Sexual Interest Research Articles

Therapeutic prevention of child sexual abuse: the Stand Strong, Walk Tall framework and overview

Approaches to addressing child sexual abuse as a widespread and damaging societal concern are increasingly broadening from a traditional focus on reducing reoffending to pursuing perpetration prevention at an earlier stage. The current paper introduces Stand Strong, Walk Tall (SSWT), a therapeutic secondary prevention programme designed for adults who experience sexual attraction towards children, with an explicit dual focus on enhancing client wellbeing alongside prevention. Here we describe SSWT’s intervention framework, comprising theoretical underpinnings, research-informed targeted needs and intervention philosophy. We further provide an overview of the programme design including protocols for referral and assessment, service parameters such as duration and frequency of client contact, and programme process and content. Therapeutic secondary prevention approaches such as SSWT offer an important addition to comprehensive strategies for addressing child sexual abuse and should be considered by jurisdictions worldwide.

Acceptance of sexual attraction and its link to psychological distress and sexual offending among pedohebephilic clients: results from a preliminary analysis

IntroductionPedohebephilic disorder is characterized by intense sexual urges or fantasies involving children, which can lead to distress or sexual behavior with children. While theoretical and qualitative accounts suggest that accepting one’s pedohebephilic sexual interests may help mitigate both distress and problematic behaviors, the only published quantitative study to date has linked acceptance with behavior but did not analyze its effect on distress.MethodsWe examined the relationship between acceptance of sexual interests and child sexual abuse (CSA), the use of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM), and psychological distress in 238 pedohebephilic and teleiophilic men outside the judicial system (i.e., in the “Dunkelfeld”).ResultsCompared to teleiophilic individuals, pedohebephilic individuals showed lower acceptance of their sexual interests. No significant differences were found between groups regarding past sexual offending. In a subsample of 197 pedohebephilic individuals (n = 197), correlations with recent sexual behavior were minimal. In another subsample of pedohebephilic men (n = 84) with data on psychological distress, increased acceptance was associated with decreased psychological distress, although this association weakened among those reporting recent offenses.DiscussionAcceptance of one’s sexual interests is associated with reduced distress in pedohebephilic disorder among non-offending individuals. However, its role among offending individuals remains unclear. Efforts to improve measuring the acceptance of one’s sexual interests and further explore its role in pedohebephilic disorder are warranted.

Demographic and Experiential Characteristics of Asexual Individuals and Associations with Well-Being.

The visibility and number of people identifying as asexual-those with little to no sexual attraction-have been increasing in recent years. In the current study, we examined variation in experiential and developmental milestones and psychosocial functioning in 1,726 individuals on the asexual spectrum (61.2% women, 15.0% non-binary, 14.2% men, 9.0% other gender). A lack of sexual attraction was a lifelong orientation-most (i.e., often half to two-thirds) asexual individuals reported never experiencing sexual attraction or acting on it. Identity formation processes and romantic feelings tended to be most salient in adolescence. People are identifying as asexual more recently, such that 18-22-year-olds did so recently in adolescence (ages 13-17), 23-29 year-olds did so recently in young adulthood (ages 18-24), and 30 + year-olds did so recently in adulthood (ages 25-34). This may be consistent with the visibility of asexuality increasing in recent years, providing a useful label for people. Asexual people were more out to other members of the LGBTQIA+ community but less to family, coworkers, and the heterosexual community. Being out and lower levels of internalized acephobia were associated with higher life satisfaction. We discuss these findings in the context of identity development and the mechanisms linking individual and relational characteristics to well-being in asexual populations.

Polling Pedophilic Preferences: Analyzing Responses to User-Generated Member Polls on a Darknet Child Sexual Abuse Forum

ABSTRACT This study examines a “boy-lover” darknet forum, home to nearly 100,000 members with sexual interests in children, analyzing user-generated polls to understand the psychosexual dynamics of this hidden community. Being neither scientifically structured nor motivated, these polls provide a rare, non-reactive insight into sexual preferences, behaviors, and social interactions in an ecosystem shielded from societal scrutiny. Exploring age preferences, consumption of child sexual abuse material, and child sex cues, we elucidate how these behaviors are communicated, reinforced, and normalized. The findings contextualize these behaviors within existing research and underscore the critical role of digital ecosystems in perpetuating sexual exploitation.

