The ability to recognize, communicate, and regulate emotions and bodily sensations is integral to sexual function. Consequently, individuals higher in alexithymia—characterized by difficulties identifying and describing emotions—have increased vulnerability to problems with their sexual function as well as sexual dysfunction. Despite established links between alexithymia and sexual function difficulties, there is limited research examining links between alexithymia and sexual distress in women and no studies in men. This is surprising given that sexual distress is a necessary criterion for diagnosing sexual dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to examine (a) associations between alexithymia and sexual distress in women and men and (b) which facets of alexithymia are most relevant to sexual distress. In Study 1, higher levels of alexithymia were positively associated with greater sexual distress in a community sample of women ( n = 138) and men ( n = 140). In Study 2, difficulty identifying feelings was the only facet of alexithymia significantly linked to sexual distress in an undergraduate sample of women ( n = 398) and men ( n = 88). In both studies, individuals with clinically significant sexual distress reported significantly greater alexithymia relative to those below clinical distress thresholds. Consistent with theories of emotion recognition and regulation, difficulty identifying feelings may inhibit subsequent emotion regulation processes that are crucial for modulating negative emotions associated with sexual difficulties. This study suggests that alexithymia is associated with greater sexual distress and that improving emotional identification may be beneficial for individuals experiencing sexual distress.

Communication and swallowing are important in sexuality and intimacy. People experiencing disabilities related to communication or swallowing (e.g., individuals with aphasia, dementia, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, as well as Augmentative-Alternative Communication users) face challenges with sexuality and intimacy. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are health professionals who can address the impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy. This study aims to investigate if and how SLPs in Canada are currently addressing these issues in practice. A survey with a mix of 26 closed- and 4 open-ended questions was distributed to 1,149 SLPs. Of the respondents who met the inclusion criteria, 56 completed the survey. The survey results show that nearly two thirds of SLPs in Canada who responded are addressing aspects of sexuality and intimacy to some extent, most commonly impacts on gender roles and dating. However, most SLPs wait for the patient/client to initiate a discussion about this area, and most do not have a specific strategy to do so. These findings are largely consistent with research findings in other health care fields (e.g., nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy). Future research should address the limitations of this study and investigate the impacts on clients’ health and quality of life when SLPs address sexuality and intimacy.

Higher sexual satisfaction benefits not only overall relationship satisfaction but also psychological well-being, physical health, and quality of life. Research on sexual satisfaction in partnered men who have sex with men (MSM) has been hampered by the lack of a validated theoretical model. The goal of this study was to validate the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction (IEMSS) MSM in both monogamous and consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships. Participants were 184 (132 monogamous and 52 CNM) self-identified men who were in a relationship of at least 3 months with another self-identified man who completed an online survey. In keeping with predictions based on the IEMSS, all the IEMSS model components (relationship satisfaction, balance of sexual rewards and costs, balance of relative sexual rewards and costs, equality of rewards, equality of costs) were significantly associated with sexual satisfaction for both groups of men supporting the model’s validity, although equality of rewards was not uniquely associated with sexual satisfaction for monogamous men. The authors found no differences between monogamous and CNM MSM in either their sexual satisfaction or the IEMSS components. These results add to a growing body of research that counters negative stereotypes about both same-gender and CNM sexual relationships, as well as providing valuable information for clinicians aiming to enhance the sexual satisfaction and sexual experiences of men in same-gender relationships.

