Sex-positive Approach Research Articles

The bright side of sexting: A scoping review on its benefits

Sexting behaviour is mostly viewed from a negative perspective. In response to this negative perspective, and in line with calls for a shift towards a more sex-positive approach, this paper provides a scoping review of what is known about the benefits of sexting. Based on a thematic analysis of the content of 70 scientific papers on the benefits of sexting, three main themes were identified: 1) individual benefits resulting from the sexting act itself (i.e., sexual exploration and experimentation, sexual pleasure and non-sexual pleasure), 2) individual benefits resulting from the reaction of the sexting partner (i.e., body image and self-image, sexual agency and validation), and, 3) relational benefits of sexting (i.e., sexual and emotional connectedness, sexting as a way to build bridges). The benefits of sexting are linked to theoretical frameworks related to both the online and offline (sexual) worlds. This paper illustrates how sexting is an online extension of offline sexuality that includes both positive and negative aspects. It is important that also the benefits of sexting receive more attention in research and society, as this will contribute to healthier, more nuanced and more accurate discourses on sexting.

Sex-positive sexuality post-spinal cord injury: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis.

Many qualitative studies have focused on sex and spinal cord injury (SCI), often taking a deficit lens to interpretation and reporting. However, it is important to understand what can facilitate positive sexuality for people with SCI; therefore this study examines facilitators of sexuality for people with SCI. A systematic review and metasynthesis of 38 qualitative papers (published before February 2024) on sexuality for people with SCI was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Thematic synthesis was conducted in three stages: line-by-line coding; the identification of common descriptive themes across papers; and the generation of novel analytical themes. Thirty-eight eligible papers were analyzed. Thematic synthesis resulted in four common descriptive themes that were linked to positive sexuality: (a) being sexually active; (b) trying new and other ways of sexual expression; (c) having a positive relationship with a partner; and (d) peer support. These descriptive themes were interrelated and incorporated in two in-depth analytical themes: (a) redefining sexuality and (b) establishing a sexual identity. This study highlights facilitators to sexuality post-SCI. In order to maintain a sex-positive approach to sexuality rehabilitation for people with SCI, sexuality facilitators should remain at the forefront of sexual rehabilitation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Italian women who have sex with women: prevalence and co-occurrence of sexual practices.

Sexuality research on the sexual practices of women who have sex with women (WSW) has thus far mostly centered on risk factors and addressed a limited number of practices, with a focus on oral sex and insertive vaginal sex. This study arises from the need to fill such a significant gap, which prevents researchers, clinicians, and policy makers from being adequately up-to-date on the sexual habits and tendencies of this population. A multiple-choice questionnaire was completed by 723 WSW with a mean (SD) age of29.14 (6.94) years. The survey included closed questions on sexual practices, including genital and oral sex, but also nongenital sexual contact (petting and intercrural sex), anal sex, and kinky practices. The most common sexual practices were self-masturbation (99.03%), oral sex (performed or received, 98.20%), and insertive genital sex (performed or received, 89.07%). Half of our sample had tried kinky practices at least once in a lifetime (51.31%). Respondents tended to experiment sexually more with stable partners rather than with casual ones. Comparisons among practices in the lesbian and bisexual population are presented. Providers should be aware that sexual orientations have their own specificities, including sexuality and practices, which should increase their knowledge and comfort in working with sexual minorities. The novel topic of the study addresses the gap in sexuality research among WSW. Strengths include the sex-positive approach, the inclusion of an array of sexual practices, and the consideration of the specificities of the group. Limitations in the generalization of the results are the cross-sectional design and the explicit topic, which may have kept some persons from responding. We propose the framing of sex as going beyond genital contact, and we invite clinicians and researchers who come into contact with WSW to be aware that sexual orientation can be associated with specificities regarding sexuality and sexual practices.

Kink and BDSM Awareness in Sex Offense Treatment

There has been a recent movement to adopt a sex-positive framework into all areas of psychological practice, including research, practice, supervision, and training in psychology. However, incorporating a sex-positive approach to sex offense treatment has rarely been discussed. As clinicians move to more humanistic and rehabilitative approaches, sex-positivity should be considered. The current article will outline a case study of a client mandated for sex offense treatment who expressed interest in BDSM with his new partner and his therapist’s reactions to this information. Discussion for clinical training and supports for clinicians doing sex offense treatment will be offered.

What Can the Netflix Series Sex Education Teach School-Based Sexuality Education?

Netflix series Sex Education is popular with young people in a way school-based programmes rarely are. Analyzing the first three seasons, this paper explores what and how educative content is offered and how young people are addressed as sexual subjects. It is argued that Sex Education radically expands the conventional content of school-based programmes and attends to many critiques young people repeatedly make of them. Sex Education offers an example of how to educate about sexuality, via a queer and sex-positive approach where young people are understood as legitimate sexual beings who are authorities on their own sexual lives.

