Adult Sexual Behavior Research Articles

Tickle fetishism: pleasure beyond playfulness.

Tickling is commonly perceived as juvenile play associated with laughter. However, its potential connection to adult sexual behavior has largely remained unexplored. Our online survey, primarily distributed among individuals interested in tickle fetishism, explored tickling and its association with sexual behavior. Ticklishness types, tools, preferred body parts, and partner preferences, were examined. Results revealed diverse patterns of ticklishness changes over time and distinct body-part preferences for different types of tickling. Childhood experiences and exposure to tickling content in television were found to shape individuals' affinity for tickle fetishism. A quarter of respondents reported experiencing orgasms exclusively from tickling, while around 88% expressed sexual satisfaction through tickling alone, indicating its sufficiency as a sexual stimulus among fetishists. Tickling desire decreased after orgasm, indicating an association between tickling and sexual activity. Moreover, ticklishness degree predicted preferences for being tickled rather than tickling others. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors underlying tickling and sexual experiences: enjoyment and frequency of tickling during sexual activity; preference for intense sexual experiences; age of becoming sexually active. In conclusion, this study provides unique insights into tickling and its connections to sexual context, enhancing our understanding of diverse human sexual behavior and tickle fetishism as a distinct preference.

Fruitless is sex-differentially spliced and is important for the courtship behavior and development of silkmoth Bombyx mori

Sexual dimorphisms of the brain play essential roles in successful reproduction. Silkmoth Bombyx mori exhibits extensive sexual differences in sexual behavior, as well as their morphology. Although the neural circuits that transmit information about sex pheromone in the male brain are extensively analyzed, the molecular mechanisms that regulate their development are still elusive. In the present study, we focused on the silkmoth ortholog of fruitless (fru) as a candidate gene that regulates sexual dimorphisms of the brain. fru transcripts were expressed from multiple promoters in various tissues, and brain-specific transcripts were sex-specifically spliced, in a manner similar to Drosophila. Interestingly, fru was highly expressed in the adult female brain and the male larval testis. Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated fru knockout strains revealed that fru plays important roles in survival during late larval and pupal stages, testis development, and adult sexual behavior. fru mutant males exhibited highly reduced levels of courtship and low copulation rate, indicating that fru plays significant roles in the sexual behavior of silkmoths, although it is not absolutely necessary for copulation. In the fru mutant males, sexually dimorphic pattern of the odorant receptor expression was impaired, possibly causing the defects in courtship behavior. These results provide important clues to elucidate the development of sexual dimorphisms of silkmoth brains, as well as the evolution of fruitless gene in insects.

Childhood adversity associations with sexual assault perpetration

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Questionnaire has been used increasingly in survey research to identify respondents at elevated risk of later maladjustment. The value of the ACE count in this crowdsourcing sample (N = 2,430) was contrasted with dimensional child abuse and neglect risk indicators in regard to self-reported sexual aggression. Respondents completed the Revised Sexual Experiences Survey (SES-SFP), ACE Questionnaire, and five dimensional indices of childhood neglect (Assessing Environments III), exposure to intimate partner violence (Violent Experiences Questionnaire-Revised), and sexual (Sexual Abuse & Assault Self-Report), physical (Physical Abuse Self-Report), and emotional abuse (VEQ-R). A focal question in this analysis was whether self-reported sexual aggression would be more strongly associated with specific forms of child abuse and neglect over a broader count of different ACE exposures. ACE items linked most closely to sexual aggression included sexual abuse, physical neglect, domestic violence, and family incarceration. A count of elevations (> 1 SD) on the dimensional child abuse and neglect indices provided the stronger risk indicator in the analysis. Dimensional sexual (r = .48) and physical (r = .47) abuse scores were strongly associated with sexual aggression among the men. The greatest risk of adult sexual assaultive behavior was posed by the co-occurrence of any two forms of the dimensional child abuse and neglect indicators. These results emphasized the value of traditional child abuse and neglect indices as risk indicators of sexual aggressiveness.

Effects of early social experience on sexual behavior in Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica).

