Sexual Experience Research Articles

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding sexual health among Chinese medical students: a multicenter cross-sectional study

BackgroundSexual health is crucial for overall well-being, yet sexual health education among medical students in China remains limited. This multicenter cross-sectional study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding sexual health among Chinese medical students to inform educational policies.MethodsAn electronic survey was conducted across three leading medical institutions in Beijing, targeting postgraduate medical students. The survey assessed demographics, sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify factors associated with sexual behavior.ResultsAmong 765 participants, 79% identified as heterosexual, and 28.2% reported engaging in sexual activity. While the overall sexual health knowledge was relatively high, students with sexual experience had significantly higher contraceptive knowledge. Misconceptions were common, with 25.8% believing that sex during the safe period doesn’t lead to pregnancy, and 14.9% considering withdrawal before ejaculation effective for contraception. Positive attitudes toward sexual health were noted, though traditional views on committed relationships persisted. Logistic regression identified factors associated with sexual activity: higher monthly expenses, rural residency, and non-heterosexual orientation. Undergraduate and female students were less likely to engage in sexual activity.ConclusionsThis study highlights significant gaps in sexual health knowledge, particularly about contraception and HPV vaccination. The findings stress the need for comprehensive sexual health education to address knowledge gaps and cultural attitudes, preparing future healthcare professionals for effective, non-judgmental patient care.

XYGO: proposing a new holistic measure of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Gender identity (GI) and sexual orientation (SO) are key aspects of an individual's sexual identity, which is a major driver of human sexuality. Although definitions for GI and SO have been long established and represented in clinical and theoretical research, often without acknowledgement of their relationship to one another, the ideal means by which they should be measured is unclear. Various tools for measurement have been proposed, each presenting different methodological approaches along with their respective flaws and issues. By providing a comprehensive overview of the major instruments for measuring GI and SO, the XYGO tool aims to integrate their strengths by developing a new, cohesive and inclusive perspective on sexual identity, taking into consideration both dimensions of this unique characteristic of human sexuality. This holistic perspective integrates these components into a single construct capable of providing a more immediate and tailored interpretation to facilitate everyday clinical practice and potentially improve research in sexual medicine and psychosexology.

Artificial Intelligence Sexual Innovation and the Marriage Covenant: An Ethical and Theological Assessment

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fundamental breakthrough in contemporary science. At its innovative core is the quest to simulate human intelligence processes using machines and computer systems. A topical moral discussion lies in the development of sexual robots that can perform conjugal functions. However, the Bible presents the concept of sexuality as a privilege exercised within the precincts of the same species in heterosexual relationships. Hence, according to the Scriptures, human beings can only have a sexual relationship with fellow human beings of the opposite biological gender. However, the rise in robotic technology that includes sexuality raises fundamental questions. What are the ethical implications of AI sexual innovation for marriage covenants? Towards what cause should contemporary theology and ethics relate to this innovation within AI? What is the place of sexuality in humans? Can sexuality with a human-like robot be understood as a biblical and legitimate alternative in the face of rising sexually transmitted diseases? This theoretical paper seeks to interrogate this line of AI innovation from an ethical and theological assessment.

Female gender, sexist maltreatment, adverse childhood events, and psychological symptoms: A case of omitted-variable bias.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between gender and symptomatology as potentially mediated by exposure to sexism and childhood adversity. Using an online sample of 498 women and men, structural equation modeling was employed to test these potential direct and intermediary associations. A direct path from female gender to symptomatology in Model 1 had acceptable fit characteristics. However, this relationship was no longer present once exposure to sexism and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were added in Model 2. Instead, female gender was associated with exposure to sexism and childhood adversities, which, in turn, were related to symptomatology. Also significant in Model 2 was a path from male (but not female) gender to symptomatology once sexism and ACEs were taken into account. Follow-up analyses of variance revealed that the change from female to male prediction of symptoms was a function of the intermediary effects of exposure to sexism, but not ACEs. Women's symptomatology may not be uniquely related to their gender, per se, but is significantly associated with their experiences of sexism and childhood adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Walking On Embers: The Complexity of Adolescent Sexual Dynamics and Its Implications for Sex Education Structure in University

