Sexes, Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2024) – 19 articles

Youth in the US experience high rates of sexual violence. Historically, adults design and deliver preventive initiatives, with youth limited to participants and recipients. The use of community-based participatory research and other participatory approaches can expand the reach and impact of adolescent sexual violence prevention initiatives by positioning youth as leaders and co-researchers. This systematic review explores both adolescent violence prevention programs and research projects that take a participatory, youth-engaged, or youth-led approach. This review aims to understand what activities youth are involved in and how they are equipped for their roles. Following PRISMA guidelines, the review located eight eligible articles that involved high school youth or younger as more than data, focused on adolescent sexual or dating violence prevention, and whose programs or studies were conducted in the United States. I reviewed each article for programmatic and study specifics, with special attention to which stages youth participated in and how capacity-building was incorporated. The results revealed that youth can participate in a variety of activities, though they are involved in certain stages more than others, and that capacity-building ranged in breadth and frequency. I call researchers to detail youth activities and training, and explain clearly their participatory approach and decisions. Full article

Research has primarily focused on female sex workers, leaving a large gap in our understanding of the factors affecting the welfare of male sex workers (MSWs). The purpose of this study was to review the body of research on how substance addiction affects MSWs’ health and welfare. Using Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Medline, and CINAHL, a systematic search was carried out. Included was all the research on the effects of drug misuse on the health and happiness of sex workers. The methodology for conducting systematic reviews developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute was applied in this review. The research encompassed English-language papers authored between 2000 and 2024 to guarantee a thorough analysis of current patterns and breakthroughs in the domain, mirroring the current obstacles and progressions in tackling substance addiction among male sex workers. Exclusion criteria were developed to guarantee the relevance and rigor of the included research, whereas inclusion criteria were set based on demographics, exposure, and results. Nineteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were found during the review. This study revealed three main themes: factors contributing to substance abuse among male sex workers; the correlation between substance abuse and mental health among sex workers; and the correlation between substance abuse and the incidence of STIs, including HIV. This study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive, inclusive approaches to address the specific needs of MSWs, ultimately aiming to improve their quality of life and reduce health disparities. Full article

Background: Consistent use of effective contraceptives is directly associated with a lower risk of unintended pregnancies, a significant public health burden in the U.S. The Asian American population is heterogeneous and fast-growing. However, patterns and disparities in contraceptive use among Asian American women, particularly within racial/ethnic subgroups, have been understudied, hindering effective family planning. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of contraceptive use and its pattern in Asian American women using the 2015–2016 California Health and Interview Survey (CHIS) data, with a focus on different Asian ethnic subgroups. Study Design: A composite score of acculturation level (0–5) was created based on place of birth, years in the U.S., and language spoken at home. Data on demographics, self-rated health, contraceptive use, and related information were collected from women aged 18–44 years who were at risk of unintended pregnancy. Adjusted multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to examine contraceptive use and patterns in relation to race/ethnicity and other factors. Results: Over 18.20% of the overall sample (pop estimated N = 16,177,759) were Asian Americans, and among them, 24.62% were Chinese, followed by other Asian subgroups (28.83%), Filipina (25.49%), Korean (11.25%), and Vietnamese (9.80%). Overall, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese women were less likely to use contraception compared to their non-Hispanic White (NHW) peers, whereas acculturation level was positively associated with contraceptive use. Among different types of contraceptives, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese women were less likely to use long-acting reversible contraceptives compared to NHW. Such racial/ethnic disparities were not observed with less or moderately effective contraceptives. Conclusions: Patterns of contraceptive use and associated disparities varied among Asian American subgroups. Providers working with Asian American women should be aware of these racial disparities in contraceptive use and seek ways to address barriers to effective contraception use in this diverse population in order to provide culturally competent family planning services. Full article