The visibility management of bi+ individuals involves a continuous negotiation between the pursuit of authenticity and the risks of rejection or violence associated with disclosure. Within the family—a key developmental context for youth—bi+ identity disclosure is often selective, and its impact on youth’s well-being remains underexplored. This study examines how authenticity mediates the relationship between family disclosure and well-being among bi+ youth, and how family bullying mediates or moderates this association. It also explores whether these dynamics vary by developmental period. Data were collected through a pan-Canadian online survey (2019–2020), with an analytical sample of 954 bisexual and pansexual youth aged 15–29. Using causal mediation analyses, we tested two models, controlling for sexual orientation, gender identity and modality, racialized status, living arrangement, financial stress, and developmental period, after confirming the absence of a moderating role. Results indicate that authenticity mediated the positive relationship between disclosure to family and well-being among bi+ youth. This indirect effect was either part of a joint mediation involving family bullying, or moderated by it, becoming non-significant when family bullying was present. These findings underscore the detrimental role of family bullying in preventing disclosure from fostering authenticity and, consequently, well-being. Future research should further investigate the complex family dynamics surrounding bi+ youth disclosure, particularly how authenticity and family bullying interact with other family characteristics such as parental and sibling support, family structure, and cultural norms. Examining the directionality of these relationships longitudinally and identifying the subgroups or contexts where family bullying acts as a mediator or a moderator will be key for future research seeking to disentangle these effects.

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have allowed machines to step into the realm of meaningful relationships with humans. Conversational agents, such as Replika, are specifically designed to build emotional connections with people. For some, they are now considered friends, romantic, or even sexual partners. With many countries acknowledging that there is a loneliness epidemic, these alternatives to human intimacy provide a potential remedy. Many warn of the dangers that AI companions pose, but they may also provide benefits to human relationships. In this study, the authors used qualitative thematic analysis to analyze Replika users’ posts on the r/replika Reddit forum to answer the question: How does Replika use impact users’ human relationships? Five main themes were identified: increased relational skills and capacity, relational offloading, relational desire, secrecy, and addiction. Replika use may harm users’ human relationships through secrecy related to stigma, questions around infidelity, and addiction. However, it may also enhance users’ human relationships by improving their relational skills and capacity, providing relationship support, and increasing their desire for human connection. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Sexual novelty, such as new sexual behaviour or experiences, is associated with sexual satisfaction and may buffer declines in sexual activity, sexual desire, and relationship satisfaction over time in committed relationships. The authors sought to understand how couples talk about sexual novelty in their relationships and interpreted themes within a self-expansion framework. Using reflexive thematic analysis, they qualitatively analyzed 28 mixed-gender (i.e., male–female pair) couples’ conversations about a sexual problem in which they discussed novelty in their sexual relationship. They developed three themes related to motivation, barriers to engage in sexual novelty, and couples’ perceptions of how sexual novelty had changed over time in their relationship. Motivations to implement sexual novelty included adding spice to maintain an already satisfying sexual relationship or to enhance satisfaction. Couples also considered novelty to manage sexual problems, such as a lack of orgasm or low desire. Couples may have been motivated to engage in sexual novelty because it is a self-expanding experience, which could benefit the sexual relationship. Although couples had positive views about sexual novelty, they also identified barriers to discussing novelty, such as uncertainty about partner interest, or implementing novelty because of the stress and effort it involved. Couples also talked about how their pursuit of sexual novelty had waxed and waned with time and how they might integrate novelty in their sex lives in the future, especially as an antidote to normal declines in sexual satisfaction.

Asexuality, often characterized as an absence of sexual attraction, is now understood as a spectrum incorporating varying levels of sexual and romantic attraction. Despite growing visibility and scientific interest, asexuality remains stigmatized and often misunderstood as a valid sexual orientation. While previous research has identified biomarkers such as digit ratios (2D:4D) and handedness in the context of homosexuality, their association with asexuality remains underexplored. To address this gap and contribute to the understanding of asexuality as a distinct sexual orientation, the authors conducted an online study recruiting asexual ( n = 366) and non-asexual (allosexual; n = 1,305) participants. They collected digit ratio measurements using scans of both right and left hands and assessed handedness using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Results indicated that across all sexual orientations, females had higher left- and right-hand digit ratios than males, consistent with most prior research. Also, consistent with some prior research, exploratory analyses suggested asexual men had elevated rates of non-right-handedness relativo allosexual men. In addition, the authors found nuanced differences, such that sexual orientation, handedness, and the hand used for digit ratio calculations significantly interacted. They found that non-right-handed asexual participants had a lower right-hand-digit ratio than those attracted to more than one gender. Also, non-right-handed asexual participants had a significantly lower left-hand-digit ratio than heterosexual and gay/lesbian participants. Overall, these findings contribute to the limited body of literature on asexuality and highlight the importance of considering the potential complex interaction of multiple biological/prenatal factors in the development of sexual orientation, including asexuality.

