Showing posts with label Heterosexual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heterosexual. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Heterosexual Young Adults' Interest, Attitudes, and Experiences Related to Mixed-Gender, Multi-Person Sex

There has been little research on threesomes, a form of multi-person sex that involves sexual activity with two other people simultaneously. Therefore, we examined young adults' attitudes toward, interest in, and experiences with one form of threesome, mixed-gender threesomes (MGTs), defined as sexual activity involving three people where at least one member of each gender is present. 

Participants were 274 (202 women, 72 men) heterosexual young adults who completed an online survey. Overall, 13 % of participants (24 % of men and 8 % of women) reported experience and 64 % reported some interest in engaging in an MGT. However, the overall level of interest was quite low and varied according to contextual variables (i.e., what other persons were involved). 

Men's interest remained unaffected by third person status as long as the MGT involved familiar others (friends and acquaintances) rather than strangers, whereas women preferred familiar others only for MGTs with which they were the third person, not for those involving a romantic partner. 

Participants also reported fairly neutral attitudes toward MGTs. Compared to the women, the men reported significantly more positive attitudes and greater interest, and were more likely to report MGT experience. In addition, attitudes, interest, and experience were all positively associated with each other. 

Taken together, these results suggest that young people are not judgmental about others engaging in MGTs but are not highly motivated to do so themselves. Implications for researchers and sexual health educators are discussed.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/vE5LpD

By:  Thompson AE1Byers ES2.
  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, WI, 54901, USA. thompsae@uwosh.edu.
  • 2Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, POB 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 3A1, Canada. 
  •  2016 Mar 4. 



Thursday, March 31, 2016

Factors Associated with High-Risk Behaviors among People Newly Diagnosed with HIV Through Heterosexual Contact Before & After Diagnosis in Some Areas in Henan Province

OBJECTIVE:
To understand the factors associated with high risk behaviors among people newly diagnosed to be infected with HIV through heterosexual contact before and after diagnoses in some areas in Henan province, and evaluate the risk of secondary transmission.

METHODS:
A face to face interview was conducted among people infected with HIV through heterosexual contact by using self-designed questionnaires during January-May in 2015.

RESULTS:
Among 361 HIV infected persons, the proportions of those with commercial heterosexual behaviors or sex with irregular sex partners decreased from 77.3%(279/361) and 28.5%(103/361) before diagnosis to 13.6% (49/361) and 2.5%(9/361) after diagnosis, the difference was significant (χ(2)=16.66,P<0.001;χ(2)= 4.80,P=0.03). The subjects surveyed always had more commercial heterosexual behaviors in Henan, Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces before and after diagnosis. After HIV infection confirmation, the condom use rates were 51.0%(25/49) for commercial heterosexual behaviors, 88.5% (184/208) for sex with regular partners and 88.9%(8/9) for sex with irregular partners, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that risk behaviors associated with HIV transmission included commercial sexual behaviors, previous HIV detection and age of 35 years or older.

CONCLUSIONS:
Extramarital heterosexual behavior has posed serious challenge to the prevention and control of HIV spread. It is necessary to inform the HIV test results, improve the intervention and promote condom use in people with history of commercial sex and people aged ≥35 years.

Purchase full article [Article in Chinese] at:   http://goo.gl/jj3npC

By:  Fan PY1, Bai YJ2, Yang WJ1, Li N1, Sun DY1, Zhu Q1, Wang Z1.
  • 1Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou 450016, China.
  • 2Zhoukou Prefecture Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhoukou 466000, China.
  •  2016 Mar 10;37(3):367-70. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-6450.2016.03.015. 



Sunday, March 20, 2016

Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Heavy Drinking and Anxiety and Mood Disorders among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Canadians

OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the prevalence and co-occurrence of heavy drinking, anxiety, and mood disorders among Canadians who self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual.

METHODS:
Pooled data from the 2007 to 2012 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 222 548) were used to fit logistic regression models controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS:
In adjusted logistic regression models, gay or lesbian respondents had greater odds than heterosexual respondents of reporting anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety-mood disorders. Bisexual respondents had greater odds of reporting anxiety disorders, mood disorders, anxiety-mood disorders, and heavy drinking. Gay or lesbian and bisexual respondents had greater odds than heterosexuals of reporting co-occurring anxiety or mood disorders and heavy drinking. The highest rates of disorders were observed among bisexual respondents, with nearly quadruple the rates of anxiety, mood, and combined anxiety and mood disorders relative to heterosexuals and approximately twice the rates of gay or lesbian respondents.

CONCLUSIONS:
Members of sexual minority groups in Canada, in particular those self-identifying as bisexual, experience disproportionate rates of anxiety and mood disorders, heavy drinking, and co-occurring disorders.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/1nHKaR

  • 1Basia Pakula is a PhD candidate with the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Jean Shoveller is with the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia and the Epidemiology/Population Health and Drug Treatment Program, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver. Pamela A. Ratner is with the Faculty of Education and the Enrollment and Academic Facilities, University of British Columbia. Richard Carpiano is with the Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia. 
  •  2016 Mar 17:e1-e7.



Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Measuring Implicit Sexual Response Biases to Nude Male and Female Pictures in Androphilic and Gynephilic Men

Snowden, Wichter, and Gray (2008) demonstrated that an Implicit Association Test and a Priming Task both predicted the sexual orientation of gynephilic and androphilic men in terms of their attraction biases towards pictures of nude males and females. For both measures, relative bias scores were obtained, with no information on the separate response biases to each target gender. 

The present study sought to extend this research by assessing both relative and individual implicit biases using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP). An explicit measure screened for men with androphilic (n = 16) or gynephilic (n = 16) orientations on the dimensions of "sexual attraction," "sexual behavior," "sexual fantasies," "hetero/gay lifestyle," and "self identification." The IRAP involved responding "True" or "False" to pictures of nude males and females as either attractive or unattractive. Participants were required to respond in a manner consistent with their reported sexual orientation for half of the IRAP's test blocks and inconsistent for the other half. Response latencies were recorded and analyzed. 

The IRAP revealed a non-orthogonal pattern of biases across the two groups and had an excellent ability to predict sexual orientation with areas under the curves of 1.0 for the relative bias score and .94 and .95 for the bias scores for the male and female pictures, respectively. Correlations between the IRAP and explicit measures of sexual orientation were consistently high. The findings support the IRAP as a potentially valuable tool in the study of sexual preferences.

Purchase full article at:   https://goo.gl/z7Zdcp

  • 1Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, 5th Floor, Bermondsey Wing, Guy's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK. liam.timmins@kcl.ac.uk.
  • 2Department of Experimental, Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
  • 3School of Nursing & Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland. 
  •  2016 Mar 14.



Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Disparities in Depressive Symptoms Between Heterosexual and Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth in a Dutch Cohort: The TRAILS Study

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth experience elevated levels of depressive symptoms compared to heterosexual youth. 

This study examined how differences in depressive symptoms between heterosexual and LGB youth developed from late childhood to early adulthood. The association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms was estimated from age 11 to 22 using data from the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey, a longitudinal Dutch cohort study. 

Of the 1738 respondents (54.8 % girls) that provided information on sexual orientation, 151 self-identified as LGB. In line with the Minority Stress Framework, it was tested whether self-reported peer victimization and parental rejection mediated the association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. 

Results indicated that LB girls and bisexuals were at increased risk of depressive symptoms already at age 11. The difference increased over time and was related to pubertal development in girls and bisexual individuals. 

Furthermore, self-reported peer victimization (for both boys and girls), as well as parental rejection (for girls/bisexuals), mediated the association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. 

The authors conclude that already in late childhood, associations between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms are found, partly due to minority stress mechanisms.

Below:  Depressive symptoms by sexual orientation and gender



Below:  Depressive symptoms for heterosexuals, gays/lesbians and bisexuals



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

Department of Sociology, Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 31, 9712 TG Groningen, The Netherlands
Department of Pedagogy and Educational Science, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands
Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
Chaïm la Roi, Phone: +31503638938,  ln.gur@ior.al.c.
corresponding authorCorresponding author.
J Youth Adolesc. 2016; 45: 440–456. Published online 2016 Jan 9. doi:  10.1007/s10964-015-0403-0




Saturday, February 6, 2016

Absence of Transmission from HIV-Infected Individuals with HAART to Their Heterosexual Serodiscordant Partners

BACKGROUND:
Further studies are needed to evaluate the level of effectiveness and durability of HAART to reduce the risk of HIV sexual transmission in serodiscordant couples having unprotected sexual practices.

METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted with prospective cohort of heterosexual HIV serodiscordant couples where the only risk factor for HIV transmission to the uninfected partner (sexual partner) was the sexual relationship with the infected partner (index case). HIV prevalence in sexual partners at enrolment and seroconversions in follow-up were compared by antiretroviral treatment in the index partner, HIV plasma viral load in index cases and sexual risk exposures in sexual partners. In each visit, an evaluation of the risks for HIV transmission, preventive counselling and screening for genitourinary infections in the sexual partner was performed, as well as the determination of the immunological and virological situation and antiretroviral treatment in the index case.

RESULTS:
At enrolment no HIV infection was detected in 202 couples where the index case was taking HAART. HIV prevalence in sexual partners was 9.6% in 491 couples where the index case was not taking antiretroviral treatment (p<0.001). During follow-up there was no HIV seroconversion among 199 partners whose index case was taking HAART, accruing 7600 risky sexual exposures and 85 natural pregnancies. Among 359 couples whose index case was not under antiretroviral treatment, over 13,000 risky sexual exposures and 5 HIV seroconversions of sexual partners were recorded. The percentage of seroconversion among couples having risky sexual intercourse was 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-5.6) when the index case did not undergo antiretroviral treatment and zero (95% CI: 0-3.2) when the index case received HAART.

