Psychosexual Development Of Adolescents Research Articles

Infidelity in the Adolescence Stage: The Roles of Negative Affect, Hostility, and Psychological Well-Being

Infidelity is a relational process common in all types of romantic relationships and has been established as one of the main causes of relationship breakdown. However, little is known about this type of transgression in adolescent romantic relationships, although it manifests as a fairly frequent behavior involving different motivations. Even less is known about the emotional impact of infidelity on the offending person and its association with hostile behavior and psychological well-being. Through an experimental study (N = 301 Spanish adolescents (190 female and 111 male; Mage = 15.59, SD = 0.69; range from 15 to 17), we sought to analyze the effect of manipulating two types of motivations for infidelity (sexual vs. emotional dissatisfaction) on negative affect, hostility, and psychological well-being. The main results revealed that committing infidelity motivated by hypothetical sexual (vs. emotional) dissatisfaction was indirectly related to lower psychological well-being through its effects on increased negative affect and hostility. Last but not least, we discuss these findings, highlighting the possible implications of infidelity for the psychosocial and psychosexual development of adolescents.

Study protocol: a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a psychosexual training program for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

BackgroundPrevious research shows that adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) run several risks in their psychosexual development and that these adolescents can have limited access to reliable information on puberty and sexuality, emphasizing the need for specific guidance of adolescents with ASD in their psychosexual development. Few studies have investigated the effects of psychosexual training programs for adolescents with ASD and to date no randomized controlled trials are available to study the effects of psychosexual interventions for this target group.Methods/DesignThe randomized controlled trial (RCT) described in this study protocol aims to investigate the effects of the Tackling Teenage Training (TTT) program on the psychosexual development of adolescents with ASD. This parallel clinical trial, conducted in the South-West of the Netherlands, has a simple equal randomization design with an intervention and a waiting-list control condition. Two hundred adolescents and their parents participate in this study. We assess the participants in both conditions using self-report as well as parent-report questionnaires at three time points during 1 year: at baseline (T1), post-treatment (T2), and for follow-up (T3).DiscussionTo our knowledge, the current study is the first that uses a randomized controlled design to study the effects of a psychosexual training program for adolescents with ASD. It has a number of methodological strengths, namely a large sample size, a wide range of functionally relevant outcome measures, the use of multiple informants, and a standardized research and intervention protocol. Also some limitations of the described study are identified, for instance not making a comparison between two treatment conditions, and no use of blinded observational measures to investigate the ecological validity of the research results.Trial registrationDutch Trial Register NTR2860. Registered on 20 April 2011.

Consommation de pornographie à l’adolescence : quelles représentations de la sexualité et de la pornographie, pour quelle sexualité ?

This research was conducted on 319 adolescents (150 girls and 169 boys) aged from 15 to 19years. These participants were from different schools. The first aim of this study was to estimate impact of pornography access and visualization at representations of this media and sexuality. The second aim was to estimate influence of pornography consumption on the psychosexual development of adolescents. The participants answered a protocol, including several items about romantic and sexual relationships, about their pornography consumption and pornography perception. This protocol was administered collectively and anonymously. According to our results, young consumers emphasized the positive effects of pornography. The question was whether representations about pornography facilitated the pornography consumption or cognitive readjustment was made after viewing pornography? It was also possible that these adolescents have positive attitude towards pornography because their family or their friends watch this media. Against, young consumers and non-consumers emphasized in the same way the negative effects of pornography. This lack of difference between the two groups could refer to a mechanism for neutralizing the positive effects associated with pornography. This neutralization mechanism would reduce the pornography impact on the sexuality of young consumers. That would explain why the sexuality of young consumers is not extremely different from non-consumer. Then, young consumers recognized that pornography affects their sex life. In particularly, young consumers described an increase in their desire to have sex, an increase in the frequency of sexual activity and a change in their sexual practices. So, their sexual practices were more diversified than those of non-consumers too. Indeed, young consumers had more sexual partner in the last 6 months than non-consumers. They are more engaged in more oral sex, masturbation and anal sex than non-consumers. However, they did not differ with age of first sexual relationship and with the frequency of sexual activity in the last 6 months. Today, pornography consumption is a common behaviour among adolescents. Pornography consumption can enter in a developmental process. Attempts to keep adolescents away from pornography were useless. So, it would be more appropriate to change our current position and not analyse pornography consumption only in terms of risk to the psychosexual development of young people. Indeed, a way to bypass the pornography influence would be to develop critical thinking of adolescents. A way for this would be to give information about sex and pornography to adolescents.