Experiences during immature phases of development, especially social experiences with individuals of the opposite sex, have implications for adult sexual behavior. Nevertheless, whether and how early experience can affect sexual learning in adulthood is still unclear. We present two experiments exploring how early experience impacts adult sexual Pavlovian conditioning in male Japanese quail. In Experiment 1, 25 male Japanese quail divided into three groups received different stimuli presentations at an early age, namely paired presentations of a conditioned stimulus (CS; a terry cloth model) and an unconditioned stimulus (US; an adult female quail), unpaired presentations of CS and US, and no exposure to stimuli. When they reached sexual maturity, we performed a sexual Pavlovian conditioning procedure with all groups using the same stimuli and tested their conditional response. In Experiment 2, we replicated the first experiment but with younger subjects and additional control variables. In the first experiment, we observed shorter approaching latencies to the CS and longer times near the CS in subjects with paired CS-US presentations compared to unpaired stimuli presentations. This was not replicated in Experiment 2. In both experiments, we found shorter approaching latencies and longer times near the CS in the groups with early exposure to the stimuli (paired or unpaired) compared to the group without this experience. Our findings indicate that the early presentations of stimuli at early stages of life can influence males' (speed of) sexual Pavlovian conditioning during adulthood.

Adult Mock Sexual Assault Witness Perceptions and Non-Verbal Behaviors Across Different Interview Frameworks

ABSTRACT We explored adults’ perceptions of evidence-based interview frameworks in the context of sexual assault, in order to examine stakeholders’ suggestions that police interviews are not sensitive to complainants psychological and emotional needs. Participants (N= 91) watched a video of an implied sexual assault and were randomly assigned to one of three interview conditions: the cognitive interview (CI), a streamlined interview for vulnerable witnesses (SIM), and the same streamlined interview with narrative practice (SIM+P). After the interview, participants evaluated their perceptions of the interview process and interviewer. Their non-verbal behaviors during the interviews were also compared across interview frameworks. CI participants reported more information than SIM and SIM+P participants, but the reverse was true when interview length was controlled. CI participants perceived the interview as more effortful than SIM participants, but there were no other differences in perceptions or non-verbal behavior. Implications for interviewers are discussed.

The GnRH Antagonist Degarelix Suppresses Gonadotropin Secretion and Pituitary Sensitivity in Midgestation Sheep Fetuses.

The specific role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on brain sexual differentiation remains unclear. To investigate whether gonadotropin and, in turn, testosterone (T) secretion is regulated by GnRH during the critical period for brain differentiation in sheep fetuses, we attempted to selectively suppress pituitary-testicular activation during midgestation with the long-acting GnRH antagonist degarelix. Fetuses received subcutaneous injections of the antagonist or vehicle on day 62 of gestation. After 2 to 3 weeks we examined consequences of the intervention on baseline and GnRH-stimulated plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and T levels. In addition, we measured the effect of degarelix-treatment on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for the pituitary gonadotropins and key gonadal steroidogenic enzymes. Baseline and GnRH-stimulated plasma LH levels were significantly suppressed in degarelix-treated male and female fetuses compared to control values. Similarly, T concentrations were suppressed in degarelix-treated males. The percentage of LHβ-immunoreactive cells colocalizing c-fos was significantly reduced by degarelix treatment indicating that pituitary sensitivity was inhibited. Degarelix treatment also led to the significant suppression of mRNA expression coding for the pituitary gonadotropin subunits and for the gonadal enzymes involved in androgen synthesis. These findings demonstrate that pharmacologic inhibition of GnRH early in gestation results in suppression of LH secretion and deficits in the plasma T levels of male lamb fetuses. We conclude that GnRH signaling plays a pivotal role for regulating T exposure during the critical period of sheep gestation when the brain is masculinized. Thus, disturbance to gonadotropin secretion during this phase of gestation could have long-term consequence on adult sexual behaviors and fertility.