CONCLUSIONS:
The risk of sexual transmission of HIV from individuals with HAART to their heterosexual partners can become extremely low.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/vzhCY7

  • 1Centro Sanitario Sandoval, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jromero@salud.madrid.org.
  • 2CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
  • 3Instituto de Salud Pública de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
  • 4Centro Sanitario Sandoval, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain.
  • 5Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain. 


Image from:  https://goo.gl/1erOaO


Monday, January 25, 2016

Prevalence and Correlates of Heterosexual Anal Intercourse among Men and Women, 20 U.S. Cities

Heterosexual anal intercourse (HAI) is not an uncommon behavior and it confers a higher risk of HIV transmission than vaginal intercourse. 

We examined data from heterosexuals recruited in 20 US cities for the 2013 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system. We assessed correlates of reporting HAI in the previous year. Then, among people reporting HAI in the past year, we assessed what event-level factors are associated with having HAI at last sex. 

Thirty percent of women and 35 % of men reported HAI in the past year. Among people who had HAI in the past year, those who had HAI at last sex were more likely to have a partner who was HIV-positive or of unknown status or to have exchanged money or drugs for sex at last sex. 

Information that highlights the risk of HIV transmission associated with HAI would complement existing HIV prevention messages focused on heterosexuals in the U.S.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/wPgC3Z

  • 1Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS-E47, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. xgm0@cdc.gov.
  • 2Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS-E47, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. 





Saturday, January 23, 2016

Infectious Syphilis in Women: What's Old Is New Again?

The aim of this study was to examine trends in infectious syphilis epidemiology among women in Winnipeg, Canada. A descriptive study of syphilis among Winnipeg residents between 2003 and 30 June 2015 was undertaken. Adjusted rate ratios (ARR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) from Poisson regression analyses are reported. Characteristics of men and women were compared using logistic regression, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) reported. 

Between 2014 and 2015, the rate of syphilis was 1.7/100,000, representing a five-fold increase since 2006-2013. All cases have been heterosexual, 90% 20-39 years of age, and 59% living in Winnipeg's inner core. Approximately 24% were pregnant at diagnosis; no cases of congenital syphilis have been reported. Compared to men, women were more likely to report alcohol use (AOR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.2-11.9) and co-infection with chlamydia (AOR: 5.0, 95% CI: 1.1-22.9). 

In conclusion, the rates of infectious syphilis are increasing among women. Prenatal screening and education for inner-core women and the health care providers serving them should be prioritized.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/sCTJ4e

  • 1Population and Public Health Program, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada umshaw@myumanitoba.ca.
  • 2Population and Public Health Program, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Canada.
  • 3Population and Public Health Program, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Canada Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
  • 4Population and Public Health Program, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
  • 5Population and Public Health Program, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada Department of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. 
  •  2016 Jan 13. pii: 0956462415627397




Friday, January 1, 2016

Facial Structure Predicts Sexual Orientation in Both Men and Women

Biological models have typically framed sexual orientation in terms of effects of variation in fetal androgen signaling on sexual differentiation, although other biological models exist. Despite marked sex differences in facial structure, the relationship between sexual orientation and facial structure is understudied. 

A total of 52 lesbian women, 134 heterosexual women, 77 gay men, and 127 heterosexual men were recruited at a Canadian campus and various Canadian Pride and sexuality events. We found that facial structure differed depending on sexual orientation; substantial variation in sexual orientation was predicted using facial metrics computed by a facial modelling program from photographs of White faces. 

At the univariate level, lesbian and heterosexual women differed in 17 facial features (out of 63) and four were unique multivariate predictors in logistic regression. Gay and heterosexual men differed in 11 facial features at the univariate level, of which three were unique multivariate predictors. Some, but not all, of the facial metrics differed between the sexes. Lesbian women had noses that were more turned up (also more turned up in heterosexual men), mouths that were more puckered, smaller foreheads, and marginally more masculine face shapes (also in heterosexual men) than heterosexual women. 

Gay men had more convex cheeks, shorter noses (also in heterosexual women), and foreheads that were more tilted back relative to heterosexual men. Principal components analysis and discriminant functions analysis generally corroborated these results. 

The mechanisms underlying variation in craniofacial structure--both related and unrelated to sexual differentiation--may thus be important in understanding the development of sexual orientation.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/8oCrM6

1Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.