Psychosexual Development in Adolescents and Adults with Disorders of Sex Development—Results from the German Clinical Evaluation Study

Both biological and psychosocial factors influence psychosexual development. High levels of pre- and postnatal androgens lead to more male-typical behavior. So far, the influence of androgens on gender identity and sexual orientation is unclear. Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are heterogeneous genetic conditions with different levels of prenatal androgens resulting in variations of genital development. Through DSD, the role of the different factors, especially androgen exposure, on psychosexual development can be evaluated. The purpose of the study was to assess psychosexual development in adolescents and adults with different forms of DSD. For the examination of psychosexual development of 66 adolescents and 110 adults with DSD, the authors used the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale for adolescents, the Questionnaire of Gender Identity for adults, and a condition-specific DSD study questionnaire. Individuals were analyzed in four subgroups reflecting the karyotype, absence/presence of androgen effects, and gender of rearing. Main outcome measures used were gender identity, friendships, love and sexual relationships, and sexual orientation in adolescents and adults with DSD. Individuals with DSD did not show increased gender dysphoria. However, partnership and sexuality were identified to be difficult areas of life. Both adolescents and adults with DSD reported fewer experiences regarding love or sexual relationships compared with unaffected individuals. Especially men with DSD and undervirilization and women with DSD and androgen effects less often had a love relationship. Adult women with DSD and androgen effects more frequently engaged in love and sexual relationships with individuals of the same gender compared with women without DSD. Individuals with DSD experience atypical hormonal influences (higher levels of androgens in girls/women and lower levels in androgens in boys/men); however, they did not show increased gender dysphoria in this study. However, partnership and sexual relationships are difficult areas of life for adolescents and adults with DSD. We recommend that individuals with DSD should get support from a multiprofessional team with competency in assessing and counseling issues regarding relationships and sexuality. Contact to other individuals with DSD can be helpful for nonprofessional support and exchange of experiences.

Parenting and Adolescents’ Sexual Development in Western Societies

This review examines associations between parenting styles and the psychosexual development of adolescents. Methods and results of empirical studies of associations between parental support, control, and knowledge and the sexual behavior and sexual health of adolescents are described and evaluated. The results show that, in general, higher scores on support, control, and knowledge relate to a delay of first sexual intercourse, safer sexual practices, and higher sexual competence. Despite the vast amount of literature on this subject, the majority of these studies focus on single dimensions of parenting and unidirectional parenting influences. This review generates hypotheses regarding interactions of different parenting styles and reciprocal associations between parents and their children. There is a need for more dynamic, dialectical studies of parenting, and children’s sexual development.

Sexual Issues in Special Populations: Adolescents and Young Adults

To understand the unique impact of cancer on the psychosexual development of adolescents and young adults and to identify concrete approaches for broaching the topic of sexuality and sexual function. Review and research articles, clinical expertise. It is critical to address sexual health and fertility issues with young adults as early as the diagnosis to offer the patient an opportunity to ask questions, make true informed decisions, and feel comfortable coming back and inquiring about difficulties he/she has later during treatment or afterwards. Oncology nurses are often the first health care professionals to identify and address sexuality concerns in oncology treatment settings. By emphasizing the importance of sexuality and intimacy for adolescents and young adults throughout the cancer experience, oncology professionals can be effective change agents in advocating for their patients.

A pilot intervention to enhance psychosexual development in adolescents and young adults with cancer

Evidence suggests that cancer diagnosed during adolescence and young adulthood may present considerable challenges to what would otherwise be a relatively smooth developmental trajectory, particularly in areas related to reproductive health. We created and pilot tested a two-session, individually-delivered, counseling intervention to enhance psychosexual development in this unique population. A total of 21 patients, aged 15 to 25 years and treated for cancer within the past 5 years, completed the counseling intervention. Patients were adaptively randomized to begin the intervention immediately, or to be placed on a 3-month waitlist, after which time, they were reassessed and began the intervention. The content of the intervention included education, dialog, and support regarding cancer and such issues as sexual development and function, body image, fertility, prevention of sexually transmitted disease and unwanted pregnancy, and romantic relationships (e.g., dating, sexual communication). A 1-month follow-up booster call followed the intervention. Questionnaires were completed at baseline, post-waitlist (for half the sample), post-treatment, and at 3-month follow-up. Participation in the intervention increased cancer-specific knowledge regarding sexual issues; improved body image; lessened anxiety about sexual and romantic relationships; and decreased overall level of psychological distress. Gains were maintained through the 3-month follow-up. Addressing issues of reproductive health in the adolescent/young adult with cancer can and should be offered as a part of comprehensive pediatric cancer care.