Developing critical HIV health literacy: insights from interviews with priority migrant communities in Queensland, Australia

In Australia, surveillance data establish that there are higher rates of late HIV diagnoses among heterosexual migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa and new HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men (GBM) from Southeast and Northeast Asia and Latin America. Together, these groups are identified as priority migrant communities in current efforts to eliminate HIV transmissions. HIV health literacy is recognised as a key means of improving access to services and health outcomes. This qualitative paper explores critical HIV health literacy among priority migrant communities in Queensland, Australia. To foreground community voices, peer researchers from priority migrant communities participated in the project design, data collection and analysis, with 20 interviews completed. The findings demonstrate how participants’ engagement with HIV health information and services is highly relational and situated within the framework of sexual health and wellbeing. Participants strategically selected where to seek information and who they trusted to help them appraise this information. They further demonstrated reflective capacities in identifying the contextual barriers that inhibit the development of their HIV health literacy. The findings highlight the need for HIV health promotion strategies that embrace a sex positive approach, promote cultural change, and involve collaboration with general practitioners (GPs).

“Human Trafficking Is Modern Day Slavery”: Rev. Margaret Fowler, Sex Work and Trafficking

The late Rev. Margaret Fowler, United Church Minister, was a key supporter of LGBTQ rights and a vocal advocate against human trafficking in Jamaica. As the founder of the Theodora Project, Rev. Fowler served many persons coerced into sex work or subject to sexual exploitation. She argued that human trafficking is a complex connection of economy, gender, social dynamics, law, and foreign relations. She called for the Church to be involved in anti-trafficking work as to do nothing risks “the very real possibility of Jamaica becoming another major area of sex tourism”. As we celebrate her life and ministry, we are given the opportunity to carefully excavate her perspective on the nexus among trafficking, slavery, and sex work. It does appear that her discourse follows the traditional Church line, which conflates slavery, trafficking and sex work in a fashion that views sex work as wholly coerced. In exploring the arguments that validated her important ministry in Negril, this chapter centres sex positive approaches to sex work and questions the slavery and exploitation framing that is normal in Christian discourse.

Integrating a Sex-Positive Approach in Art Therapy

This article identifies the importance of art therapy integrating a sex-positive approach to support healthy sexuality and sexual well-being. It outlines the harmful impact of the sex-negative culture in the United States and defines a sex-positive social justice approach. Based on a review of relevant art therapy literature and the author’s teaching experience, steps toward incorporating a sex-positive approach in art therapy include awareness, knowledge, and skills.

Affirmative Sexual Health Care for Transgender & Nonbinary Youth: Toward a Sex-Positive Approach

Affirmative Sexual Health Care for Transgender & Nonbinary Youth: Toward a Sex-Positive Approach

Sex-Positivity, Medical Mistrust, and PrEP Conspiracy Beliefs Among HIV-Negative Cisgender Black Sexual Minority Men in Atlanta, Georgia.

Because the public health response to the disproportionate HIV burden faced by Black sexual minority men (BSMMM) has focused on sexual risk reduction and disease prevention, other vital components of sexual health (e.g., intimacy, pleasure, benefits of sex) have been often overlooked. Sex-positive describes a more open, holistic approach toward sex and sexuality that prioritizes these other components, though such an approach is rarely applied to BSMM's sexual health. For sex-positive BSMM, risk/preventive discourse may foster or exacerbate medical mistrust as a reaction to the dissonance between how these men view sexual health and how the medical establishment views it, which may discourage sexual healthcare-seeking. We assessed sex-positivity and its association with medical mistrust and PrEP conspiracy beliefs among 206 HIV-negative cisgender BSMM in Atlanta, Georgia. We performed exploratory factor analytic procedures on responses to a sex-positivity scale, followed by multivariable linear regressions to determine sex-positivity's associations with medical mistrust and PrEP conspiracy beliefs. We extracted two sex-positivity factors: sexual freedom (α = 0.90), reflecting openness toward casual sex and rejection of sexual mores, and essence of sex (α = 0.77), reflecting the intimate, relational, and pleasurable qualities of sex. Sexual freedom was independently associated with perceived provider deception (β = 0.19, CI = 0.04, 0.34). Essence of sex was independently associated with PrEP conspiracy beliefs (β = 0.16, CI = 0.02, 0.31) and marginally associated with perceived provider deception (β = 0.14, CI = - 0.00, 0.29). Healthcare providers and public health practitioners may cultivate greater trust with BSMM by incorporating a sex-positive approach into patient/participant interactions, clinical decision-making, and interventions. Improving access to sexual pleasure acknowledges BSMM's right to optimal, holistic sexual health.