The existing literature on sexual consent is extensive, but a new social approach to this topic is emerging, necessitating further research. This article addresses a gap in understanding how men’s interactions with other men, who are not their sexual partners, both before and during sexual encounters, influence their approach to consent beyond sexual cues. The study involved sixteen interviews and two focus groups with men aged 18–25. Conducted within the framework of the Consent project (PID2019-110466RB-100), this research aims to analyze how communicative acts, beyond verbal exchanges, shape relationships where either consent or coercion prevails. The findings reveal that when men engage in coercive interactions with non-sexual male peers, these interactions can encourage the violation of consent in their sexual relationships. Conversely, some men reject this coercive behavior, take a stand, and support others in avoiding situations that compromise consent. These results underscore the importance of addressing norms of masculinity and male interactions to ensure that all individuals can autonomously make decisions about their sexual lives. Full article

An online survey was completed by a convenience sample of 495 students to assess attitude toward polyamorous targets as an outgroup using 0–100 feeling thermometers. Also assessed was the likelihood of dating a polyamorous partner. These two measures were only weakly related for women participants but modestly related for men participants. Overall, feeling thermometer averages were favorable (66%) but dating likelihood was very low, with 89% rating dating a polyamorous partner as unlikely. Women were slightly more favorable toward polyamorous targets than were men but target gender showed no effect (i.e., ratings of polyamorous men were the same as those of polyamorous women). However, men were slightly more willing to date a polyamorous partner than were women. In terms of personality and individual difference variables as predictors of attitudes, authoritarianism, erotophobia–erotophilia, and participant sexual orientation accounted for a quarter of the variance in feeling thermometer ratings of polyamorous targets. Specifically, those who had lower authoritarianism, were more comfortable with sexuality, and were sexual minority in orientation were likely to rate the polyamorous targets the most favorably. Individual difference variables did not predict willingness to date a polyamorous partner consistently across gender and sexual orientation participant subgroups; the most consistent predictors were sociosexuality and erotophobia–erotophilia. This study adds to our knowledge in a nascent area of sexual attitude and discrimination research—it demonstrates the differences between rating an outgroup person and attitude toward engaging with them personally. The latter appears to involve more complexity in terms of the relationship with personality and the type of social perceiver. More research is needed into the differentiation between general ratings of others who engage in non-mainstream, stigmatized sexual practices versus when the ratings involve personal involvement or behavior of the social perceiver (i.e., such as dating). Full article

Research has shown that sexting is an increasingly common behavior, especially among teens and young adults. However, despite numerous studies, the relevance of sexting to people’s well-being is unclear. The present study seeks to determine the relevance of gender in sexting behavior and its association with psychological well-being and intimate partner violence victimization across the life cycle, from adolescence to old age. This study was cross-sectional, and the sample consisted of 6719 women and men from the general Spanish population who were assessed by six questionnaires measuring sexting behavior, psychological distress, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and intimate partner violence victimization. The results showed that participation in sexting was higher in men than in women at all stages of the life cycle studied, although the differences were not statistically significant among adolescents. Greater sexting behavior was associated with greater intimate partner violence victimization, an association that was stronger for adolescents. And although the magnitude of the association was small, more sexting was also associated with greater psychological distress and lower psychological well-being in all age groups except older women. Our study results allow us to conclude that sexting behavior may pose risks to the well-being of citizens. Full article

Respect has been shown to be an important aspect of romantic relationships. The current research explored whether the associations that status-based respect and inclusion-based respect had with romantic commitment would be mediated by satisfaction, investment, and the perceived quality of alternative romantic partners. Study 1 examined these associations with an undergraduate sample (N = 200), whereas Study 2 replicated the results of Study 1 using a community sample (N = 264). Study 3 (N = 187) extended these results by focusing on a specific situation in which participants felt either disrespected or respected by their romantic partners. Across these studies, status-based respect and inclusion-based respect were associated with romantic commitment. For example, status-based respect and inclusion-based respect had associations with commitment that were mediated by satisfaction in each study. The findings of the current studies indicate that people who experience disrespect in their relationships tend to be less satisfied, which, in turn, may lead to them being less committed to maintaining their relationships. In our discussion, we explore how status-based respect and inclusion-based respect can offer insights into understanding commitment to romantic relationships. Full article

