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Archives of Sexual Behavior Oct 2016We used logistic regression on nationally representative data (General Social Survey, N = 10,668 and N = 6680) to examine how sexual minority status related to...
We used logistic regression on nationally representative data (General Social Survey, N = 10,668 and N = 6680) to examine how sexual minority status related to happiness. We considered two central dimensions of sexual minority status-sexual behavior and sexual identity. We distinguished between same-sex, both-sex, and different-sex-oriented participants. Because individuals transition between sexual behavior categories over the life course (e.g., from both-sex partners to only same-sex partners) and changes in sexual minority status have theoretical associations with well-being, we also tested the associations of transitions with happiness. Results showed that identifying as bisexual, gay, or lesbian, having both male and female partners since age 18, or transitioning to only different-sex partners was negatively related to happiness. Those with only same-sex partners since age 18 or in the past 5 years had similar levels of happiness as those with only different-sex partners since age 18. Additional tests showed that the majority of these happiness differences became non-significant when economic and social resources were included, indicating that the lower happiness was a product of structural and societal forces. Our findings clearly and robustly underscored the importance of taking a multi-faceted approach to understanding sexuality and well-being, demonstrating that not all sexual minority groups experience disadvantaged happiness. Our study calls for more attention to positive aspects of well-being such as happiness in examinations of sexual minorities and suggests that positive psychology and other happiness subfields should consider the role of sexual minority status in shaping happiness.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Happiness; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sexual Behavior; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Young Adult
PubMed: 27102605
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-016-0737-z -
Archives of Sexual Behavior Feb 2016Thailand has undergone rapid modernization with implications for changes in sexual norms. We investigated sexual behavior and attitudes across generations and gender...
Thailand has undergone rapid modernization with implications for changes in sexual norms. We investigated sexual behavior and attitudes across generations and gender among a probability sample of the general population of Nonthaburi province located near Bangkok in 2012. A tablet-based survey was performed among 2,138 men and women aged 15-59 years identified through a three-stage, stratified, probability proportional to size, clustered sampling. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out accounting for the effects of multistage sampling. Relationship of age and gender to sexual behavior and attitudes was analyzed by bivariate analysis followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis to adjust for possible confounding. Patterns of sexual behavior and attitudes varied substantially across generations and gender. We found strong evidence for a decline in the age of sexual initiation, a shift in the type of the first sexual partner, and a greater rate of acceptance of adolescent premarital sex among younger generations. The study highlighted profound changes among young women as evidenced by a higher number of lifetime sexual partners as compared to older women. In contrast to the significant gender gap in older generations, sexual profiles of Thai young women have evolved to resemble those of young men with attitudes gradually converging to similar sexual standards. Our data suggest that higher education, being never-married, and an urban lifestyle may have been associated with these changes. Our study found that Thai sexual norms are changing dramatically. It is vital to continue monitoring such changes, considering the potential impact on the HIV/STIs epidemic and unintended pregnancies.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sampling Studies; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thailand; Urban Population; Young Adult
PubMed: 25403321
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-014-0429-5 -
Archives of Sexual Behavior Apr 2023Although health disparities among same-sex attracted compared to heterosexual individuals are typically explained by minority stress, there is limited evidence for a...
Although health disparities among same-sex attracted compared to heterosexual individuals are typically explained by minority stress, there is limited evidence for a causal effect. This study investigated whether same-sex attraction was causally associated with psychological distress and risky sexual behavior using sociosexual behavior as a proxy. The sample comprised monozygotic and dizygotic twins and their non-twin siblings (n = 2036, 3780 and 2356, respectively) genotyped and assessed for same-sex attraction, psychological distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms), and risky sexual behavior. Causal influences were investigated with same-sex attraction as the predictor and psychological distress and risky sexual behavior as the outcomes in two separate Mendelian Randomization-Direction of Causation (MRDoC) models using OpenMx in R. The MRDoC model improves on the Mendelian Randomization and Direction of Causation twin models by allowing analyses of variables with similar genetic architectures, incorporating polygenic scores as instrumental variables and specifying pleiotropy and residual covariance. There were significant causal influences flowing from same-sex attraction to psychological distress and risky sexual behavior (standardized coefficients = 0.13 and 0.16; 95% CIs 0.03-0.23 and 0.08-0.25, respectively). Further analyses also demonstrated causal influences flowing from psychological distress and risky sexual behavior toward same-sex attraction. Causal influences from same-sex attraction to psychological distress and risky sexual behavior may reflect minority stress, which reinforces ongoing measures to minimize social disparities. Causal influences flowing in the opposite direction may reflect rejection sensitivity, stigma-inducing outcomes of risky sexual behavior, and recall bias; however, further research is required to specifically investigate these processes.
Topics: Humans; Sexual Behavior; Twins; Heterosexuality; Anxiety; Psychological Distress
PubMed: 36331682
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02455-9 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Jun 2018Geosocial networking applications (e.g., "hookup apps") are widely used among adult men who have sex with men (MSM). Little is known about adolescent MSM's (AMSM) use of...