The Biopsychosocial Model and the Sex-Positive Approach: an Integrative Perspective for Sexology and General Health Care

IntroductionThe Biopsychosocial model (BPS) represents a comprehensive paradigm of consolidated practices. Although it has been outlined as the gold standard in sexology, its implementation is often challenging. The sex-positive approach is a ground-breaking movement that is gaining popularity all over and is focused on the recognition of different sexual expressions as valid, consensual, healthy, and meaningful. However, a pragmatic implementation of this approach is still missing.MethodsA critical review was conducted based on bibliographic research on Medline, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science on relevant articles published from January 2011 to July 2021.ResultsA total of 116 papers were included in the following review, indicating an increasing body of research about BPS and sex-positive frameworks during the last 10 years. One of the main limitations in the BPS is the scarce attention paid to socio-cultural factors involved in sexual expressions, such as the role of negative attitudes towards sexuality that may affect health care professionals’ work. An application of the sex-positive approach to the BPS model may bring greater attention to the needs, values and desires of the individual, as well as allow a new knowledge and understanding of sexuality within a broader spectrum, including diversities and pleasures.ConclusionsThe sex-positive approach represents a viable path that entails the willingness of health care professionals to get involved actively; criticize their personal attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge about sex and work hard to improve their practice in sexology.Policy ImplicationsA discussion of the possible fruitful integration between the BPS and the sex-positive approach is presented, highlighting practical applications in research, clinical practice, training and sex education and giving possible directions for future studies and policies.

Trauma-Informed Sex Positive Approaches to Sexual Pleasure

This paper develops a trauma-informed sex-positive framework as a public health, clinical, and research approach to sexual experience over the life course. The framework centers trauma-informed sex positivity as the linkage for sexual pleasure (along with sexual wellbeing and sexual health) to the social, cultural, and legal concepts of sexual justice. By providing a conceptual distinction of sexual pleasure from sexual wellbeing and sexual health, the framework improves clarity about how these constructs are related as well as provides possibilities for detailed operationalization in public health surveillance and in the new research.

Sexting can be sexy…if it's consensual: challenging victim blaming and heteronormativity in sext education

Young people's sexting is an area of concern amongst parents, policymakers, and educators.1 Much education around the topic of sexting focuses on risk and shame. My creative work, Sexting Scenes – what do you think?, is a film script intended as a sext education resource. It highlights the various reasons for and consequences of sexting, using an intersectional and sex-positive approach not rooted in risk or shame. I address issues of victim blaming and heteronormativity in sext education resources Tagged and Exposed. I utilise the theories of feminist scholars Amy Shields Dobson and Jessica Ringrose and applied theatre scholar Katherine Low. My previous placement at the School of Sexuality Education, my current PhD Practice-as-Research, and my experience as an applied theatre practitioner all informed the script content. The script incorporates multiple storylines, diverse characters, and reflective questions to challenge and question victim blaming and heteronormativity in relation to sexting. Keywords: sexting, sext education, victim blaming, heteronormativity, applied theatre

“Be proactive not reactive”: Understanding gaps in student sexual consent education

A growing number of universities are providing sexual violence prevention programs to students in recognizing the need for this programming. While universities favour programs on singular topics aimed at preventing sexual violence, scholars have argued that comprehensive sexual health education should begin prior to entering university to better ensure safer campus communities. Further, students have expressed unmet needs regarding the sexual health education they received prior to attending university. Therefore, the current study sought to explore gaps in sexual health education as identified by university students. Participants ( N = 444) were asked to describe the consent definition they were taught in high school and from their parents, and how the sexual health education they received could have been improved. An inductive thematic analysis was used to identify six themes from the data: back to consent education basics, you have the power to set boundaries, staying safe in sexual situations, take a sex-positive approach with sex education, wholistic education on consent-based relations, and practical recommendations for providing sex education. Findings highlight that participants desired a more wholistic approach to their sexual health education that included practical components on healthy sexuality. Notably, participants relayed how proper sexual health education may have prevented experiences of sexual violence they had. Thus, it is essential to continue exploring how best to provide comprehensive sexual health education to adolescents.

Relationship of High-Risk Sexual Behaviors, Sexual Knowledge, and Sexual Satisfaction Among African American College Students: Toward a Sex Positive Approach to STI Prevention

Relationship of High-Risk Sexual Behaviors, Sexual Knowledge, and Sexual Satisfaction Among African American College Students: Toward a Sex Positive Approach to STI Prevention

The role of sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevention and control programs in reducing gender, sexual and STI-related stigma.

The role of sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevention and control programs in reducing gender, sexual and STI-related stigma.

Sexual satisfaction with daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay and bisexual men at two urban PrEP clinics in the United States: an observational study.

