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Women's Psychological and Sexual Health: Key Priorities for Research and Intervention

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Women's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 16599

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Federica Facchin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
Interests: endometriosis; infertility; intimate partner violence; women’s reproductive health; women’s sexual health; violence against women; women’s psychological health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Alarming data from all over the world indicate that there needs to be greater emphasis placed on prioritizing health and care for women. The current pandemic has been exacerbating pre-existing socioeconomic inequalities, and women are bearing the brunt of this crisis. Millions of people have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, and the majority of these newly unemployed are women. Gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence and sexual violence, has intensified since the outbreak of COVID-19, especially in developing countries. Due to the pandemic, many pregnant women have been attending prenatal appointments and facing childbirth alone. At the same time, an increasing number of women, including pregnant women, are experiencing breast cancer diagnosis at a young age. Women’s pain (e.g., menstrual pain, sexual pain) continues to be dismissed, as in the case of women with endometriosis or vulvodynia, and the negative consequences of pain normalization, for instance in terms of diagnostic delays, are well known. Moreover, both women and doctors are reluctant to address and discuss sexual issues during medical visits. In this complex contemporary scenario, women’s psychological and sexual health deserves particular attention.

The aim of this Special Issue is to identify key priorities for research and intervention in this context to improve women’s psychological and sexual health. Different types of articles—original qualitative and quantitative research, reviews, methodological papers, opinion articles—addressing contemporary issues related to women’s psychological and sexual health are welcome. The topics addressed in this Special Issues are the following:

  • Pandemic-related aspects affecting women’s psychological and sexual health;
  • Women’s psychological and sexual health at different stages of their reproductive life (e.g., pregnancy/postpartum, menopause);
  • Breast cancer in young women: impact on psychological and sexual health;
  • Women’s subjective experience of sexual pain;
  • Sexual disorders and their impact on women’s psychological health;
  • Researching women’s psychological and sexual health: reflections upon methodologies and challenges, and suggestions for future research.

The final date for submission is 30 June 2022. Manuscripts submitted before this deadline will be reviewed and published online if accepted.

Dr. Federica Facchin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • women’s health
  • psychological health
  • sexual health
  • sexual pain
  • methodologies
  • key priorities
  • pandemic
  • breast cancer
  • pregnancy
  • postpartum
  • menopause
  • research
  • intervention

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 693 KiB  
Article
Factors Associated with Prenatal Health Behaviors among Low-Income, Ethnic Minority Women
by Guido G. Urizar, Jr., Joshua Murillo and Karissa Miller
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031695 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2161
Abstract
Less than one-third of pregnant women in the U.S. meet prenatal nutrition, exercise, and stress management health behavior guidelines. Low rates of these prenatal health behaviors have been especially observed among low-income, ethnic minority women, placing them and their infants at a disproportionally [...] Read more.
Less than one-third of pregnant women in the U.S. meet prenatal nutrition, exercise, and stress management health behavior guidelines. Low rates of these prenatal health behaviors have been especially observed among low-income, ethnic minority women, placing them and their infants at a disproportionally higher risk for health complications. Yet, few studies have identified factors associated with these prenatal health behaviors in this population. This study examined whether certain demographic (e.g., ethnicity) and psychosocial characteristics (i.e., coping, stress, pregnancy-specific stress, and depression) were associated with prenatal nutrition (i.e., high-fat food and fruit and vegetable intake), exercise, and stress management health behaviors in 100 low-income, pregnant women (39% African American, 30% foreign-born Latinas, 15% U.S.-born Latinas, 10% non-Hispanic white, and 6% Asian American/Pacific Islander) in southern California using an embedded, mixed-methods, cross-sectional design. Results demonstrated that ethnic minority women who experienced more stress and used more maladaptive coping strategies (e.g., avoidance) were particularly at risk of consuming more high-fat foods and engaging in less exercise and stress management during pregnancy. Qualitative responses revealed women’s experiences with these prenatal health behaviors. These findings highlight the need for interventions and collaborative care models that target psychosocial factors in order to optimize prenatal health behaviors and health outcomes among ethnic minority women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women's Psychological and Sexual Health: Key Priorities for Research and Intervention)
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12 pages, 330 KiB  
Article
Sexual Violence and Substance Use among First-Year University Women: Differences by Sexual Minority Status
by Kenneth W. Griffin, Lisa L. Lindley, Elaine Cooper Russell, Tori Mudd, Christopher Williams and Gilbert J. Botvin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10100; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610100 - 16 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2428
Abstract
Sexual violence and substance use are important public health problems among university students. The present study examined rates of sexual violence victimization, perpetration, and substance use among first-year university women. Participants (n = 974) attending 14 universities across the United States completed [...] Read more.
Sexual violence and substance use are important public health problems among university students. The present study examined rates of sexual violence victimization, perpetration, and substance use among first-year university women. Participants (n = 974) attending 14 universities across the United States completed an online confidential survey at the beginning and again later in their first year. The sample included women who identified as heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian, and asexual or questioning. The mean age was 19.1 years and 71.4% were White. Rates of victimization involving sexual harassment and sexual acts without consent were higher among sexual minority women relative to heterosexual women, with bisexual women being most likely to report these outcomes. Compared to heterosexual women, sexual minority women reported more frequent cigarette smoking, marijuana use and intoxication, use of club drugs, and overall illicit drug use. Across sexual violence and substance use outcomes, bisexual women reported the highest rates. Sexual minority women reported more accurate beliefs about sexual violence and consent relative to heterosexual women. Over the course of the first year, bisexual women and those who used illicit substances were more likely to report new incidents of sexual violence victimization. Implications for prevention of sexual violence among women, including sexual minorities, are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women's Psychological and Sexual Health: Key Priorities for Research and Intervention)
12 pages, 371 KiB  
Article
Cognitive–Emotional Aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Context of Female Genital Mutilation
by Nele Wulfes, Uwe von Fritschen, Cornelia Strunz, Nadine Kröhl, Roland Scherer and Christoph Kröger
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 4993; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19094993 - 20 Apr 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2839
Abstract
Around 200 million women and girls worldwide are affected by female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). FGM/C is a procedure that harms or alters the external female genitals for non-medical reasons, and is usually performed on children. Often, this procedure leads to severe consequences for [...] Read more.
Around 200 million women and girls worldwide are affected by female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). FGM/C is a procedure that harms or alters the external female genitals for non-medical reasons, and is usually performed on children. Often, this procedure leads to severe consequences for the women’s physical and mental health. In a cross-sectional sample of 112 women seeking medical counseling, physical and mental health characteristics associated with FGM/C were examined and possible predictors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women affected by FGM/C were identified. A total of 55.4% (n = 66) of the women reported symptom levels of probable PTSD. Predictors for higher PTSD symptomology were an older age at the time of the FGM/C procedure, feelings of guilt and the centrality of the event in the woman’s life. Thus, cognitive–emotional processing was found to play an important role in the emergence of PTSD in women suffering from FGM/C. However, interventions taking into consideration these characteristics are mostly lacking and need to be investigated further in the context of FGM/C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women's Psychological and Sexual Health: Key Priorities for Research and Intervention)