Gene Silencing of Olfactory Receptor Coreceptor by Systemic RNA Interference in Callosobruchus maculatus

Seed beetles are pernicious pests of leguminous seeds and are distributed globally. They cause great economic losses, particularly in developing countries. Of this genus, the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) is the most destructive and common species of this beetle. However, there are no effective and sustainable control strategies available for this species. Nevertheless, sustainable pest management strategies using sex pheromone compounds have been proposed, as C. maculatus uses species-specific sex pheromone signals for pre-mating isolation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the attractive capacity of male C. maculatus after RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene knockdown of olfactory receptor coreceptor (Cmac\\Orco). The RNAi effect showed more than 90% reduction in transcripts, and a behavioral bioassay using a Y-tube olfactometer indicated that knocking down males impaired sexual attraction toward females, which would be a useful tool for further screening of target molecules for odorant chemical communication.

Evidence for Bxy-npr-21 on controlling juveniles' growth and modulating male sexual arousal: from molecules to behaviors.

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is considered a quarantine plant nematode species, that causes major damage to pine ecosystems globally. However, there are few reports on the identification and function of the sex pheromone receptors involved in mating. The function of Bxy-npr-21 as a potential sex pheromone receptor gene was verified from molecules to behaviors in this study. Here, we firstly report that Bxy-npr-21 is a receptor gene involved in sexual attraction. The bioinformatic analysis indicated that the Bxy-npr-21 gene in B. xylophilus encodes a GPCR. The expression characterization for Bxy-npr-21 showed that it is widely expressed in whole body of larvae and sex organs of adults. The RNAi results suggested that the Bxy-npr-21 gene was involved mainly in movement, feeding, and mating. Sexual arousal experiments further validated that the Bxy-npr-21 gene was involved in the activation of males by female chemical signaling. Our results strongly suggest that the Bxy-npr-21 gene is a key gene that regulates nematode growth, development and reproduction. The results of this study lay the foundation for revealing the molecular mechanisms of growth and reproduction of B. xylophilus. It can also provide an important basis for further control of B. xylophilus. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Kisspeptin and Neurokinin B: roles in reproductive health.

Kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) play a key role in several physiological processes including in puberty, adult reproductive function including the menstrual cycle, as well as mediating the symptoms of menopause. Infundibular kisspeptin neurons, which co-express NKB, regulate the activity of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, and thus the physiological pulsatile secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus. Outside of their hypothalamic reproductive roles, these peptides are implicated in several physiological functions including sexual behavior and attraction, placental function, and bone health. Over the last two decades, research findings have considerably enhanced our understanding of the physiological regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and identified potential therapeutic applications. For example, recognition of the role of kisspeptin as the natural inductor of ovulation has led to research investigating its use as a safer, more physiological trigger of oocyte maturation in <em>in vitro</em> fertilization (IVF) treatment. Moreover, the key role of NKB in the pathophysiology of menopausal hot flashes has led to the development of pharmacological antagonism of this pathway. Indeed, Fezolinetant, a neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist, has recently received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for clinical use to treat menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Herein, we discuss the roles of kisspeptin and NKB in human physiology, including in the regulation of puberty, menstrual cyclicity, reproductive behavior, pregnancy, menopause, and bone homeostasis. We describe how perturbations of these key physiological processes can result in disease states and consider how kisspeptin and NKB could be exploited diagnostically, as well as therapeutically to treat reproductive disorders.

Beliefs About Autonomic Arousal Sensations Help Explain Differences in Paraphilic Interests in Young Men and Women.

We examined whether beliefs about autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking explain some of the gender differences in self-reporting paraphilic sexual interests in 672 university students. A serial mediation model was used to test the direct association of gender and the indirect associations of positive interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking on paraphilic sexual interests. Anxiety sensitivity (e.g., the belief that anxiety sensations are dangerous) was included in the serial mediation model to evaluate the relationship between negative interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations and paraphilic interests. As predicted, men reported more paraphilic interests, sexual sensation seeking, positive beliefs about autonomic arousal sensations, and lower anxiety sensitivity than women. Participants' gender was indirectly related to paraphilic interests through positive beliefs about autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking. Notably, positive interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations had a greater association with paraphilic sexual interests than anxiety sensitivity. When autonomic arousal sensations are interpreted positively, they may facilitate sexual sensation seeking, and people may endorse more paraphilic sexual interests. Future research on paraphilias should further examine positive interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations as they may relate to sexual sensation seeking and the endorsement of paraphilic interests.