A growing body of work examines how people’s implicit theories of sexuality (i.e., their sexual growth and sexual destiny beliefs) relate to their sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, it is unknown how these beliefs and their associations may differ across sociodemographic factors. Using a U.S. census-stratified sample and LGBTQ+ sample of individuals in relationships recruited from Prolific ( N = 680), the authors tested whether (a) sexual growth and sexual destiny beliefs and (b) their associations with two measures of sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction differ based on age, socio-economic status (SES), relationship configuration (monogamous vs. consensually non-monogamous), and political orientation. Equivalence testing revealed that levels of sexual growth and sexual destiny beliefs were consistent across these factors, except that individuals with more conservative political orientations reported higher sexual destiny beliefs. The authors replicated past findings of the positive associations between sexual growth beliefs and sexual and relationship satisfaction; however, this did not generalize to lower levels of SES on both sexual satisfaction measures. Likewise, they generally replicated that the link between sexual destiny beliefs and satisfaction was moderated by sexual incompatibility, but this was further moderated by age (for one relationship satisfaction measure). Overall, the findings point to consistency in implicit theories of sexuality and their associations. This work contributes to the growing need for sexuality and relationship studies to consider the generalizability and representativeness of their findings and opens up avenues for future research to investigate differences that arise.

Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) is a common health issue among women and individuals, characterized by pain upon vaginal penetration. Despite its prevalence, GPPPD remains a significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated disorder. As a result, many individuals with this condition struggle to obtain proper medical care and may turn to substances to cope with their pain and distress. However, research on self-medication in the context of GPPPD is currently sparse—a critical oversight, given the long-term health risks associated with heightened substance use. This study aimed to investigate whether individuals with GPPPD use alcohol and cannabis to cope with the symptoms of this condition. The study employed a cross-sectional design, using data collected from an online survey. The survey yielded 166 responses. Path analysis was conducted to examine the associations between GPPPD pain severity, sexual distress, and the use of alcohol and cannabis to cope with emotional and physical pain. Analysis revealed that GPPPD pain severity was significantly associated with higher levels of sexual distress, and this in turn was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of using alcohol and cannabis to cope with emotional pain (i.e., embarrassment, stress, relationship strain, hopelessness). The results demonstrate the critical need for improved recognition and treatment of GPPPD, with particular focus on addressing the psychological impacts of the condition. In a broader context, this study aims to draw attention to the urgent need for increased education addressing sexual health stigmas and the dismissal of women’s and individuals’ vulvar pain within the healthcare landscape.

Over the course of 2021–2025, an increase in state-sponsored anti-transgender antagonism has been seen in the form of laws that restrict the rights of transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) people and, in particular, youth. For example, in October 2023, the Saskatchewan (SK) legislative assembly passed Bill 137, which requires parental consent before a student’s self-determined and gender-affirming name or identity can be used by teachers or school employees. These policies expose TGE youth to risks of familial rejection and preventable stress. The Understanding Affirming Communities, Relationships, and Networks survey (2022) sought to characterize Canadian TGE students aged 15–17 years, comparing those who disclosed their gender identity to teachers but not to parents/caregivers ( n = 241)—a group that likely reflects those most at risk of having their identities involuntarily disclosed to parents/caregivers through policy changes like those enacted in SK—and those who disclosed their gender identity to both teachers and parents/caregivers ( n = 728). Those who disclosed to teachers but not parents/caregivers included a greater proportion of youth who were assigned male at birth; identified as non-binary, genderfluid, or unsure about gender identity; culturally identified as African, Southeast Asian, or Middle Eastern; racially identified as Asian; or had at least one parent/guardian born outside of Canada. These findings underscore the crucial role of educational institutions as safe spaces for TGE youth, highlighting the potential risk created by policies that remove youth agency and force involuntary disclosure of TGE youth identities to potentially non-supportive parents/caregivers.