Prenatal cocaine exposure, early cannabis use, and risky sexual behavior at age 25

BackgroundPrior research on prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) indicates that exposed children experience behavioral dysregulation resulting in risky adolescent behavior including earlier initiation of cannabis use and sexual intercourse. The goal of this study was to examine the long-term effects of PCE on adult sexual behavior. MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study of the association between PCE and risky adult sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 202 young adults (mean age = 27, SD = 0.98 years). The sample was 55% female, 46% White, and 54% Black. Data from the prenatal, childhood, and adolescent phases of the study were used to delineate pathways from PCE to adult sexual behavior. ResultsThe most common risky sexual behavior was having sex while drunk or high (63%). One-third of the sample reported that they “almost always” had sex while drunk or high. We found evidence for an indirect pathway from PCE to adult sex while drunk or high via early cannabis initiation. There were no other effects of PCE on adult risky sexual behavior or on risk for STIs, after controlling for sex assigned at birth, race, age at sexual initiation, and family history of drug and alcohol problems. ConclusionsAlthough PCE has been associated with earlier initiation of sex in prior studies, PCE was not directly associated with risky adult sex or history of STI. Exposed individuals were at greater risk of sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs via earlier initiation of cannabis use during adolescence.

Educational training for healthcare professionals about sexual health and behaviour in later life: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Older adults’ sexual health is often overlooked and unaddressed by healthcare professionals, though sexuality is a central and life-long aspect of being human. Healthcare professionals cite lack of knowledge and comfort in addressing older adult sexual health needs and concerns. We conducted a scoping review to identify educational programmes for professionals about later life sexual health and behaviour. Sixty articles were assessed for eligibility and five met inclusion criteria (two quantitative, two qualitative process evaluations, and one mixed method study). Content analysis identified four categories describing features that may contribute to the effectiveness of educational programmes: curriculum development; staff training within facility-based care settings; staff receptiveness and desire for more training; and inclusion of family members. Findings reveal several components that support professionals’ knowledge of and comfort with discussing sexual health. The dearth of articles investigating training for professionals about sexual health and behaviour in later life reveals how few studies have assessed the long-term effectiveness of training in practice. Researchers should design and evaluate educational programmes to increase professionals’ comfort with discussing older adult sexual health and behaviour to better equip professionals to meet the wide-ranging care needs, inclusive of sexual health, of an increasingly diverse ageing population.

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Risk Behavior: A Review and Critique

ABSTRACT Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a global problem with serious repercussions for survivors in various domains of adult interpersonal functioning, including sexual risk behavior. This review aimed to summarize findings from the recent literature on the connections between CSA and later adult sexual risk behaviors (e.g., unprotected intercourse, sexually transmitted infection [STSI] diagnosis). The sexual risk behaviors consistently associated with CSA were having sex under the influence of alcohol/substances and reports of concurrent sexual partners/infidelity. Notably, studies investigating the links between CSA and history of STI diagnosis and CSA and reports of unprotected sex (with the exception of samples comprised men who have sex with men) produced inconsistent findings. The methodological limitations of existing studies are considered and suggestions for future research are offered.

Origin and Evolution of the Gene Family of Proteinaceous Pheromones, the Exocrine Gland-Secreting Peptides, in Rodents.

The exocrine-gland secreting peptide (ESP)gene family encodes proteinaceous pheromones that are recognized by the vomeronasal organ in mice. For example, ESP1 is a male pheromone secreted in tear fluid that regulates socio-sexual behavior, and ESP22 is a juvenile pheromone that suppresses adult sexual behavior. The family consists of multiple genes and has been identified only in mouse and rat genomes. The coding region of a mouse ESP gene is separated into two exons, each encoding signal and mature sequences. Here, we report the origin and evolution of the ESP gene family. ESP genes were found only in the Muridea and Cricetidae families of rodents, suggesting a recent origin of ESP genes in the common ancestor of murids and cricetids. ESP genes show a great diversity in number, length, and sequence among different species as well as mouse strains. Some ESPs in rats and golden hamsters are expressed in the lacrimal gland and the salivary gland. We also found that a mature sequence of an ESP gene showed overall sequence similarity to the α-globin gene. The ancestral ESP gene seems to be generated by recombination of a retrotransposed α-globin gene with the signal-encoding exon of the CRISP2 gene located adjacent to the ESP gene cluster. This study provides an intriguing example of molecular tinkering in rapidly evolving species-specific proteinaceous pheromone genes.