This article discusses the complexity of adolescent sexual behaviour in Indonesia and its implications for the need to reform sex education. The study highlights the increasing prevalence of premarital sex among adolescents, driven by uncontrolled access to sexual information via digital media. The urgency of this research lies in the lack of comprehensive sex education in Indonesia and the absence of open dialogue within families. This situation is exacerbated by the high number of adolescents engaging in premarital sex, with approximately 60% of those aged 16-17 involved. This study employs a qualitative approach using phenomenological methods to understand adolescents' perceptions and experiences of sexuality. Data were collected through content analysis of various digital platforms, including social media, news articles, videos, and online forums. This approach allows researchers to capture the nuances of how sexual information is disseminated and received by young audiences. Data triangulation techniques were employed to enhance the validity of the research by comparing multiple sources of information. Findings indicate that Indonesian adolescents are caught between traditional values and the influence of modernisation, particularly through social media. The wide accessibility of sexual information without proper guidance has led to confusion, risky sexual behaviour, increased teenage pregnancies, and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. This underscores the need for a more comprehensive reform of sex education in Indonesia, incorporating biological, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions. In conclusion, reforming sex education in Indonesia is crucial to providing adolescents with a more holistic understanding of sexuality in the digital age.

SEX TOY USE IN THE SEXUALITY OF TRANS AND NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS

SEX TOY USE IN THE SEXUALITY OF TRANS AND NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS

SEXOLOGICAL BODYWORK AS A COMPLEMENTARY METHOD TO SEX THERAPY FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER-DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS

SEXOLOGICAL BODYWORK AS A COMPLEMENTARY METHOD TO SEX THERAPY FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER-DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS

TIMING OF PUBERTY SUPPRESSION TREATMENT IN TRANSGENDER ADOLESCENTS AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS IN ADULTHOOD

TIMING OF PUBERTY SUPPRESSION TREATMENT IN TRANSGENDER ADOLESCENTS AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS IN ADULTHOOD

SEXUAL ASSERTIVENESS, SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN ARABIC WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT SEXUAL AVERSION AND VAGINISMUS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

SEXUAL ASSERTIVENESS, SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN ARABIC WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT SEXUAL AVERSION AND VAGINISMUS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY: A TWO-DIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY: A TWO-DIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

FREQUENT AND PROBLEMATIC AND PROBLEMATIC PORNOGRAPHIC CONSUMPTION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

FREQUENT AND PROBLEMATIC AND PROBLEMATIC PORNOGRAPHIC CONSUMPTION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

VANILLA OR PISTACHIO? SEXUAL SATISFACTION IN KINKY AND BDSM SEXUALITY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

VANILLA OR PISTACHIO? SEXUAL SATISFACTION IN KINKY AND BDSM SEXUALITY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Redefine oral health: a call for inclusivity in the concept of oral health

Current, globally accepted definitions of oral health emphasize pain-free functionality, expressive capacity, and specific psychosocial dimensions that contribute to self-confidence, well-being, and societal participation. However, these definitions inadvertently exclude diverse lived experiences by framing oral health solely through a lens of “normal” functionality and absence of discomfort, failing to consider the ways in which oral health can be experienced uniquely by different individuals and communities. The narrow focus on “pain-free” oral health excludes valid aspects of sexual expression, which may involve consensual oral activities that some find pleasurable even if associated with discomfort. This manuscript examines the limitations of the WHO and FDI definitions of oral health, critiques their exclusion of minority perspectives, and advocates for a more inclusive, holistic approach. Such an approach recognizes the complex and varied ways oral health intersects with identity, intimacy, and societal norms. Normalizing discussions on oral sexual health are essential to advancing a comprehensive understanding of well-being and reducing stigma around sexual minority experiences. Expanding oral health definitions to accommodate broader conceptions of intimacy and pleasure can enhance public health policy, clinical practice, and education, fostering a comprehensive understanding of well-being that reduces stigma around sexual minority experiences and further marginalization of sexual minorities in accessing inclusive care.

