Orientation In Men Research Articles

Self-Objectification, Disordered Eating and Sexual Orientation in Men.

The interplay between disordered eating, depressive symptoms and self-objectification differs between genders and sexual orientations, and merits further study in homosexual and heterosexual men. We examined disordered eating, depressive symptoms and self-objectification in a sample of Israeli heterosexual and homosexual men. Participants were 215 men aged 19-65, 108 of whom were classified by the Kinsey scale as being heterosexual and 107 as homosexual. They completed online measures of self-objectification, disordered eating and depressive symptoms. Heterosexual men reported lower levels of disordered eating and self-objectification than homosexual men, however the difference in depressive symptoms was not statistically significant. Correlations between disordered eating, self-objectification and depressive symptoms when controlling for age, BMI and number of children were all significant, with similar patterns of association for heterosexual and homosexual men. Self-objectification partially mediated the association between sexual orientation and disordered eating. However, contrary to our hypothesis, sexual orientation (homosexual/heterosexual) did not moderate the association between disordered eating and self-objectification. The tendency of homosexual men towards self-objectification is linked to unhealthy eating habits. Self-objectification helps explain the propensity of homosexual versus heterosexual men to develop disordered eating and possibly eating disorders. It should therefore be targeted in prevention and in therapy.

Sexual Compulsive Symptoms and General Psychopathology: Exploring the Role of Sexual Orientation in Men

Sexual Compulsive Symptoms and General Psychopathology: Exploring the Role of Sexual Orientation in Men

Men and menstruation in India: time for frank discussions.

In the twenty-first century, there is still a taboo on frank discussion of menstruation in Indian society, particularly with men. This inadvertently widens the gender/equity gap in families and in society. Even men in the healthcare sector are uncomfortable talking about this because the societal norms often overpower professional knowledge. Indian society needs to move forward and normalise menstruation in the perceptions of boys and men in all settings. We highlight below some salient points on the orientation of men regarding menstruation.

Insider‐allies: The precarious politics of men in identity‐fluid feminism

AbstractAcademic and activist conversations about the position of men in feminism often operate under the assumption that women are the movement's key beneficiaries and men are privileged outsiders lending their support. I use 59 interviews from a broader project on feminist and LGBTQ+ activism in the United States to illustrate how men's orientation to feminism is shaped by whether social movement organizations adopt what I call woman‐centered or identity‐fluid politics. While woman‐centered politics treat men as allies whose intentions must be vetted by women, identity‐fluid feminism imagines men as insiders with their own independent investment in the movement. I argue that the tension between these two models of identity politics gives men a liminal “insider‐ally” position within feminism. Although feminist men are given a tentative authority to speak for the movement, the persistence of woman‐centered understandings of feminism means men's insider status is contested, especially when they dominate feminist spaces, compromise women's sense of safety, and seek leadership.

In support of 2D:4D: More data exploring its conflicting results on handedness, sexual orientation and sex differences.

In the last few years, several studies have questioned the value of the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) as a measure of exposure to sex hormones before birth. Controversy has also extended to the 2D:4D association with individual features previously related to this exposure such as handedness and sexual orientation. Given that it has been argued that sex differences in 2D:4D could be a consequence of body-size differences, we have tested in a large sample the allometric relationship between finger lengths and body size. Our results show that the association is either allometric or isometric, depending on the analyses performed. In any case, the deviation from isometry is not large enough to explain the typically observed sex difference in this trait. We have also tested the association between sexual orientation and 2D:4D, finding a relationship between 2D:4D and sexual orientation in men but not in women. We attribute this discordance with previously published meta-analysis to differences in genetic background, a variable that has gained relevance in recent years in studies involving 2D:4D. Finally, we did not find any relationship between 2D:4D and handedness, evaluated through self-reported preference and hand performance. Our main conclusion is that 2D:4D shows differences between sexes beyond their disparity in body size. In our opinion, 2D:4D can be used cautiously as an indicator of intrauterine exposure to sex hormones taking into account some considerations, such as analysing a very large sample and taking careful measurements of the ethnicity of the sample.

The fraternal birth-order effect as a statistical artefact: convergent evidence from probability calculus, simulated data, and multiverse meta-analysis.