Chronic Maternal Tobacco Smoke Exposure and/or Alpha-Lipoic Acid Treatment Causes Long-Term Deterioration of Testis and Sexual Behavior in Adult Male Rats

BackgroundTobacco use during pregnancy is known to have several negative effects on the offspring's reproductive health in the long term. The use of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) as a dietary supplement during pregnancy has increased greatly in recent years and has been known to have positive effects on various pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage, diabetic embryopathy, preterm delivery, and congenital malformations. AimTo evaluate the effects of tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) on sexual behavior, reproductive parameters, and testicles in adult male rats and to reveal the possible role of ALA administration on these parameters. MethodsPregnant rats (n = 7 per group) were treated with tobacco smoke (TS), ALA (20 mg/kg), and TS + ALA for a total of 11 weeks. The following parameters were compared with 8 control rats: puberty parameters, sexual behavior; levels of serum gonadotropins and testosterone, total antioxidant status, and total oxidant status; the expression of the apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 and caspase 9 mRNA levels in the testis; and assessment of immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay of testis. Main Outcome MeasureSexual behavior, changes in puberty parameters, and hormonal and genetic alterations were the outcomes analyzed in this study. ResultsMaternal TSE caused a significant decrease in the number of intromissions compared to the control group. Similarly, ALA decreased erectile function in sexual behavior by decreasing the number of intromissions and intromission ratio in the ALA group compared to the control group. In addition, TSE and ALA treatment caused an impairment of some consummatory sexual behaviors. Also, in parallel with this inhibitory effect, the age of pubertal onset was significantly delayed in the TS + ALA group compared to other groups. Also, histopathological changes in testicular tissue, oxidative stress markers, apoptotic index, and mRNA levels of apoptosis-related genes increased in all treatment groups. Clinical ImplicationsThe use of ALA and/or tobacco products during pregnancy may adversely affect the reproductive health of male newborns in the long term. Strengths & LimitationsTo the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show the effects of maternal ALA treatment and/or TSE on the sexual behavior and reproductive parameters in male rats; however, the study is based on an animal model, and the present findings partially reflect the characteristics of human sexual behavior. ConclusionMaternal TSE and/or ALA treatment may impair sexual behavior in adulthood in male rats because of testicular damage caused by oxidative stress during gonadal development.Yardimci A, Akkoc RF, Tektemur A, et al. Chronic Maternal Tobacco Smoke Exposure and/or Alpha-Lipoic Acid Treatment Causes Long-Term Deterioration of Testis and Sexual Behavior in Adult Male Rats. J Sex Med 2020;17:1835–1847.

Eliciting Social Cultural Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviour Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nigeria.

The thrust of this paper was to elicit socio-cultural predictors of risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria .Socio-cultural parameters were seen to be those factors in the social environment that influences behaviour. The socio-cultural theory believes that people learn through interactions within the socio-cultural environment and such interaction includes; home (parental influence, social economical status of family), peers and culture (religious practices, age norms, and gender issues). This paper further examines these factors and how they predict risky sexual behaviour such as early marriage ,non utilization of contraception, early sex initiation, induced abortions, having multiple sex partners, sex under the influence of alcohol, and indulging in sex for financial and material gains, among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria. It was therefore concluded that socio-cultural environment is a strong predictor of adolescent and young adult sexual risk behavior in Nigeria. Thus it was recommended that social cultural environment should be shaped for optimum reproductive health behaviour among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria.