PURPOSE
Geosocial networking applications (e.g., "hookup apps") are widely used among adult men who have sex with men (MSM). Little is known about adolescent MSM's (AMSM) use of these apps. Exploratory research is needed as AMSM's app use poses various ethical, legal, and sexual health concerns. This article examined AMSM's app use patterns and its associations with their sexual health and behavior.
METHODS
Two hundred sexually experienced AMSM in the United States (M age = 16.6, 49% racial/ethnic minority) completed online survey questions assessing their use of apps specific to MSM and not specific to MSM to meet partners for dating and sex, as well as their sexual behavior and HIV risk.
RESULTS
Overall, 52.5% of participants (n = 105) reported using MSM-specific apps to meet partners for sex. Of these, most participants reported having oral (75.7%, n = 78) and anal sex (62.1%, n = 64) with those partners. Of those who reported having anal sex, 78.1% (n = 50) had sex with those partners more than once, and only 25.0% (n = 16) always used condoms with those partners. Relative to those who used only non-MSM-specific apps, MSM-specific app users reported more sex partners and condomless anal sex partners, greater perceived risk of HIV, more engagement in sexual health services, and greater odds of HIV testing.
CONCLUSIONS
Use of MSM-specific apps was not uncommon among this sample of AMSM. Patterns of risk behavior and HIV testing were similar to samples of adult MSM app users. Further research should investigate AMSM's app-related sexual and HIV/sexually transmitted infection prevention decision-making to guide sexual health education efforts for AMSM.
Topics: Adolescent; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Mobile Applications; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Social Networking; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
PubMed: 29784114
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.01.001 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Apr 2010A careful examination of young men's sexuality by health professionals in pediatrics, primary care, and reproductive health is foundational to adolescent male sexual... (Review)
Review
A careful examination of young men's sexuality by health professionals in pediatrics, primary care, and reproductive health is foundational to adolescent male sexual health and healthy development. Through a review of existing published data, this article provides background and a developmental framework for sexual health services for adolescent boys. The article first defines and provides an overview of adolescent boys' sexual health, and then discusses developmentally focused research on the following topics: (1) early romantic relationships and the evolution of power and influence within these relationships; (2) developmental "readiness" for sex and curiosity; (3) boys' need for closeness and intimacy; (4) adopting codes of masculinity; (5) boys' communicating about sex; and (6) contextual influences from peers, families, and providers. This article concludes by examining the implications of these data for sexual health promotion efforts for adolescent males, including human papillomavirus vaccination.
Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescent Development; Communication; Family; Gender Identity; Health Personnel; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Mass Media; Peer Group; Public Health; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 20307842
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.01.017 -
Journal of American College Health : J... 2018Hooking up is common in college, and has been linked to heavy drinking. Hookups have positive as well as negative consequences, and thus the motivations for hooking up...
OBJECTIVE
Hooking up is common in college, and has been linked to heavy drinking. Hookups have positive as well as negative consequences, and thus the motivations for hooking up are complex. Yet, little research has focused on these motivations. The present study examined the role that gender and drinking patterns play in the relationship between sexual motivation and penetrative hookups.
PARTICIPANTS
Heavy drinking college students (N = 396) completed online surveys between September/October 2009.
METHOD
Sexual motivation, alcohol, and hooking up were assessed.
RESULTS
Enhancement motives and drinking frequency predicted more frequent oral and vaginal sex when hooking up, while peer and partner motives predicted anal sex. Men endorsed greater enhancement motives, peer motives, and hookup oral and vaginal sex. For men, coping motives predicted oral and vaginal sex and peer motives predicted anal sex.
CONCLUSIONS
Results provide greater insight into the reasons why college students engage in penetrative hookups.
Topics: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol Drinking in College; Female; Humans; Male; Motivation; Peer Group; Sex Factors; Sexual Behavior; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Universities; Young Adult
PubMed: 29447601
DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1440571 -
American Journal of Epidemiology Jan 2022Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States are stigmatized for their same-sex practices, which can lead to risky sexual behavior, potentiating risk for human...
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States are stigmatized for their same-sex practices, which can lead to risky sexual behavior, potentiating risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Improved measurement is necessary for accurately reporting and mitigating sexual behavior stigma. We added 13 sexual behavior stigma items to local surveys administered in 2017 at 9 sites in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system, which uses venue-based, time-sampling procedures to survey cisgender MSM in US Census Metropolitan Statistical Areas. We performed exploratory factor analytical procedures on site-specific (Baltimore, Maryland; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Nassau-Suffolk, New York; Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles, California; San Diego, California; and Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Virginia) and pooled responses to the survey items. A 3-factor solution-"stigma from family" (α = 0.70), "anticipated health-care stigma" (α = 0.75), and "general social stigma" (α = 0.66)-best fitted the pooled data and was the best-fitting solution across sites. Findings demonstrate that MSM across the United States experience sexual behavior stigma similarly. The results reflect the programmatic utility of enhanced stigma measurement, including tracking trends in stigma over time, making regional comparisons of stigma burden, and supporting evaluation of stigma-mitigation interventions among MSM across the United States.