The fraternal-birth order effect (FBOE) is a research claim which states that each older brother increases the odds of homosexual orientation in men via an immunoreactivity process known as the maternal immune hypothesis. Importantly, older sisters supposedly either do not affect these odds, or affect them to a lesser extent. Consequently, the fraternal birth-order effect predicts that the association between the number of older brothers and homosexual orientation in men is greater in magnitude than any association between the number of older sisters and homosexual orientation. This difference in magnitude represents the main theoretical estimand of the FBOE. In addition, no comparable effects should be observable among homosexual vs heterosexual women. Here, we triangulate the empirical foundations of the FBOE from three distinct, informative perspectives, complementing each other: first, drawing on basic probability calculus, we deduce mathematically that the body of statistical evidence used to make inferences about the main theoretical estimand of the FBOE rests on incorrect statistical reasoning. In particular, we show that throughout the literature researchers ascribe to the false assumptions that effects of family size should be adjusted for and that this could be achieved through the use of ratio variables. Second, using a data-simulation approach, we demonstrate that by using currently recommended statistical practices, researchers are bound to frequently draw incorrect conclusions. And third, we re-examine the empirical evidence of the fraternal birth-order effect in men and women by using a novel specification-curve and multiverse approach to meta-analysis (64 male and 17 female samples, N = 2,778,998). When analyzed correctly, the specific association between the number of older brothers and homosexual orientation is small, heterogenous in magnitude, and apparently not specific to men. In addition, existing research evidence seems to be exaggerated by small-study effects.

Exposure to prevention information, sexual health, and experience of discrimination: HIV exploration among high-risk populations in Vietnam

Context: HIV/AIDS has been a major public health concern worldwide, yet research on high-risk populations in Vietnam has paid little attention to prevention information, sexual behaviors, and discrimination. Aims: To investigate the above-mentioned groups’ exposure to prevention information, sexual health, and experiences of discrimination. Methods: The cross-sectional paper-based survey focusing on HIV-related risk behaviors, testing, and access to health services was administered to participants recruited through two-stage sampling in southern Vietnam. The questionnaire consisted of four sections, including sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, access to preventive information, and discrimination experience. Results: Among the 173 participants, approximately 60% identified as lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender, with 51.4% reporting they had a potential risk of HIV acquisition and 85% engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. Television was the most popular source of information on HIV prevention. The most common unsafe behavior among respondents was non-condom use during sex (72% in males and 25% in females), followed by drug use (41% in males and 7.4% in females). Significant disparities were identified in STI diagnosis, treatment, and HIV testing rates among sociodemographic groups (such as orientation, education, occupation, monthly income, and financial vulnerability). Discrimination experiences were also associated with different sociodemographic characteristics (such as men who have sex with men orientation, occupation, and engagement in high-risk sexual behaviors). Conclusions: Policymakers can allocate financial resources and support evidence-based interventions to address the HIV epidemic among high-risk populations in Vietnam, including educational campaigns on television, healthcare provider training programs, and stigma reduction efforts.

Measurement invariance of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale by sexual orientation: comparing the sexual functioning of gay and heterosexual individuals.

The assessment of sexual functioning requires accurate and reliable measures as well as short and easy to apply. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), which provides a quick, easy, and nonintrusive assessment of sexual functioning in men and women, is a clear example of a commonly used scale that satisfies these qualities. The study sought to examine measurement invariance and differential item functioning (DIF) by sexual orientation of the Spanish version of the ASEX. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed on a sample of 1600 adults (800 gay and 800 heterosexual individuals), testing measurement invariance of the ASEX by sexual orientation in men and women separately, and calculating its reliability and DIF. The measure provided by the Spanish version of the ASEX is reliable and valid for assessing the sexual functioning of gay men and lesbians, but comparisons by sexual orientation are not recommended for men. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the unidimensional structure of the ASEX already found in the Spanish validation with heterosexual people. Measurement invariance showed that, in the men's sample, the factor structure of the ASEX only reached the weak level of invariance, whereas in the women's sample, strict invariance by sexual orientation was reached. The internal consistency reliability was adequate, with better coefficients in women than in men. No significant DIF was observed in either men or women. Clinicians should further their training in sexual and gender diversity as approaches such as affirmative LGBT psychotherapy gain popularity, and they must have access to assessment instruments that are psychometrically robust enough to be used with this population. This research has some limitations. Because the distribution was administered solely through social media platforms, those without access to social media were unable to participate. Beyond these restrictions, however, the findings are thought to be significant from a research and clinical perspective since measurement invariance is a step that is often excluded when using an instrument validated in a mostly heterosexual sample. Validating assessment tools in gay men and lesbians is essential because sexual functioning is a crucial concept in sexual health. The findings of this study suggest that the Spanish version of the ASEX offers valid and reliable measures of sexual functioning for both heterosexual and gay people, though there would be bias in comparing men of both orientations.