Although perception of stigma (PS) has been dubbed as a key barrier to the optimal uptake of PrEP, research on PS is sparse. More specifically, no scholarly work has explored factors associated with the expression of PS toward PrEP use. This study addresses the literature gap by investigating factors associated with PS toward PrEP use. Data were drawn from the baseline survey (2017–2019) of the “Keeping It LITE Study”, involving a large cohort (n = 3330) of young sexual minority men, transgender men and women, and non-binary individuals in the US. Participants’ ages ranged from 13 to 34 years, with the majority (87%) assigned male at birth. The racial composition of the sample was diverse, with 53.9% identifying as white, 19.8% as Latinx, 10.7% as Black or African American, and smaller proportions as Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and another race/ethnicity. Logistic regression models were utilized to examine two common measures of PS in PrEP use: (1) the perception that PrEP users are seen as promiscuous and (2) the perception that PrEP users are assumed to be HIV-positive. Two sets of models were developed to account for the correlation between gender identity and sex assigned at birth. The results suggest strong PS among current PrEP users, which can explain the weak PrEP adherence reported among this group. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to mitigate PS and enhance PrEP uptake and adherence in vulnerable populations. Social and practical implications of the results and directions for future research are discussed. Full article

Sexting has become a common mode of expression within the digital realm. Understanding sexting in the context of African college campuses is crucial, as it reflects the impact of technological advancements and the interplay of cultural norms, values, and societal factors. This review seeks to provide evidence to inform context-specific initiatives and policies aimed at promoting responsible digital communication and enhancing the well-being of college students within the continent. This scoping review followed the guidelines by Askey and O’Malley. The search for records was conducted in four main electronic databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, Central, and JSTOR. Additional searches were conducted using Google Scholar, Google, and ProQuest. A total of 11 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Results: The findings of this review are grouped under the following four main headings: type of sexting, prevalence, predictors of sexting, and outcomes of sexting. The main types of sexting were sending and receiving nude pictures and sexually explicit messages and posting explicit videos and photos on social media. The prevalence rates for general sexting ranged from 9.9% to 74.4%. Positive outcomes of sexting included increased condom negotiation skills and sexual communication that contribute to safer sexual practices. Negative sexual outcomes included high-risk-taking sexual behaviour such as multiple sexual partners. This review highlights the intricate facets of sexting among African college students, and emphasises the interplay between digital communication, societal norms, and individual behaviours. Policies should prioritise cyberbullying prevention, privacy protection, and ethical technology use. Full article

The scientific literature has shown an increasing demand by citizens and society at large to stop using people who have committed sexual violence against children as a reference in academia. However, research has not explored the fact that in some sectors of society, the rejection of individuals who have exercised sexual abuse against children is entirely deliberate. This study analyzes, for the first time, the incoherence of many academics when it comes to their positioning regarding different renowned authors who commit sexual abuse against children, and the consequences of such incoherence according to several citizens. To that end, social media analytics and interviews with 16 individuals aged 27 to 70 years from different professions, including university professors, construction workers and retired lawyers, were conducted. The results show three main consequences of the incoherence of academics who use as a reference authors who have defended and exercised pederasty: promoting social mistrust toward those academics, as there is no coherence between what they say and do; normalizing and promoting pederasty and impunity toward abusers, creating a sense that “anything goes”; and silencing and revictimizing victims, which creates a context of great vulnerability to develop a healthy sexuality. Full article

Affective lability, a trait related to borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, is associated with a higher number of lifetime sex partners. Among individuals who are affectively labile, boredom proneness, which has been linked to impulsive and risky sexual behaviors, might increase the likelihood of having more sex partners. Conversely, mindfulness has been found to be associated with healthy emotion regulation and lower impulsivity, and may enable a greater tolerance of affective lability and boredom, and, in turn, lower the sense of urgency to engage in sex to cope. Thus, the present study investigated the links between affective lability, boredom proneness, mindfulness, and number of sex partners in the last year. We predicted that affective lability would be positively associated with number of sex partners, and that this association would be moderated by boredom proneness and mindfulness in a three-way interaction. Adult women (N = 469, M_age = 25.15 years) were recruited from online communities and completed measures of affective lability, boredom proneness, trait mindfulness, and number of sex partners in the last year. None of the preregistered three-way interactions were supported; however, exploratory analyses revealed that, among women who reported rapid changes between depression and elation, those who were less likely to observe thoughts and sensations had more sex partners in the last year. Clinicians and researchers should further investigate which facets of mindfulness may protect against a higher number of sex partners in affectively labile individuals. Full article

