In India, transgender persons - especially Hijras and Kinnars - inhabit a paradoxical position: culturally mythologized as sacred yet socially marginalized. Drawing on primary survey data from 335 transgender persons in Delhi-NCR, this study investigated how engagement in sex work - often a survival strategy - shapes their social inclusion. Guided by intersectionality, social exclusion, and stigma theory, and employing ordered probit regression, the analysis spanned ten dimensions of inclusion (e.g. societal acceptance, healthcare access, dignity of labor, civic participation). Results showed a strong, negative association between sex work and social inclusion outcomes: transgender sex workers were significantly less likely to report positive experiences across all domains, even when controlling for education and income. Marginal effects indicated that sex work reduced the probability of experiencing high social acceptance by 8% and participation in cultural events by 31.4%. While higher education and income improved inclusion, they only partially buffered the stigma of sex work. Consistent with Divan et al., who noted that trans people's lives often involve "extreme social exclusion," our findings reframe sex work not merely as a livelihood choice but as a site of compounded exclusion shaped by stigma and institutional neglect. We challenge assumptions that economic survival guarantees social legitimacy and call for policies recognizing dignity beyond income metrics. Ultimately, we advocate for a new paradigm of inclusion - one that dismantles structural stigma and affirms transgender lives in all their complexity.

The majority of sexual violence perpetrators are men and, therefore it is important to examine factors that contribute to sexual aggression behaviors among men. Motives for engaging in sex is an under-investigated factor that may contribute to sexual aggression. We examined the association between six motives for sex (self-affirmation, coping, enhancement, peer approval, partner approval, and intimacy) and sexual aggression in young adult men in the United States over a four-week time span. Participants (N = 733) were men between 18 and 35 years of age, recruited from CloudResearch to complete three surveys: baseline, 2-week follow-up, and 4-week follow-up. We conducted negative binomial hurdle regression models to examine the association between sex motives and sexual aggression. Results showed that coping and self-affirmation motives at baseline predicted likelihood of sexual aggression at 2- and 4-week follow-up. Intimacy, peer approval, partner approval, and enhancement sex motives were not associated with sexual aggression at 2- or 4-week follow-up. Motives for sex, specifically coping and self-affirmation, may play a role in the engagement in sexual aggression. Findings contribute to our knowledge of why men engage in sexual aggression and may be useful in the identification of individuals who are at increased risk for perpetrating sexual aggression.

Although prior research has shown that experiencing cyber-sexual violence is associated with a greater emotional impact, no study has analyzed whether myths about cyber-sexual violence could affect victims of cyber-sexual violence. Thus, we conducted two studies to analyze the impact of acceptance myths about cyber-sexual violence (AMCYS) on the relationship between cyber-sexual violence victimization and emotional impacts. In Study 1 (N = 310), women with higher levels of AMCYS and greater cyber-sexual violence victimization reported higher levels of anxiety and depression, as well as lower self-esteem. Study 2 (N = 393) replicated these results and also examined the effect of cyber-sexual violence victimization through the lens of objectification theory. Results showed that women with higher AMCYS scores and more cyber-sexual violence victimization reported higher levels of anxiety, depression and body shame, as well as lower self-esteem and body appreciation. Importantly, these relationships occurred through the indirect effect of body surveillance (self-objectification). Both studies indicated that AMCYS play an exacerbating role in the emotional impacts reported by women who have more frequently experienced cyber-sexual violence, while also highlighting the framework of objectification theory in understanding these results. These findings can be used to develop interventions and prevention campaigns against cyber-sexual violence.

Experiencing rejection from a romantic partner can be painful, and sexual rejection may have a lasting impact on satisfaction. However, some ways of communicating sexual rejection may elicit more constructive responses from the rejected partner, fostering continued connection in the face of rejection. Across three studies-a cross-sectional study of individuals in romantic relationships (Study 1; N = 315) and two dyadic daily diary studies (Studies 2-3; total N = 219 couples contributing 9,287 daily reports)-we tested whether specific ways of communicating sexual rejection are associated with the rejected partner's emotional and behavioral responses. Across studies, perceived hostile rejection (e.g. the partner displayed criticism) was associated with more negative responses (i.e. resentment) from the rejected partner. In contrast, perceived reassuring rejection (e.g. the partner expressed warmth or future interest in sex) elicited more positive responses to rejection (i.e. understanding) and maintained the rejected partner's sexual desire. The findings extend relationship theories to understand sexual conflict, and provide a framework of specific, observable behaviors that researchers and clinicians can incorporate to help couples navigate the challenges of sexual rejection.

Sexual aggression toward women is pervasive in society and widespread on college campuses. Despite extensive research on its predictors and increased implementation of prevention programs, the prevalence of sexual aggression remains high. This has led to growing recognition of the need to distinguish between perpetrator profiles. This study examined whether the distinction between proactive and reactive aggression, a key distinction in aggression research, can help differentiate subtypes of men with a history of sexual aggression. A total of 619 young, heterosexual men (M = 22.50, SD = 3.40) completed questionnaires assessing various risk factors for sexual aggression that align with proactive and reactive aggression. Using Principal Component Analysis, we found a component reflecting proactive risk factors, and two more reactive components: one related to emotional lability and the other to impulsivity and alcohol use. A two-step cluster analysis, using the three components, revealed four distinct perpetrator subtypes, with three groups showing distinct risk factors - proactive traits, emotional dysregulation, or impulsivity and alcohol use. However, the fourth and largest cluster lacked clear risk characteristics, highlighting the need to explore additional factors, including sexual ones, to refine risk differentiation and prevention efforts.