Mediating Pathways in Faith-Based SexualRisk-Reductionfor African American Adolescents: Insights from a Church-Based Randomized Controlled Trial.

African American youth face disproportionate risks for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections, highlighting the need for culturally tailored, evidence-based interventions. This research reports a secondary, exploratory analysis examining the mediation effects of theoretical constructs on the efficacy of sexualrisk-reductioninterventions promoting abstinence for African American adolescents in church-based settings. The participants are African American adolescents aged 11-14 from 14 churches in Philadelphia, PA (N = 613) who participated in a randomized controlled trial of parent-child faith-based and non-faith-based sexual risk-reduction interventions. Data were collected at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-month post-intervention. We examined whether the interventions' effects on the frequency of sexual intercourse in the past 3months were mediated through theoretical constructs, including outcome expectancies, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and intention, using a product-of-coefficients approach. We also explored potential moderation effects of sexual experience, church membership, child gender, and parent gender. We found that self-efficacy mediated the effect of the faith-based intervention (α × β × γ product = - 0.028, 95% ACI [- 0.064, - 0.002]). However, no significant mediators were identified for the non-faith-based intervention. Neither intervention had significant moderators, indicating no differences in efficacy among adolescents differing in sexual experience, church membership, gender, and parent's gender. These findings suggest that parent-child faith-based sexualrisk-reductioninterventions among African American adolescents in church-based settings could benefit from focusing on boosting self-efficacy.

Whither A Sociology of Sex Toys? Contested Histories, Current Trends, and Potential Futures

While being part of many people’s sexual lives, sex toys are rarely the focus of sociological research. To better understand the role sex toys might play in the sociology of sexualities in the future, this article traces the history of sex toys through a transnational and decolonial lens, reviews recent empirical findings, and points to promising new directions in sex toy research. In doing so, we put forth a call for sociologists to interrogate the tension between liberatory sexual politics and empire, while also seriously considering the role of sex toys in shaping people’s sexual identities through sexual exploration and self-discovery.

‘If you dig only Black guys, don’t bother going to East Africa:’ gay American tourists in Kenya, 1970–1978

ABSTRACT Ongoing discrimination towards LGBTQ persons in Kenya has long made it difficult to conduct research into postcolonial LGBTQ history. The growth of LGBTQ literature in America due to the increased visibility of LGBTQ individuals and movements in the 1960s and 1970s contributed to an expansion of gay travel and lifestyle writing. Narrative details taken from American gay periodicals and guides help layer a history of intimate and sexual activities undertaken by American tourists in Kenya. These sources offer insights into postcolonial LGBTQ histories in Kenya, which has had limited research due to the taboo nature of the topic to this day. These texts reveal the importance of hotels for gay men to perform neo-colonial fantasies during intimate and sexual experiences in Kenya. Where colonial settlers had used hotels as sites for performing colonial and aristocratic fantasies, the postcolonial hotel offered opportunities for the rising influx of tourists to Kenya to create new erotic and emotional meanings in these spaces. This research therefore helps historicise the contemporary anthropological and sociological work in Kenya on sexual economies and sex tourism, situating gay histories into these well-known narratives.

Substance Use, Parental and Teacher Support, and Mental Health Outcomes Among Latinx Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