Just World Beliefs are a tendency to believe the world is inherently fair. The strength of these beliefs correlates with victim derogation, including blaming victims of medical pathology. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate whether the strength of belief in a just world predicts beliefs about the etiologies of early pregnancy loss. In total, 911 adults living in the United States were recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants completed a web-based assessment of their views on causes of pregnancy loss and a validated measure of just world beliefs. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to evaluate the association between just world belief strength and beliefs about internal and external causes of spontaneous pregnancy loss. Compared to participants with weak just world beliefs, respondents with strong just world beliefs were more likely to attribute a pregnancy loss to benign reproductive choices (contraception use or a prior abortion) and daily activities (prolonged standing, engaging in an argument) that are within an individual’s control, while minimizing the contribution of factors that cannot be controlled (fetal genetic abnormalities). Understanding belief systems contributing to miscarriage stigma may help to develop stigma-reducing interventions for both patients and the general public. Full article

Sexual self-disclosure (SSD) is when a person shares information about their sexuality with another person. Technology-mediated communication is pervasive in modern society, yet researchers have not distinguished between SSDs that occur in-person versus in technology-mediated contexts. Using the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction, researchers previously found that SSD predicts sexual rewards, costs, and satisfaction. In this study, we (1) compared cisgender/transgender men’s and women’s frequency (how much) and breadth (how many topics) of SSD via typed technology and in-person (H1, H2), and (2) examined the extent to which the frequency and breadth of SSD in each context predicted perceived sexual rewards, comparison of sexual rewards, and in turn sexual satisfaction while controlling for relationship satisfaction (H3, H4, H5, H6). Undergraduate students (N = 450) completed an online survey that assessed SSD in each context, perceived sexual rewards and costs, comparison of own and partner’s sexual rewards and costs, and sexual and relationship satisfaction. Participants reported more frequent and greater breadth of SSD in-person than via technology. We also found that women disclosed more sexual topics than men in-person but not through typed technology. Using path analyses, a greater frequency of SSD in-person predicted greater perceived sexual rewards and comparison sexual rewards, and in turn, greater sexual satisfaction. The frequency of SSD via typed technology and the SSD breadth in either context did not predict exchanges or sexual satisfaction. Full article

Sexual harassment in academia has gained attention due to legislative measures, university mechanisms, and student solidarity networks. This article explores the factors contributing to survivors winning when suing their university. The case described here relates to a North American university in a state with regulations against harassment and an active student movement. It delves into a case at the University of California, Irvine, where four individuals sued for the mishandling of sexual harassment complaints, resulting in the dismissal of a prominent professor. Drawing on data from the EU UniswithHeart research project, the article analyzes the impact of solidarity networks and the trial outcome. Through desk research and qualitative interviews, it identifies key elements leading to legal victories against universities, even in the case of a professor who made a big donation to the university, who was banned from campus, and who had his name removed from buildings. This study shows ten aspects that lead to winning a harassment case within universities, emphasizing the importance of addressing the consequences of harassment. It also illustrates the improvement of the academic environment and science when eliminating the hostile climate and silence. Successful outcomes inspire other survivors and urge universities to uphold policies for a safer academic environment. Full article

Sexual arousal (SA) is a multidimensional experience that includes cognitive, emotional, motivational and physiological components. Texts with erotic content have been used to generate a state of SA. Erotic texts often include aggressive content that has not been evaluated in relation to SA. The aim of this work was to compare cortical functionality in women when reading a sexually explicit text (SET) and a sexually explicit text with aggression (SETA). Twenty-seven women participated. The EEG activity of the frontal, temporal and parietal locations was recorded during the reading of both texts. The participants found the SET to be more pleasant than the SETA. Both texts were identified as triggers of general and SA. While reading the SETA, there was an increase in absolute power in the frontal and parietal locations, a higher intrahemispheric correlation between the left frontal and temporal locations in fast frequency bands and a greater interhemispheric correlation between the frontal locations in the delta and alpha1 bands. These findings indicate that cortical functionality during SA in women differs based on the content and context of the erotic material being read, possibly associated with mechanisms that underlie the processing and incentive value assignment of stimuli with sexual and aggressive connotations. Full article