Sexual function problems are prevalent in both women and men and are linked to individual and dyadic factors. While the connection between sexual self-esteem and sexual function problems is well-established, the combined influence of individual and relational aspects of sexual self-esteem on sexual function problems in couples is not yet understood. This study investigated whether individual or dyadic factors of sexual self-esteem show stronger associations with sexual function problems in a non-clinical sample. Data from 310 mixed-sex couples that participated in a cross-sectional online study were analyzed using actor-partner interdependence models (APIM). Results revealed that higher common sexual self-esteem, but not individual sexual self-esteem or partner's influence on own sexual self-esteem, was significantly associated with men's and women's better sexual function. This indicates that dyadic factors showed stronger associations with sexual function compared to individual factors of sexual self-esteem. No gender differences were found in the strength of associations. Additionally, sexual self-esteem aspects were associated with specific subscales of sexual function problems (i.e. arousal, desire, orgasm, and satisfaction). The results suggest that common sexual self-esteem might be an effective target for the treatment of sexual function problems and that clinicians should adopt a dyadic perspective.

Masturbation with its numerous health benefits is an integral aspect of most people's sexuality and is typically observed across all stages of life. However, longitudinal studies exploring the frequencies of masturbation across major life phases are lacking. We examined the development of masturbation frequencies from ages 19-50 via multilevel growth curve modeling with a longitudinal population-based sample of 2,562 individuals. For women, masturbation frequency gradually increased until they were in their early 30s, followed by a slight decline. In contrast, men's masturbation practices remained largely stable across the investigated age span. Masturbation trajectories did not change for either gender when controlling for the frequency of partnered sex. However, accounting for partnership status and the frequency of sexual fantasizing changed the trajectories for men, but not for women. Compared to those who became parents, individuals who remained childless presented a greater increase in masturbation frequency until approximately age 30, followed by a greater subsequent decline. Participants with nonheterosexual sexual identity masturbated more frequently than did strictly heterosexual individuals, across all ages. Masturbation trajectories did not differ significantly across religious affiliation and educational attainment. Collectively, these findings suggest the autonomous nature of masturbation as a sexual activity in relation to the frequency of partnered sex but also underscore the importance of individual life circumstances and one's sexuality in shaping its expression throughout adulthood. Future research should further investigate the dynamics among partnered sexual practices, sexual and relational problems, and masturbation.

This well-powered, pre-registered online study examined differences in orgasmic consistency among women both with and without ADHD symptomatology while controlling for sexual assertiveness and sexual attitudes, constructs yet to be explored in this context. A convenience sample of 815 (Mage = 28.93, SDage = 9.23) cisgender females, at least 18 years of age and sexually active with at least one partner over the last 6 months, completed this study online through the survey platform Qualtrics. No preexisting ADHD diagnosis was required. Study hypotheses were confirmed, revealing that ADHD symptomatology predicted orgasmic consistency, and most notably, that greater inattentive ADHD symptomatology was associated with lower consistency of orgasm. Exploration of medication use for ADHD symptom management revealed only a significant effect of medication use on orgasmic consistency in women who did not currently meet the criteria for ADHD symptomatology. Finally, when comparing women of sexual minority orientations to the sexual majority, results indicated only a significant difference in orgasmic consistency rates among women who did not meet the ADHD symptomatology criteria. Given that women who struggle with difficulties in consistently achieving orgasm are more likely to experience negative relationship satisfaction, self-esteem, and sexual satisfaction outcomes - as well as increased rates of emotional distress - our results have significant implications for the sexual health and well-being of women with ADHD symptomatology. This is particularly true for those with the inattentive ADHD symptomatology subtype.

ABSTRACT We examined three proximal motives for sexual aggression (sexual persistence after a turn down): sexual arousal, power, and relationship. The MTurk sample consisted of 264 adults: 92 Millennial men (35%), 51 Millennial women (19%), 82 Gen X men (31%) and 39 Gen X women (15%). The motive data, measured by the Sexual Aggression Motive Assessment (SAMA), were unanalyzed data extracted from the authors’ previous study of the Millennial shift, a phenomenon in which Millennial women, as compared to older generation women, showed higher levels of sexual aggression, while Millennial men, in comparison to older generation men, demonstrated lower levels of sexual aggression. For all respondents combined, the most chosen motive category was sexual arousal (95%), followed by relationship (49%), and then by power (18%) with 50% choosing two or more motive categories. Providing conceptual support for the Millennial shift, significantly more Millennial women than Gen X women chose motives of sexual arousal and power as reasons for perpetrating sexual aggression. An important finding for the relationship motive is that substantial numbers of both men and women engaged in sexual aggression because they felt that having sex would make the person like them.

ABSTRACT Delay and probability discounting tasks are useful for understanding aspects of decision making. The current study, which employed a mixed-model design to assess discounting of penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI), was conducted online with male and female participants recruited from Prolific (N = 300; mean age = 34.1 years). Results of the novel delay and probability discounting tasks indicated that as the delay to PVI increased, or as PVI became less certain to occur, participants were instead more likely to choose to receive oral sex, the reward initially indicated as less desirable. Having previously engaged in PVI, however, enhanced this reversal of preferences on both tasks, which suggests PVI loses some of its value when no longer novel. Males and females similarly discounted PVI on the delay discounting task, which suggests biological sex may not impact the propensity to wait for a preferred sexual behavior. On the probability discounting task, however, males were more averse to a reduced probability of PVI occurring and instead opted for receiving oral sex. The sexual behavior discounting tasks developed in the current study, and ones like it, may prove useful for identifying preferences in sexual behaviors, and ultimately enhance sexual and relationship satisfaction.