Medico-Legal Approach to Incestuous Sexual Orientation in Men

Medico-Legal Approach to Incestuous Sexual Orientation in Men

Human magnetic sense is mediated by a light and magnetic field resonance-dependent mechanism

Numerous organisms use the Earth’s magnetic field as a sensory cue for migration, body alignment, or food search. Despite some contradictory reports, yet it is generally accepted that humans do not sense the geomagnetic field. Here, we demonstrate that a magnetic field resonance mechanism mediates light-dependent magnetic orientation in men, using a rotary chair experiment combined with a two-alternative forced choice paradigm. Two groups of subjects were classified with different magnetic orientation tendencies depending on the food context. Magnetic orientation of the subjects was sensitive to the wavelength of incident light and was critically dependent on blue light reaching the eyes. Importantly, it appears that a magnetic field resonance-dependent mechanism mediates these responses, as evidenced by disruption or augmentation of the ability to orient by radiofrequency magnetic fields at the Larmor frequency and the dependence of these effects on the angle between the radiofrequency and geomagnetic fields. Furthermore, inversion of the vertical component of the geomagnetic field revealed a non-canonical inclination compass effect on the magnetic orientation. These results establish the existence of a human magnetic sense and suggest an underlying quantum mechanical magnetoreception mechanism.

Long-Term Mating Orientation in Men: The Role of Socioeconomic Status, Protection Skills, and Parenthood Disposition.

From an evolutionary perspective, phenotypic, social, and environmental factors help to shape the different costs and benefits of pursuing different reproductive strategies (or a mixture of them) from one individual to another. Since men’s reproductive success is mainly constrained to women’s availability, their mating orientations should be partially calibrated by features that women prefer in a potential partner. For long-term relationships, women prefer traits that signal access to resources, protection skills, and the willingness to share them. Using generalized linear models with laboratory data taken from a Chilean population (N = 197), this study aimed to test whether real and potential resources (measured as self-reported socioeconomic status), protection skills (measured as handgrip strength), and the willingness to provide resources and protection (measured as their disposition toward parenthood) are related to mating orientation in men. Our predictions were: (1) socioeconomic status would be positively associated with long-term and short-term mating orientation but for long-term-oriented individuals, this would be enhanced by having a more favorable parenthood disposition and (2) strength would be positively related to long-term mating orientation in men with higher socioeconomic status and a favorable disposition toward parenthood and it would have a positive and direct association with short-term mating orientation. Our results partially supported the first hypothesis, since men with higher socioeconomic status were more long-term oriented, but parenting disposition did not moderate this effect. Contrary to our expectations, socioeconomic status was not related to short-term mating orientation. Strength appeared not to be significant for long-term mating orientation, even interacting with other traits. However, strength by itself was powerfully linked with a short-term mating orientation. Our results suggest that only some individuals that are attractive for long-term relationships are indeed long-term oriented and may reflect the overall conflict of interests between mating strategies among sexes.

The relationship between gender role and marital instability: The role of moderating sexual orientation in men

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the moderating role of orientation in men's sexual relationship with marital instability. Methods: The method of the present study is correlational. The statistical population of the study was men living in Tehran who had lived together for at least one year. Thus, 150 people were selected by available sampling method from different parts of Tehran by referring to public places and distributing a questionnaire in cyberspace. Measurement tools in this study included Booth et al.'s Marital Instability Questionnaires (1983), Bam's Gender Roles (1974) and Hoggs and Snell's (1990) Sexual Orientation Questionnaires. Results: The results showed that sexual orientation has a moderating role in the relationship between gender roles and marital instability. High levels of participatory sexual orientation reduce marital instability. The high exchange rate of sexual intercourse increases the instability of marriage in men. Also, in the direction of expectation in sexual intercourse, its increase leads to an increase in marital instability in men (P=0.01). Conclusion: In men with high expectations of exchange, exchange, and expectation in sex, increased gender roles reduce instability; But in men with low participatory and exchange orientations, increased gender roles do not change the degree of marital instability.