Gynecomastia in adolescence is a benign condition that mostly disappears spontaneously within approximately two years from onset. When it is associated with hypogonadism, it may suggest a disorder of sexual differentiation. We report the case of a young man (18 years old) with gynecomastia associated with azoospermia, small testes, hyperestrogenism and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. A karyotype 46,XX was found, and searching for SRY (sex-determining region Y) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) highlighted the presence of the gene on the terminal region of the short arm, with breakpoints likely in Xp22.3 and Yp11.3. Implications of testosterone replacement therapy with respect to sex differentiation disorder and to physical performance are discussed. Full article

Sexual assault and relationship violence are a public health issue on college campuses. In order to prevent gender-based violence, it is important to understand the multiple protective factors that could be utilized in university prevention programming. Self-efficacy has not been thoroughly explored as a factor that could influence whether people recognize healthy romantic and sex relationship behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether self-efficacy has a significant relationship with recognizing consent and healthy relationships and whether it impacts a person’s likelihood to practice active consent. The results of this study demonstrated that self-efficacy has a significant relationship with a person’s confidence in their ability to recognize consent behaviors, practice consent behaviors, and recognize when they are in a healthy relationship. Future research should further explore how self-efficacy can be a protective factor in preventing sex and relationship violence. Full article

The intersection of religious beliefs and sex work has long been a subject of debate, with varying perspectives on the moral, social, and legal implications. This qualitative systematic review aimed to review the nuanced relationship between religious beliefs and sex work by synthesizing the existing literature and providing insights into the diverse perspectives and experiences. The rationale for this research is to understand how religious beliefs influence societal attitudes, policies, and the experiences of sex workers in order to inform more effective and culturally sensitive interventions and support mechanisms. This review focused on articles pertaining to female-identified sex workers, as the gendered discussion happens heavily in religious interpretations and in current anti-trafficking legislation, which now genders men as customers and not as sex workers. Five stages of systematic review were followed in this review. The following peer-reviewed electronic databases from 2000 to 2023 were utilized: Google Scholar, Scopus database, Science Direct, and PubMed. The search strategy focused on identifying studies that investigated the impact of religious beliefs on various aspects of sex work, including attitudes towards sex work within religious communities and the influence of religious teachings on the behavior and practices of sex workers. Inclusion criteria were defined based on population, exposure, study design, and outcomes, while exclusion criteria were established to ensure the relevance and rigor of the included studies. Only 25 relevant studies resulted from this research. Four themes emerged from this study: (1) religious attitudes towards sex work; (2) experiences of sex workers, including stigmatization and marginalization within religious contexts; (3) social control; and (4) empowerment and advocacy. The relationship between religious beliefs and sex work is complex and multifaceted, influenced by cultural, social, and historical factors. Recognizing and understanding these perspectives is essential for developing more inclusive and effective interventions and policies that address the needs and rights of sex workers within the context of their religious beliefs and communities. Full article

Physical features that are desired by the opposite sex may drive competition between members of the same sex to gain access to potential mates. Women’s breasts are considered sexually attractive to men, and it has been shown that women may engage in competitive tactics to compete with or derogate women with ideal physical traits (i.e., physically attractive features). In the current online study, we investigated Hispanic women’s (n = 114) perceptions of breast stimuli that had been manipulated to display four levels of breast size (A-, B-, C-, and D-cup) and three levels of ptosis (i.e., levels of sagginess: non, low, and high) and their likelihood of engaging in rival derogation tactics, such as verbal and indirect aggression. The findings demonstrated that women were more likely to engage in rival derogation towards women with larger breast sizes. Women’s dispositional level of intrasexual competition did not play a role in rival derogation tactics. The results are in line with previous research suggesting that women’s rival derogation tactics are likely to be targeted towards women with attractive features that are desired by men. Full article