Neurological confirmation of periplanone-D exploitation as a primary sex pheromone and counteractions of other components in the smoky brown cockroach Periplaneta fuliginosa.

The smoky brown cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa, is a peridomestic pest inhabiting broad regions of the world from temperate to subtropical zones. In common with other related species such as the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, female-emitted sex pheromone components, named periplanones, are known to be key volatiles that elicit long-range attraction and courtship rituals in males. How periplanones are processed in the nervous system has been entirely unexplored in P. fuliginosa. By using pheromone compounds, periplanones A, B, C, and D, as stimulants to the antenna, we identified four distinct types of interneurons (projection neurons) that relay pheromonal signals from a single olfactory glomerulus of the first-order olfactory center (antennal lobe) to higher-order centers in the ipsilateral hemibrain. All glomeruli innervated by pheromone-responsive projection neurons clustered near the antennal nerve entrance of the antennal lobe. The projection neuron with dendrites in the largest glomerulus was tuned specifically to periplanone-D, and adding other components to periplanone-D counteracted the excitation elicited by periplanone-D alone. Likewise, the projection neuron with dendrites in the second largest glomerulus and that with dendrites in a medium-sized glomerulus were tuned to periplanone-A and periplanone-B, respectively. Our results are, therefore, consistent with behavioral findings that periplanone-D alone acts as a primary sex attractant and that other components act as potential behavioral antagonists. Moreover, a comparison of the glomeruli in P. fuliginosa and P. americana suggested that there are differences in the sizes of homologous glomeruli, as well as in the ligands they process.

Associations of sexual orientation and state-level antidiscrimination policy protections with alcohol, tobacco, and mental health outcomes in a U.S. sample of adolescents and adults

Structural stigma has important health implications for sexual minority individuals, including alcohol and tobacco use, and mental health. This study examined associations of structural stigma with alcohol and tobacco use and internalizing symptoms while considering sexual identity changes and multiple dimensions of sexual orientation among adolescents and adults in the U.S. This study used data from waves 1-5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH; n=110,401 observations in the full sample and n=10,417 observations among sexual minority individuals) and state-level sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) policy data from the Movement Advancement Project. Using mixed effects regression models stratified by sex, we examined the associations of sexual identity change, sexual identity-sexual attraction discordance, and SOGI policy protections with symptomatic alcohol use, tobacco dependence symptoms, and high levels of internalizing symptoms. Among females, sexual identity-attraction discordance was associated with greater odds of symptomatic alcohol use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.54, 2.13) and high internalizing symptoms (AOR=1.47; 95% CI=1.16, 1.86). A higher level of SOGI policy protections compared to a lower level of SOGI protections was associated with lower odds of symptomatic alcohol use (AOR=0.46; 95% CI=0.25, 0.87) and fewer tobacco dependence symptoms (β=-0.66; 95% CI=-1.20, -0.12) among sexual minority males. Higher levels of SOGI policy protections compared to lower protection levels was associated with lower odds of internalizing symptoms (AOR=0.81; 95% CI=0.66, 0.99) and fewer tobacco dependence symptoms (β=-0.56; 95% CI=-0.99, -0.13) among sexual minority females. This work extends the literature on the potential impact of structural protections from stigma on sexual minority populations. Our findings underscore the importance of addressing structural stigma, which may, in turn, ameliorate the substance use and mental health disparities that sexual minority individuals experience.

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Queer Art of Thomas Patch

Abstract: This essay considers the critical neglect of Thomas Patch in terms of a failure to appreciate the sophistication and intelligence with which the artist represented himself in a variety of self-portraits embedded within his larger works. Despite their smaller, incidental appearance these self-portraits when taken together constitute a narrative of self-disclosure significantly at odds with the myth of the unknowable artist in retreat from conventional morality. In fact, as the essay argues, Patch's mea culpa is both an acknowledgment of queer otherness and a spirited defense of transgressive sexual attraction, one that goes to some trouble to dramatize (and explain) a rather unconventional intimacy between the artist and his art.