Female rat sexual behavior is unaffected by perinatal fluoxetine exposure

Serotonin plays an important role in adult female sexual behavior, however little is known about the influence of serotonin during early development on sexual functioning in adulthood. During early development, serotonin acts as neurotrophic factor, while it functions as a modulatory neurotransmitter in adulthood. The occurrence of serotonin release, could thus have different effects on behavioral outcomes, depending on the developmental period in which serotonin is released. Because serotonin is involved in the development of the HPG axis which is required for puberty establishment, serotonin could also alter expression patterns of for instance the estrogen receptor ɑ (ERɑ).The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of increased serotonin levels during early development on adult female rat sexual behavior during the full behavioral estrus in a seminatural environment. To do so, rats were perinatally exposed with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine (10 mg/kg FLX) and sexual performance was tested during adulthood. All facets of female sexual behavior between the first and last lordosis (behavioral estrus), and within each copulation bout of the behavioral estrus were analyzed. Besides the length and onset of the behavioral estrus and the sexual behaviors patterns, other social and conflict behavior were also investigated. In addition, we studied the effects of perinatal FLX exposure on ERɑ expression patterns in the medial preoptic nucleus, ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the dorsal raphé nucleus.The results showed that perinatal fluoxetine exposure has no effect on adult female sexual behavior. The behavioral estrus of FLX-females had the same length and pattern as CTR-females. In addition, FLX- and CTR-females showed the same amount of paracopulatory behavior and lordosis, both during the full behavioral estrus and the “most active bout”. Furthermore, no differences were found in the display of social and conflict behaviors, nor in ERɑ expression patterns in the brain. We conclude that increases in serotonin levels during early development do not have long-term consequences for female sexual behavior in adulthood.

Perinatal fluoxetine treatment and dams\u2019 early life stress history have opposite effects on aggressive behavior while having little impact on sexual behavior of male rat offspring

RationaleMany depressed women continue antidepressant treatment during pregnancy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment during pregnancy increases the risk for abnormal social development of the child, including increased aggressive or defiant behavior, with unknown effects on sexual behavior.ObjectivesOur aim was to investigate the effects of perinatal SSRI treatment and maternal depression, both separately and combined, on aggressive and sexual behavior in male rat offspring.MethodsHeterozygous serotonin transporter (SERT± ) knockout dams exposed to early life stress (ELSD) were used as an animal model of maternal depression. Early life stress consisted of separating litters from their mother for 6 h a day on postnatal day (PND)2–15, resulting in a depressive-like phenotype in adulthood. Depressive-like dams were treated with fluoxetine (FLX, 10 mg/kg) or vehicle throughout pregnancy and lactation (gestational day 1 until PND 21). Male offspring were tested for aggressive and sexual behavior in adulthood. As lifelong reductions in SERT expression are known to alter behavioral outcome, offspring with normal (SERT+/+) and reduced (SERT± ) SERT expression were assessed.ResultsPerinatal FLX treatment reduced offensive behavior and the number of animals attacking and increased the latency to attack, especially in SERT+/+ offspring. Perinatal FLX treatment reduced the mounting frequency in SERT+/+ offspring. ELSD increased offensive behavior, without affecting sexual behavior in SERT± offspring.ConclusionsOverall, our research demonstrates that perinatal FLX treatment and ELSD have opposite effects on aggressive behavior, with little impact on sexual behavior of male offspring.

Do Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Attitudes and Knowledge Predict Men and Women's Adult Sexual Partnerships?

PurposeAdolescence is a key stage for forming knowledge and attitudes about sex and reproduction that may have long-term implications for adult sexual behaviors. Gender differences in experiences and socialization processes may affect the links between adolescent characteristics and adult behaviors. MethodsBy following adolescent virgins aged 15 years and older from wave I through wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 4,152), we test whether adolescent boys' and girls' knowledge about, and attitudes toward, sex and reproduction influence the number of lifetime different-sex sexual partners and the likelihood of having concurrent sexual partners in adulthood, using negative binomial regression and logistic regression, respectively. Models are run separately by gender. ResultsMen and women who reported greater physical benefits of sex as adolescents reported more lifetime different-sex sexual partners and were more likely to have concurrent sexual partners in adulthood. For women, adolescent perceptions of more social costs to sex were linked to fewer lifetime sexual partners, whereas greater birth control confidence was linked to more sexual partners. Women who more strongly felt that avoiding sexually transmitted infections was a hassle during adolescence were less likely to have concurrent sexual partners as adults, and men who were more knowledgeable about condoms during adolescence were more likely to have concurrent sexual partners. ConclusionsAdolescent knowledge and attitudes about sex, contraception, and reproduction have implications for adult sexual behavior, but different aspects emerge as salient for men and women.