Other

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17 pages, 2623 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review on Sexual Health and Drug Use Prevention Interventions for Black Girls
by Ijeoma Opara, Kimberly Pierre, Maame Araba Assan, Laurel Scheinfeld, Courtnae Alves, Kristina Cross, Ashley Lizarraga and Bridgette Brawner
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3176; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063176 - 8 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3382
Abstract
Background: The relationship between drug use and poor sexual health outcomes in Black adolescent females such as diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and early/unwanted pregnancy has been established in the literature. Yet, very few interventions have been successful in reducing the risk [...] Read more.
Background: The relationship between drug use and poor sexual health outcomes in Black adolescent females such as diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and early/unwanted pregnancy has been established in the literature. Yet, very few interventions have been successful in reducing the risk of poor sexual health outcomes and drug use for adolescent girls. Even more rare are interventions that are catered to specifically to Black girls in the United States, which is a group that has the highest rates of poorer sexual health outcomes and negative consequences associated with drug use. Therefore, this systematic review sought to identify and organize interventions that are focused on preventing HIV, STIs, early pregnancy and drug use for and include large samples of Black girls. Fifteen interventions were identified that met the review’s search criteria. Results: A total of 15 interventions that were published between 2005 and 2020 were included in the review. While all but one intervention focused on sexual health outcomes, two interventions infused drug use education for girls. Conclusion: This review provides recommendations for sexual health and drug use prevention researchers to engage in an intersectional framework and concludes with a summary of next steps to guide future research and policy work to address disparities that impact Black girls. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women's Psychological and Sexual Health: Key Priorities for Research and Intervention)
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14 pages, 521 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Subjective Experience of Dyspareunia in Women with Endometriosis: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis of Qualitative Research
by Federica Facchin, Laura Buggio, Dhouha Dridi, Giussy Barbara and Paolo Vercellini
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 12112; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212112 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4712
Abstract
Although dyspareunia (pain during intercourse) is common in women with endometriosis, there is poor qualitative evidence describing women’s subjective experience of this symptom. This systematic review of qualitative research aimed to provide an in-depth exploration of women’s lived experience of dyspareunia (i.e., how [...] Read more.
Although dyspareunia (pain during intercourse) is common in women with endometriosis, there is poor qualitative evidence describing women’s subjective experience of this symptom. This systematic review of qualitative research aimed to provide an in-depth exploration of women’s lived experience of dyspareunia (i.e., how they perceive and describe their pain, how they deal with it, how it affects their psychological health and intimate relationships). A total of 17 published articles were included. Our findings, derived from thematic analysis, highlighted that endometriosis-related dyspareunia manifests itself in multiple forms (deep, introital, and/or positional dyspareunia, at orgasm, during and/or after intercourse). Women use a variety of coping strategies to deal with sexual pain, such as interrupting or avoiding intercourse, enduring pain to seek pregnancy, and/or finding alternative ways to enjoy sexuality. Dyspareunia impairs women’s psychological health, especially in terms of poor self-esteem and sense of femininity and has negative consequences on intimate relationships. Unfortunately, both women and physicians are often reluctant to discuss sexual issues. Sexual health should be routinely assessed during counselling with endometriosis patients. Helping women find targeted strategies to enjoy sexuality despite endometriosis may significantly improve their psychological health and quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women's Psychological and Sexual Health: Key Priorities for Research and Intervention)
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