SOCIOEMOTIONAL FACTORS DRIVING SEXUAL INTEREST AND SATISFACTION IN OLDER ADULTHOOD

Abstract Research shows that sexual interest declines with age, while sexual satisfaction remains relatively stable in later life. Declines in sexual interest can result from health deficits that pose barriers to sex; however, for older adults who are healthy and able to have sex, socioemotional factors may influence sexual satisfaction. This study examined the associations between socioemotional variables, sexual interest, and sexual satisfaction among older adults. Data were drawn from the subset of adults ages 60+ in UCSD SAGE study (n=359). A series of linear regression models were fitted to examine sexual interest and sexual satisfaction as separate outcomes while accounting for demographics (age, gender, marital status, race/ethnicity), socioemotional variables (morale, self-compassion, satisfaction with life), and health indicators (physical function, general health). Older adults who were younger ages (B=-.172, p=.001), men compared to women (B=.283, p&amp;lt;.001), married/partnered compared to single (B=.213, p&amp;lt;.001), and had better physical functioning (B=.214, p&amp;lt;.001) reported higher sexual interest. In the model for sexual satisfaction among sexually active older adults (n=148), those with greater morale (B=-.027, p=.03) and better physical function (B=.271, p=.003) reported higher sexual satisfaction. Findings reinforce the importance of physical function for sexual interest and satisfaction among older adults. Socioemotional factors, such as morale, are more strongly associated with sexual satisfaction. However, these relationships may be bidirectional or recursive in nature (i.e., those with higher morale are satisfied with sexual encounters, and that sexual satisfaction may lead to higher morale), requiring additional longitudinal studies.

Paranthrene diaphana: a new clearwing moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) species in Romania and its preliminary response to sex attractants

The genus Paranthrene includes diurnal clearwing moths mimicking Hymenoptera and known for their impact in forestry. In Europe, it comprises three species: Paranthrene tabaniformis, P. diaphana, and P. insolitus, which are morphologically similar but distinct in host plant preferences and distribution. P. tabaniformis is widespread and a pest of Populus, while P. diaphana occurs patchily in southeastern Europe and feeds on Salix. This study reports the first records of P. diaphana in Romania, expanding the known distribution of this species in Europe. Field surveys in Romania recorded this species in the regions of Banat, Oltenia, and Muntenia, while surveys conducted in Buzău County with sex attractant lures between 2013 and 2024 revealed the presence of P. diaphana alongside P. tabaniformis, a common species in the country. P. diaphana shows an apparent distribution primarily in southern Romania. In all the habitats where P. diaphana was recorded the habitat includes willows, poplars, and agricultural fields. The findings contribute to the understanding of Paranthrene species and confirms presence of P. diaphana in Romania, expanding its known range and highlighting the need for further research, particularly into P. insolitus. Thanks to citizen science contributions the species is recorded also in Dobrodja region

EXPECTATIONS FOR CHANGE IN SEXUAL POSSIBLE SELVES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SEXUAL WELL-BEING WITH AGE

Abstract The concept of sexual possible selves is well-established in the emerging adulthood literature with connections to sexual behavior and wellbeing. Research on sexual possible selves beyond this age period is limited. In an online sample of adults (N = 612; Mage = 47.31, SD = 13.51, 30-85 years), the current study aimed to identify expectations for long-term change in sexual possible selves and understand related factors. Participants reported on expectations for change (no change, change a little, change a lot) and were asked to elaborate. Additional data were collected on demographics, self-rated health, and sexual interest as possible related variables. Although 40.4% of the sample indicated that they expected no change, 78.9% of participants described a long-term expectation for their sexual possible selves. Thirteen themes emerged; the most common were aging (23.4%), relationship with a current partner (22.6%), and partner-related issues including no partner (19.5%). A series of logistic regressions were run to identify factors related to each theme. Demographics including age and partner status largely predicted themes. A multinomial regression was run to explore factors associated with expectations of staying the same (40.4%), changing a little (47.0%), and changing a lot (12.6%). Although demographics again were significant, additional variables contributed and the pattern of variables differentiating no change from change a little and change a lot differed. The results are important for extending sexual possible selves research across adulthood and understanding the diversity of expectations that may influence sexual interactions and wellbeing with age.

A controlled study of use and effectiveness of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors in long-term survivors after curative radiotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa).