We conducted a one-time, cross-sectional survey of MSM receiving PrEP care at two hospital-based PrEP clinics in Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, USA (April-September 2017). We oversampled Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals. Participants completed the 20-item New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS) twice, once for before and once for after starting PrEP. Participants reported sexual behaviours, PrEP adherence, PrEP attitudes, and quality of life with PrEP. A total of 108 gay and bisexual men (GBM) participated. Overall, 15.7% were Black (non-Hispanic/Latino) and 23.1% were Hispanic/Latino, with an average age of 36.6 years. Most participants reported private health insurance coverage (71.3%), and 88.9% identified as homosexual, gay, or same gender-loving. The mean NSSS score before PrEP initiation across all 20 items was 3.94 (maximum = 5; 95% CI: 4.22, 4.43), and increased significantly after PrEP initiation (4.33, 95% CI: 4.22, 4.43; P < 0.001). Most participants (73.2%) reported that PrEP increased quality of life. This was associated with significant change in pre- to post-PrEP NSSS scores (linear regression coefficient = 1.21; 95% CI: 0.585, 1.84). Initiating PrEP and reporting improved quality of life were significantly associated with an increase in sexual satisfaction. PrEP implementation efforts should consider sexual satisfaction to promote PrEP engagement and retention, and researchers and providers should adopt a sex-positive approach with PrEP patients, especially among MSM.

Condom associated erection problems (CAEP) in heterosexual young men (under 40): A systematic review and qualitative synthesis

Condom associated erection problems (CAEP) interfere with the correct and consistent use of condoms. CAEP, a common form of psychogenic erection problems, have been understudied in heterosexual relationships. We conducted a systematic review and qualitative synthesis of all available studies published before 2019 to examine the prevalence, etiology, effects, prevention, and treatment of CAEP in heterosexual men under 40 years of age. 43 full-text articles were assessed; nine met inclusion criteria. Most studies used self-reported questionnaires, some in combination with measures of physiological arousal. The prevalence of CAEP was 18–36%. CAEP involve attentional, affective, behavioural, cognitive, relational, and sensory processes. CAEP were associated with rushed condom application, condom worry/anxiety, distraction, multiple partners, decreased arousal response to sexual stimuli, self-perpetuating dysfunctional sexual learning, decreased penile sensitivity with erections and condoms, issues with condom ‘fit or feel,’ and mental health diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety and ADHD. It is important to address CAEP early with sex-positive approaches targeted at men and women that enhance condom self-efficacy, condom confidence, and sexual communication. Men should practice applying condoms in no pressure (solo-sex) situations to discern the condom that fits and feels best and to develop the ease and confidence to apply condoms for partnered sex with less worry and distraction. Further research is needed to confirm which strategies are most effective at reducing CAEP.

Sexual Excitation and Sexual Inhibition in the Context of Sexual Risk-Taking

ABSTRACT The current study examined the roles of sexual excitation and sexual inhibition in the context of sexual risk-taking among heterosexual women and men to better understand the link between sexual arousal and sexual risk-taking. We set out to determine which factors in the Sexual Excitation and Sexual Inhibition Inventory for women and men (SESII-W/M) were most predictive of sexual response and sexual risk-taking behavior. Participants (N = 266, women = 166) completed the SESII-W/M instrument and responded to items assessing their sexual risk-taking intentions and their risk-taking indicators. A sub-sample (n = 133, women = 83) also completed a sexual arousal manipulation. Sexual excitation was linked with higher levels of self-reported sexual arousal (among women and men) and greater risk-taking intentions (among women only). However, controlling for gender, sexual inhibition was a better predictor of sexual risk-taking intentions, compared to sexual excitation. The Dual Control Model offers unique insights into conceptualizations of sexual response to erotic stimuli and behavioral risk-taking. These findings can inform more effective interventions to promote risk reduction through sex positive approaches that capitalize on the pleasure enhancing capabilities of safer sex strategies.

‘Sexuality, without that mirror’: The role of embodied practice in the development of sexual potential

Background and purposeResearch needs to take a sex positive approach to the development of sexual health, with sexual intimacy, orientation, and eroticism understood as central to well-being. Embodiment is central to this project. This qualitative study explores how regular embodied practice might encourage the development of sexual potential. Materials and methodsFour women who engaged in a regular embodied practice (e.g., yoga) participated in semi-structured interviews. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using an interpretative phenomenological framework. ResultsThree superordinate themes were identified that captured participants’ journeys toward the development of sexual potential: Other-validated Sexuality, Embodiment Practice, and Self-validated Sexuality. ConclusionEngagement in regular embodied practice encouraged the development of sexual potential in this sample of women by shifting focus from sexuality as experienced from the perspective of the other to the lived experience of sexuality as connected to their bodily states and enabling integration of the spirit and flesh.