Lack of interaction between prenatal stress and prenatal letrozole to induce same-sex preference in male rats

Same-sex partner preference between males has been observed in all species in which this behavior has been studied. Disruption of brain estradiol synthesis during development has been proposed as one of the biological causes underlying this behavior in some mammals. In support of this possibility, perinatal administration of aromatase inhibitors (such as letrozole) to male rat pups, induces around half of them to have same-sex preference and female sexual behavior in adulthood. Another putative factor that modifies sex preference is prenatal stress. Several stress protocols, applied to the pregnant dam, cause some of the adult male progeny to have an increased male preference, a decreased preference for the female, and lordosis behavior. Interestingly, these effects of stress might be mediated by its inhibitory action on brain aromatase. The aim of the present study was to analyze a possible interaction between these two factors in male rats. Pregnant dams were exposed to one of the four treatments across gestation days 10–22 (G10–G22): 1) vehicle-treated non-stressed controls; 2) letrozole (0.56 µg/kg); 3) 30 min immobilization stress); 4) both letrozole and stress combined. The male offspring were tested in adulthood for partner preference in a three-chambered arena, where we also recorded the masculine and feminine sexual behaviors. One week later males were tested for masculine and feminine sexual behavior in cylindrical arenas where they interacted for 30 min with a receptive female and thereafter with a sexually active male for another 30 min. Letrozole, stress and their combination resulted in same-sex preference in 40, 31 and 50% of males, respectively, compared to 5% in the control group. In the sexual behavior tests, prenatal stress reduced the percentage of males displaying intromissions and ejaculation (impaired masculinization), while letrozole mainly increased lordosis (impaired defeminization). The males prenatally submitted to stress and treated with letrozole presented these behavioral features but did not differ from both treatments given independently. The results indicate that the changes induced by stress or the aromatase inhibition produced by letrozole only accounts for a shift in partner preference in around half of the males and that there was no interaction between these two factors.

Nature and nurture of sexual partner preference: Teachings from prenatal administration of acetaminophen in male rats

The organizational-activational hypothesis indicates that activation of adult sexual behavior in males depends on organization of the masculine brain during the perinatal sensitive period. In the medial preoptic area such masculinization depends on a neuroendocrine cascade that includes exposure to testosterone, aromatization to estradiol, activation of estrogen receptors, synthesis of cyclooxygenase (COX), increase of prostaglandins, release of glutamate, and activation of AMPA receptors that result in the formation of more dendritic spines. Thus, in the present study we assessed the sexual partner preference (SPP) of adult male rats prenatally treated with acetaminophen (APAP), an analgesic/antipyretic drug that inhibits COX-2 and is commonly used and prescribed during pregnancy. Female rats received either saline (2 ml/kg s.c.) or APAP (50 mg/kg s.c.) every 12 h, during days 16–20 of pregnancy. At postnatal day PD60 half of the male offspring were exposed to sexual experience with receptive females during 5 trials, and the other half remained sexually naïve. At PD90 all them were tested for SPP with one sexually receptive female and one stud male. The results indicated that only APAP-naïve males failed to display SPP. However, APAP-experienced males displayed SPP for females. We discuss the effects of prenatal APAP in the disruption of unconditioned responses towards females (nature mechanisms), and the effects of sexual experience (nurture mechanisms) in the development of conditioned heterosexual preference.

Gang membership and sexual violence: associations with childhood maltreatment and psychiatric morbidity.