"Sex Is Sweet": Women from Low-Income Contexts in Uganda Talk About Sexual Desire and Pleasure

In many patriarchal societies in Africa, heterosexuality is privileged as the single legitimate form of sexual interaction; other sexualities are marginalised because they are perceived as un-African, abnormal, sinful and are repressed. Female sexuality too is subordinated and controlled with it being reduced to women's conventional mothering roles that are conflated with their reproductive capacities. However, there is evidence that women in heterosexual relations have the opportunity to assert themselves and to define pleasurable sex. 

Drawing on in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with married women in heterosexual unions the article examines the extent to which women from low-income contexts in Uganda express their sexual agency. 

The findings show that within heterosexual relations, these women are able to express their sexual desires freely and negotiate diverse options for pleasurable sexual experiences. The evidence indicates the need for acknowledging variations within heterosexual experiences and the possibility of positive heterosexual relationships that resist hegemonic masculinity and subordinated femininity.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/NaEW2q

By:   Muhanguzi FK1.
  • 1Senior Lecturer, School of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UGANDA. Electronic address: floramuha@yahoo.com. 

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Pathways to HIV-Related Behavior among Heterosexual, Rural Black Men: A Person-Centered Analysis

We investigated the psychosocial mechanisms linking personal and contextual risk factors to HIV-related behavior among 498 rural Black men. We characterized HIV-related behavior in terms of profile groups and hypothesized that contextual and personal risk factors (childhood adversity, community disadvantage, incarceration, and racial discrimination) would predict HIV-related behavior indirectly via two psychosocial mechanisms: impulsivity and negative relational schemas. 

Study results documented three HIV-related behavior profile groups. 
  • The Safer group reported low levels of risky behavior. 
  • The Risk-Taking group reported inconsistent condom use and elevated substance use. 
  • The Multiple Partners group reported the highest numbers of partners and relatively consistent condom use. 
Risk factors predicted profile groups directly and indirectly through psychosocial mechanisms. Impulsivity mediated the association between community disadvantage and membership in the risk-taking group. Negative relational schemas mediated the associations of childhood experiences and community disadvantage with membership in the multiple partners group. 

Specificity in pathways suggests the need for targeted interventions based on multidimensional characterizations of risk behavior.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/mEa3c0
  
By:   Steven M. Kogan,, Junhan Cho, Stacey Barnum, Allen Barton, Megan R. Hicks, Geoffrey L. Brown
Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia 
  

Friday, December 25, 2015

Positive And Negative Affect During Sexual Activity: Differences Between Homosexual & Heterosexual Men And Women, With & Without Sexual Problems

Empirical research suggests that emotional response during sexual activity discriminates between sexually functional and dysfunctional heterosexual men and women, with clinics presenting lower positive and higher negative affect. However, there is no evidence about the role of emotions in gay men and lesbian women with sexual problems. 

The present study analyzed affective states during sexual activity in homosexual and heterosexual men and women, with and without sexual problems. Participants in this study were 156 men and 168 women. A 2 (group) × 2 (sexual orientation) multivariate analysis of variance was performed. 

Participants completed a web-survey assessing sexual functioning and the Positive Affect-Negative Affect Scale. Findings indicated a main effect of group, with groups with sexual problems reporting significantly more negative and lower positive affect compared with men and women without sexual problems, regardless of sexual orientation. 

However, findings have also shown an interaction effect in the male sample with gay men, contrary to heterosexual men, reporting similar affective responses regardless of having a sexual dysfunction or not. 

Overall, findings emphasize the role of affective responses during sexual activity in men and women with sexual problems, suggesting the importance of addressing emotional responses in assessment and treatment of sexual problems in individuals with different sexual orientations.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/uwyXxJ

By:   Peixoto MM1Nobre P1.
  • 1a Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal. 


Friday, December 18, 2015

Queen of Fights: Lesbians in Tunisian Sports

Sport within the Muslim context, and including the location of this study, Tunisia, remains an institution designed for the promotion of a heterosexual form of masculinity and the degradation of both femininity and women's athleticism. 

Unlike recent advancements in the West, however, homosexuality remains viewed almost entirely negatively by the political, religious and social debates in Muslim cultures. This overt hostility has almost entirely erased any visible gay culture within Muslim sports. It is within this context that this study finds importance. It represents the first-ever examination into the lives of lesbian Muslim athletes, in either a Muslim majority or non-majority state. 

Conducted on three lesbian athletes living in the Islamic country of Tunisia, we show that each is out of the closet to varying degrees but that homophobia within their sports-even on majority lesbian teams-remains rife. We discuss the coping strategies these athletes invoke to negotiate their sexual orientation in this highly homophobic nation and homohysteric sporting culture.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/50lIF2

By:   Hamdi N1Lachheb M2Anderson E3.
  • 1 Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l'Éducation Physique-Tunis , Manouba , Tunisia.
  • 2 Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l'Éducation Physique de Tunis , Université de la Manouba , Tunisie , Manouba , Tunisia.
  • 3 University of Winchester , Winchester , UK.