Reassessing the Effect of Older Sisters on Sexual Orientation in Men.

This research reanalyzed questionnaire data from 8279 homosexual and 79,519 heterosexual men who participated in 2005 in an internet-based research project sponsored by the British Broadcasting Corporation. It focused on parameters of sibship composition (older brothers, older sisters, younger siblings) previously shown or hypothesized to influence sexual orientation in males. The results included the usual finding that older brothers increase the odds of homosexuality in later-born males. As predicted, older sisters also increase those odds, although by a lesser amount than older brothers. Other results confirmed that the odds of homosexuality are increased in only-children, the amount of increase being equal to that produced by one older brother and greater than that produced by one older sister. Finally, the results indicated that younger siblings have no effect on the odds of homosexuality in males. These results might be explained by the hypothesis that two different types of immune responses in pregnant women can affect the future sexual orientation of their male fetuses. One type of response affects fetuses in first pregnancies and reduces subsequent fertility. The other type affects fetuses in later pregnancies and has little or no effect on fertility. Finally, we conducted an estimate of combined sibship effects. Men who were exposed to any of the influences that we identified (being an only-child or having an older sibling) had 27% greater odds of homosexuality than did subjects who were exposed to none of these influences (i.e., the first-born of two or more children).

Гендерная социализация в пожилом возрасте

Objective. The study aims to identify and describe the content of gender phenomena that characterize the socialization of older men and women. Background. A noticeable increase in the number of people in the older age group actualizes the problem of studying the conditions and factors of the socialization process in old age, contributing to successful aging. A number of publications present the results of studies on the influence of some socio-psychological factors affecting the well-being of older people, for example, such as: informal education, socially significant and creative activities, certain personal characteristics, etc. However, studies of the life situation of older people, as a rule, do not include gender analysis, and such a significant socio-cultural factor for the socialization of men and women, as adherence to traditionalist or egalitarian gender norms, was not considered by researchers in relation to elderly people. Methodology. A gender approach was used as the main research methodology. Conclusions. The specifics of gender norms is revealed as a significant sociocultural factor in the socialization of males and females. The differences between the traditionalist normative model of male and female behavior from the egalitarian model are shown. The content of gender phenomena which are manifested in older men and women showing a strong commitment to traditional gender norms, is disclosed — such as double standard of aging, gender role conflict, gender self-objectification, existential-gender conflict. The relationship between the orientations of men and women towards a certain type of gender norms and their subjective psychological well-being in old age is revealed. The directions of further research on the gender socialization of the elderly are outlined.

Ego-Identity and Value Orientation of Men And Women in Unregistered Relationships and Who Are Married

Ego-Identity and Value Orientation of Men And Women in Unregistered Relationships and Who Are Married

Tattoos in Germany: prevalence, demographics, and health orientation

Tattooing has become very popular in recent years. In this context, socio-demographic information and health orientation is important. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of the prevalence of tattoos over the last thirteen years and the social and economic background of people with tattoos. Three national representative surveys were compared for this purpose; men and women residing in Germany were included. Additionally, the purpose of the study was to assess socio-demographic information and the health orientation of respondents with tattoos. Three national, representative surveys were conducted on German participants (2016: n = 2510, 2009: n = 2512, 2003: n = 2043). The number of tattoos and socio-demographic information were investigated. The Health Regulatory Focus Scale (HRFS) assessing the individual's health orientation was used in 2016. Currently, one out of fiveGermans (≥14years) has at least one tattoo. In Germany, tattoos are most prevalent among younger adults of both sexes aged 25 to 34years. People with all levels of education have tattoos, although there were weak correlations with a lower education level and unemployment. Only men with several tattoos showed asignificantly lower health orientation than non-tattooed ones. The fact that nearly one fifth of the German population has tattoos suggests that this permanent body art is becoming more and more accepted in German society. As a result, a need for better health risk information on the topic for both tattooists and the people getting tattoos appears evident because of the high prevalence of tattoos in younger generations as well as the lower health orientation in men with several tattoos.