Topics: Family; Health Services Accessibility; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Sexual Behavior; Social Stigma; United States; Young Adult
PubMed: 34664625
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab240 -
BMC Public Health Oct 2005Khat (an evergreen plant with amphetamine-like properties) and alcohol are widely consumed among the youth of Ethiopia. However, their relationship to risky sexual... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Khat (an evergreen plant with amphetamine-like properties) and alcohol are widely consumed among the youth of Ethiopia. However, their relationship to risky sexual behaviour is not well described. This study was conducted to describe the magnitude of risky sexual behaviour (unprotected sex and early initiation of sexual activity) and its association with Khat and alcohol consumption in Ethiopian youths.
METHODS
A probabilistic national sample of 20,434 in-school and out-of-school youths aged between 15 and 24 years of age was selected and interviewed regarding their sexual behavior and substance use.
RESULTS
Over 20% of out-of-school youth had unprotected sex during the 12-month period prior to interview compared to 1.4% of in-school youth. Daily Khat intake was also associated with unprotected sex: adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.26 (1.92, 2.67). There was a significant and linear association between alcohol intake and unprotected sex, with those using alcohol daily having a three fold increased odds compared to those not using it: adj. OR (95% CI) = 3.05 (2.38, 3.91). Use of substances other than Khat was not associated with unprotected sex, but was associated with initiation of sexual activity: adj. OR (95% CI) = 2.54 (1.84, 3.51).
CONCLUSION
A substantial proportion of out-of-school youth engage in risky sex. The use of Khat and alcohol and other substances is significantly and independently associated with risky sexual behaviour among Ethiopian youths.
Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adult; Age Factors; Alcohol Drinking; Catha; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Coitus; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Probability; Risk-Taking; Social Environment; Students; Unsafe Sex
PubMed: 16225665
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-5-109 -
AIDS Care Dec 2020McKirnan's Cognitive Escape Theory (1996) is often characterized by the hypothesis that drugs are used during sex by gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men...
McKirnan's Cognitive Escape Theory (1996) is often characterized by the hypothesis that drugs are used during sex by gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) to relieve internal cognitive conflict over safe-sex norms and sexual desire. We examined how McKirnan's Cognitive Escape Scale (CES) is related to other widely used constructs relevant to sexualized substance use with hopes of better situating the theory within the evolving landscape of HIV-prevention. Associations between CES and trait anxiety, depression, treatment optimism, sexual altruism, sexual sensation seeking, and self-perceived risk for HIV transmission/acquisition were tested. Mediation analyses tested whether associated psychological measures mediated the effect of CES on the proportion of events in which participants reported co-occurrent substance use and condomless anal sex. Results indicated that CES is associated with higher sexual sensation seeking, treatment optimism, trait anxiety, and perceived likelihood of HIV transmission/acquisition. Mediation analyses suggest that CES is related to but operates independently of treatment optimism, sensation seeking, and trait anxiety. Nevertheless, the intersection of HIV-related worries and substance use expectancies are clearly more nuanced than is widely reported is discussions on cognitive escape.
Topics: Adult; Bisexuality; Condoms; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Substance-Related Disorders; Unsafe Sex
PubMed: 31851524
DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1705961 -
Demography Jun 2017Non-heterosexual young women have a higher rate of unintended pregnancy than their heterosexual peers, but their fertility behaviors are understudied. We use...
Non-heterosexual young women have a higher rate of unintended pregnancy than their heterosexual peers, but their fertility behaviors are understudied. We use longitudinal data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life study to investigate mechanisms contributing to non-heterosexual women's higher pregnancy risk. These data include weekly reports of relationships, sex, and contraceptive use over 30 months. We compare the relationships and fertility behaviors of three groups: exclusively heterosexual (consistent heterosexual behavior, identity, and attraction); mostly heterosexual (heterosexual identity with same-sex behavior and/or same-sex attraction); and LGBTQ (any non-heterosexual identity). We find that mostly heterosexual and LGBTQ women behave differently from exclusively heterosexual women in ways likely to elevate their risk of unintended pregnancy: more distinct partners during the study period, more sexual intercourse with men, less frequent contraceptive use, less use of a dual method (condom plus hormonal method), and more gaps in contraceptive coverage. Mostly heterosexual women resemble LGBTQ women in their contraceptive behavior but have significantly more intercourse with men, which may increase their pregnancy risk relative to both LGBTQ and exclusively heterosexual women. We conclude by considering implications for LGBTQ health and the measurement of sexual minority populations.
Topics: Adolescent; Contraception Behavior; Female; Heterosexuality; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Sexual Behavior; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 28466434
DOI: 10.1007/s13524-017-0578-y