Gang members engage in many high-risk sexual activities that may be associated with psychiatric morbidity. Victim-focused research finds high prevalence of sexual violence towards women affiliated with gangs. To investigate associations between childhood maltreatment and psychiatric morbidity on coercive and high-risk sexual behaviour among gang members. Cross-sectional survey of 4665 men 18-34 years in Great Britain using random location sampling. The survey oversampled men from areas with high levels of violence and gang membership. Participants completed questionnaires covering violent and sexual behaviours, experiences of childhood disadvantage and trauma, and psychiatric diagnoses using standardised instruments. Antisocial men and gang members had high levels of sexual violence and multiple risk behaviours for sexually transmitted infections, childhood maltreatment and mental disorders, including addictions. Physical, sexual and emotional trauma were strongly associated with adult sexual behaviour and more prevalent among gang members. Other violent behaviour, psychiatric morbidity and addictions accounted for high-risk and compulsive sexual behaviours among gang members but not antisocial men. Gang members showed precursors before age 15 years of adult preference for coercive rather than consenting sexual behaviour. Gang members show inordinately high levels of childhood trauma and disadvantage, sexual and non-sexual violence, and psychiatric disorders, which are interrelated. The public health problem of sexual victimisation of affiliated women is explained by these findings. Healthcare professionals may have difficulties promoting desistance from adverse health-related behaviours among gang members whose multiple high-risk and violent sexual behaviours are associated with psychiatric morbidity, particularly addictions.

Young Adult Sexual Behavior in South Africa: How Important is Parental Social Support?

Risky sexual behavior exposes young adults to poor reproductive health outcomes. Parental social support is associated with reduced incidence of risky sexual behavior, but this association has not been adequately investigated in South Africa. We used data from Waves 1 and 3 of the Cape Area Panel Study (a longitudinal study of adolescents and young adults aged 14-22 years and living in the Cape Town metropolitan area) to investigate the associations between parental social support and young adult risky sexual behavior in South Africa. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess whether lack of specific categories of parental social supports at wave 1 (baseline) are associated with higher risky sexual behaviors by young adults at wave 3 (follow-up). We found that young adults who never ate meals with their mothers and those who never discussed personal matters with their fathers had increased risks of multiple sexual partnerships. Also, young adults who never got pocket money or money for gifts from their mothers had increased risk to engage in unprotected sex during their first sexual encounter. Our findings suggest that eating family meals, discussing personal matters with youth, and providing them with pocket money, may protect young adults in South Africa from risky sexual behavior.

Antidepressant Use During Development May Impair Women's Sexual Desire in Adulthood

IntroductionAlthough antidepressants are well known to cause sexual side effects in adults, the long-term effects of antidepressant use during development on adult sexual function is unknown. AimTo explore differences in sexual desire and sexual behavior between adults who did vs did not use antidepressants during childhood or adolescence. MethodsAn online survey of 610 young adults (66% women) assessed childhood and current mental health and use of antidepressants and other psychiatric medications before the age of 16 years and currently, partnered and solitary sexual desire, and frequency of masturbation and partnered sexual activity. Antidepressants were coded into either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or non-SSRI antidepressants. Main Outcome MeasureScores on the Sexual Desire Inventory, and self-reported frequency of masturbation and partnered sexual activity. ResultsFor women, childhood SSRI use was associated with significantly lower solitary sexual desire, desire for an attractive other, and frequency of masturbation. This was true even when controlling for childhood mental health concerns, current mental health, and current antidepressant use. However, there was no effect of childhood SSRI use on women's partnered sexual desire or partnered sexual activity. There was no significant effect of childhood antidepressant use on men's sexual desire or masturbation. However, in men, childhood use of non-SSRI antidepressants was associated with significantly higher frequency of partnered sexual activity. Childhood use of non-SSRI antidepressants, or nonantidepressant psychiatric medication, was not associated with adult sexual desire or behavior in either women or men. Clinical ImplicationsIt is possible that SSRI use during childhood interrupts the normal development of sexual reward systems, which may be a risk factor for sexual desire dysfunction in adult women. Strengths & LimitationsStrengths include a large sample, use of attention checks and validated measures, and careful assessment of childhood mental health history; however, generalizability is limited by a predominantly white, young adult sample. These data are cross-sectional, and therefore, causal explanations for the association between childhood SSRI use and adult sexual well-being should be considered preliminary, warranting replication. ConclusionThese findings point to a critical need for well-controlled, prospective research on possible long-term effects of antidepressant use, particularly SSRI use, on the development of adult sexual well-being.Lorenz TK. Antidepressant Use During Development May Impair Women's Sexual Desire in Adulthood. J Sex Med 2020;17:470–476.