Evidence for distinct biodevelopmental influences on male sexual orientation

Several biological mechanisms have been proposed to influence male sexual orientation, but the extent to which these mechanisms cooccur is unclear. Putative markers of biological processes are often used to evaluate the biological basis of male sexual orientation, including fraternal birth order, handedness, and familiality of same-sex sexual orientation; these biomarkers are proxies for immunological, endocrine, and genetic mechanisms. Here, we used latent profile analysis (LPA) to assess whether these biomarkers cluster within the same individuals or are present in different subgroups of nonheterosexual men. LPA defined four profiles of men based on these biomarkers: 1) A subgroup who did not have these biomarkers, 2) fraternal birth order, 3) handedness, and 4) familiality. While the majority of both heterosexual and nonheterosexual men were grouped in the profile that did not have any biomarker, the three profiles associated with a biomarker were composed primarily of nonheterosexual men. We then evaluated whether these subgroups differed on measures of gender nonconformity and personality that reliably show male sexual orientation differences. The subgroup without biomarkers was the most gender-conforming whereas the fraternal birth order subgroup was the most female-typical and agreeable, compared with the other profiles. Together, these findings suggest there are multiple distinct biodevelopmental pathways influencing same-sex sexual orientation in men.

A Population-Based Study of Coupling and Physical Activity by Sexual Orientation for Men

ABSTRACT Research has suggested that men in relationships are more physically active than men who are single. This study provides a weighted analysis of physical activity by coupling status for men of different sexual orientations. Aggregated data from the United States 2013–2014 National Health Interview Survey were used to conduct multivariate logistic regression analyses. Compared to straight men (n = 29,926), gay men (n = 623) were less likely to be in a relationship (AOR 0.32, CI: 0.25–0.41). Coupled gay men did more physical activity than coupled straight men and were 1.62 (CI: 1.05–2.50) times more likely to be active, 1.67 (CI: 1.10–2.51) times more likely to be high active, 1.89 (CI: 1.24–2.89) times more likely to engage in muscle-strengthening activities, and 2.00 (CI: 1.28–3.11) times more likely to meet aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations. Coupling facilitates physical activity for men. However, more research is needed to help explore underlying mechanisms for differences by sexuality.

The Association Between Fraternal Birth Order and Anal-Erotic Roles of Men Who Have Sex with Men.

The fraternal birth order effect (FBOE) describes the phenomenon that homosexual men tend to have a greater number of older brothers than do heterosexual men. The FBOE is a marker for an innate, biological predisposition for androphilia in genotypic males. The FBOE has been studied since the 1930s and is the most consistent biodemographic correlate of sexual orientation in men. This study sought to determine whether the FBOE applies equally to all men who have sex with men (MSM), or disproportionately to MSM whose anal intercourse behavior is predominantly receptive (Bottoms). Participants included 243 North American adult MSM who responded to advertisements posted on a Web site and other electronic media associated with the GALA festival, a quadrennial gathering of gay and lesbian choruses. Each was asked whether his anal intercourse behavior during the preceding year was predominantly receptive, predominantly penetrative, or about equally receptive and penetrative. Those who indicated their behavior was predominantly receptive were coded "Bottoms"; all others were coded "Not-Bottoms." Participants were also surveyed as to their sibship composition. Bottoms had a significantly greater mean number of older brothers than did Not-Bottoms. There was no significant difference with respect to older or younger sisters or younger brothers. Further, the older sibling sex ratio (OSSR) for the Bottom cohort, but not for the Not-Bottom cohort, was significantly higher than the expected OSSR for the general male population (OSSR = No. older brothers/No. older sisters × 100; expected OSSR for general population = 106). Thus, late fraternal birth order was correlated with receptive anal-erotic behavior among MSM.

Perceived Sexual Orientation of Men and Women with Eating Disorders and Obesity

ABSTRACTThe present study explores the perceived sexual orientation of hypothetical men and women with various eating disorders and obesity. Undergraduates were randomly provided with one vignette describing a male or female with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder, or obesity and were asked about the target’s likely sexual orientation. Significant differences emerged between male and female targets with AN and BN on the forced-choice question, with a greater percentage of participants indicating that the male targets were probably non-heterosexual. On continuous items, participants rated the female targets as significantly more likely to be heterosexual and significantly less likely to be homosexual than male targets. The general public may be more likely to perceive men with eating disorders as gay or bisexual relative to females with eating disorders. Perceived sexual orientation might be an important factor to consider when exploring the potentially unique perspectives of men with eating disorders.