scale (MGSIS) could help health professionals understand this concept and its associated correlates.

AIM:

To translate the original English version of the MGSIS into Persian and to assess the psychometric properties of this culturally adapted version (MGSIS-I) for use in Iranian men.

METHODS:

In total, 1,784 men were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Backward and forward translations of the MGSIS were used to produce the culturally adapted version. Reliability of the MGSIS-I was assessed using Cronbach α and intra-class correlation coefficients. Divergent and convergent validities were examined using Pearson correlation and known-group validity was assessed in subgroups of participants with different sociodemographic statuses. Factor validity of the scale was investigated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Demographic information, the International Index of Erectile Function, the Body Appreciation Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the MGSIS.

RESULTS:

Mean age of participants was 38.13 years (SD = 11.45) and all men were married. Cronbach α of the MGSIS-I was 0.89 and interclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.94. Significant correlations were found between the MGSIS-I and the International Index of Erectile Function (P < .01), whereas correlation of the scale with non-similar scales was lower than with similar scale (confirming convergent and divergent validity). The scale could differentiate between subgroups in age, smoking status, and income (known-group validity). A single-factor solution that explained 70% variance of the scale was explored using exploratory factor analysis (confirming uni-dimensionality); confirmatory factor analysis indicated better fitness for the five-item version than the seven-item version of the MGSIS-I (root mean square error of approximation = 0.05, comparative fit index > 1.00 vs root mean square error of approximation = 0.10, comparative fit index > 0.97, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

The MGSIS-I is a useful instrument to assess genital self-image in Iranian men, a concept that has been associated with sexual function. Further investigation is needed to identify the applicability of the scale in other cultures or populations.

Table 2Score, SD, and Cronbach α of the Seven-Item MGSIS in a Population Sample of 1,764 Men and Test-Retest Reliability in a Subsample of 1,554 Men

	Mean	SD	ICC (95% CI)	Cronbach α	Item-total correlation
I feel positively about my genitals	2.96	0.74	0.94 (0.93–0.95)	—	0.56
I am satisfied with the appearance of my genitals	3.01	0.73	0.88 (0.87–0.90)	—	0.63
I would feel comfortable letting a sexual partner look at my genitals	2.85	0.95	0.70 (0.67–0.73)	—	0.72
I am satisfied with the size of my genitals	2.81	0.95	0.89 (0.87–0.90)	—	0.70
I think my genitals work the way they are supposed to work	3.09	0.75	0.85 (0.83–87)	—	0.59
I feel comfortable letting a health care provider examine my genitals	2.34	0.89	0.78 (0.72–0.84)	—	0.66
I am not embarrassed about my genitals	3.07	0.81	0.88 (0.86–0.89)	—	0.61
MGSIS-7	20.39	3.88	0.88 (0.87–0.89)	0.89	—

ICC = interclass correlation coefficient; MGSIS = Male Genital Self-Image Scale.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/CG3qAj

By:  Saffari M1, Pakpour AH2, Burri A3.

• 1Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
• 2Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. Electronic address: Pakpour_Amir@yahoo.com.
• 3Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
• Sex Med. 2016 Mar;4(1):e34-42. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2015.12.005. 

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'Everyone Wants a Vagina That Looks Less Like a Vagina': Australian Women's Views on Dissatisfaction with Genital Appearance

We present a thematic discourse analysis of 94 Australian women's written comments about women's presumed dissatisfaction with their genital appearance. 

Two themes emerged: 'from natural to normal' and 'the difficulty of resistance'. In the first theme, participants discuss genital dissatisfaction with reference to hegemonic constructions of femininity and to postfeminist, neoliberal discourses that position the natural female body as inadequate, with beauty practices necessary to achieve acceptability. 

The second theme addresses the difficulty of challenging this positioning, referencing discourses that position the vagina as unpleasant and discussion of it as taboo. 

We consider implications of these constructions for women's well-being.

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By:   Moran C1, Lee C2.

• 1The University of Queensland, Australia.
• 2The University of Queensland, Australia c.lee@psy.uq.edu.au.
• J Health Psychol. 2016 Mar 23. pii: 1359105316637588. 

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