ABSTRACT Latinx sexual and gender minority youth (LSGMY) experience specific stressors due to intersectional systemic oppression that negatively impact their mental health. Additionally, many LSGMY report engaging in substance use to cope with daily stressors. Furthermore, research shows that parental and teacher support can serve as a buffer against substance use and negative mental health outcomes among these communities. However, there is little research specifically focused on LSGMY and the role that parental and teacher support play in substance use and mental health outcomes. In a sample of 1,338 LSGMY (ages 13–17), we assessed: (a) associations between substance use and mental health outcomes, (b) associations between parental and teacher support and mental health outcomes, and (c) whether parental and teacher support moderated the relationship between substance use and mental health outcomes. Trans and gender diverse (TGD) and plurisexual Latinx youth reported lower self-esteem, higher stress, and higher depressive symptoms compared to their cisgender and/or monosexual counterparts. Parental and teacher support were associated with higher self-esteem, lower stress, and lower depressive symptoms. Alcohol and cigarette use was associated with worse mental health outcomes. Marijuana use was associated with higher depressive symptoms. Finally, teacher support significantly moderated the association between cigarette use and self-esteem at low levels of cigarette use. We discuss clincal implications for working with LSGMY, their parental figures, and their teachers and schools.

“It was the Best Sex of My Life”: A Qualitative Analysis of Black Women’s Most Pleasurable Sexual Experiences

ABSTRACT Sexual pleasure is an integral component of sexual health, human rights, and overall wellbeing and can be a helpful lens for understanding the agency and freedom present at the individual, relational, and community level. Further, one’s most pleasurable sexual experience can be a pivotal moment that allows for expanded understandings of pleasure and can change how one structures future sexual experiences. It is particularly important to study sexual pleasure among Black women, as much of the sex research on this population is focused on risk and disease and may reinforce harmful stereotypes. This study explored the most pleasurable sexual experiences (MPEs) of 25 Black women living in the Southern United States to understand the main characteristics present in pleasurable sex. Participants were between the ages of 27–44 (M = 29.7 years old). Participants completed semi-structured interviews about their MPEs and responses were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Six interconnected themes were developed: emotional intimacy, out of the ordinary experiences, physical intimacy, intentionality, open communication, and mindful presence. Orgasm was mentioned by only a small portion of study participants. Our findings show that Black women’s MPEs are varied and multifaceted, and a deeper understanding of the characteristics present in these experiences provides important information in working toward sexual liberation.

Adolescent Sexual Health: A Focus on the Sexual Health Portion of HEADSS Examination.

Sexual exploration is a natural part of adolescence, and most individuals will initiate sexual activity in their adolescent years. Privacy, confidentiality, and consent are crucial considerations in providing sexual health care to adolescents, with laws varying by state. References to gender in this article are primarily limited to the binary male-female due to lack of data representing the gender spectrum. We aim to reframe the conversation and offer tools to share with parents for productive conversations with their teens. Sex-positive parenting and the involvement of parents in promoting healthy sexual development through ongoing conversations is emphasized. Primary care practitioners have a vital role to play in providing sexual health education and services to adolescent patients, and this article offers practical tips and tricks in engaging this population.

The Connection Between the Normalization of Homosexuality and Erroneous Theories on Sex and Gender: A Challenge for Gender Critical Feminism.

Among the strongest critics of gender identity theory (GIT) and queer theory (QT) are gender critical feminists (GCF) because of the potentially negative impact of these theories on women and the feminist movement. Yet, GCF are fully supportive of the notion of homosexuality as a normal and authentic expression of human sexuality. In this essay, I explore the logical connections that exist between the normalization of homosexuality and both GIT and QT, arguing that the acceptance of homosexuality as normal necessarily entails commitments that are at the very heart of these erroneous theories of sex and gender. In this way, there is fundamental incoherence in the opposition of GCF to GIT and QT. At the very heart of these theories is the denial of the significance of the way in which an individual is configured for human generation when it comes to personal identity. Homosexuality, likewise, fosters the notion that the generative configuration of an individual is insignificant because it is accorded no importance in guiding the truthful expression of sexuality precisely in that realm where generative configuration is the foundational reality. Developing this point, the essay shows how: (a) the acceptance of homosexuality as normal undermines the insistence by GCF of the primacy of sex over gender as the category on which the distinction of woman from man is founded; (b) the acceptance of homosexual inclination as normal undermines the possibility of claiming that transgenderism and those with gender identity disorder misperceive reality; and (c) how acceptance of homosexuality as an authentic alternative to heterosexuality involves logical commitments that validate the claim that a "transwoman" is equally a woman as any other.