We lack population-based data on the use and effectiveness of phosphodiesterase- 5inhibitors (PDE-5Is) in post-radiotherapy long-term prostate cancer survivors (PCaSs). In this cross-sectional survey performed 9 years after curative radiotherapy we explored PDE-5I use and the drugs'effectiveness in 1,092 nine-year PCaSs responding to the sexual items of EPIC-26. The findings from PCaSs were compared to those from 2,847 age-similar men from the general population (Norms). 13 % of the PCaSs and 9 % of the Norms were Current Users of PDE-5Ies, High sexual interest and, restricted to PCaSs, age below 70 years significantly increased the use of PDE-Is. In PCaSs and Norms, who used PDE-5Is the levels of the six sexual items of EPIC-26 and of the Sexual Domain Summary Score (DSS) were similar. The corresponding differences were large in Never Users of PDE-5Ies. High sexual interest in PCaSs, and use of PDE-5Is were significantly and positively associated with an acceptable level of the sexual domain in EPIC-26 (Score > 40), whereas the association was negative for age > 70 years, reduced health and obesity, CONCLUSION: At least 1 of 10 long-term post-radiotherapy PCaSs experience "some help" of their erectile dysfunction by use of PDE-5Is. These patients are identified by high sexual interest, age < 70 years and good health During long-term follow-up of PCaSs clinicians are challenged early to identify these, often relatively young men, based on their high sexual interest.

Exploring the Complex Link: Pedophilia and its Association with Psychiatric Comorbidities

This review dives into the complex relationship between pedophilia and psychiatric comorbidities. The study navigates the complexities surrounding this sensitive topic, recognizing societal discomfort with pedophilia and the imperative need to approach it with sensitivity. Pedophilia, a paraphilia characterized by sexual attraction to prepubescent children, raises critical concerns for public safety and thus it is necessary to explore what factors may increase the risk of pedophilic behaviours. This essay focuses on unraveling the intertwined dynamics of pedophilia and psychiatric comorbidities, aiming to contribute to a more informed discourse. Central questions include the commonalities among individuals with pedophilic disorders, their intersections with psychiatric comorbidities, and the influence of substance use on the manifestation of pedophilic behaviours. Employing a multifaceted approach, the research draws on studies by Hall and Hall (2007), Kraanen and Emmelkamp (2011), Ferretti et al. (2011), Burt (2019), Tenbergen (2015) and others to provide comprehensive insights.

The Arabian Nights in Weimar Cinema: Recontextualizing Campy Fantasies of Gender, Sex, and Ethnicity in Lotte Reiniger's The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) and Ernst Lubitsch's Sumurun (1920)

Gueneli examines the adaptation of the Arabian Nights into filmic narratives in the Weimar Republic by asking how these films participated in and shaped modern discourses on gender, sex, and ethnicity. What fantasies, anxieties, and dreams did these Arab, “exotic” tales fulfill for audiences in Weimar Germany, where debates about colonial dreams and the simultaneous loss of colonies, as much as about women’s liberation and the LGBTQ+ population’s voicing of social, political, and sexual interests saturated the public sphere? Gueneli analyzes Lotte Reiniger’s Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (The Adventures of Prince Achmed, 1926) and Ernst Lubitsch’s Sumurun (1920). She argues that the films’ deliberations on these questions provide reactions to modern Germany’s changing socio-cultural and -political fabric. Gueneli discusses these films from the perspective of gender and sexuality and pays particular attention to the interplay between ethnicity and the cinematic use of campy/drag performances. Looking closely at the use of costume (fashion, props, jewelry) and the staging of desire (mise-enscène, casting, performance), Gueneli claims that through the occasional use of a campy mode/campy drag performance the films include more nuances in their depictions of gender, yet, at the same time, create a ranking among the implied ethnicities.

From Sacred to Profane: Phra Khun Phaen Amulets in Modern Thailand

In recent years, the Phra Khun Phaen amulet, usually featuring a seated buddha in the subduing Māra pose, has gained popularity among Thais and foreigners, especially Asians. Believed to bestow charisma, wealth, and sexual attraction, the amulet’s origins trace back to the Siamese literary work Khun Chang Khun Phaen from the Ayutthaya period. This article explores its evolution from early clay tablets to modern representations, emphasizing its shift from a Buddhist doctrinal tool to a necromantic symbol of wealth and power, shaped by economic conditions from the early 20th century to today.

Inventing Thai Amulets for the Chinese: Achan Meng and the Nine-Tailed Fox

This article explores the creation of the Nine-Tailed Fox amulet by Achan Meng Khunphaen (1957–2021), a Sino–Thai lay ritualist. Since 2010, Achan Meng adapted the Chinese fox cult into his controversial amulet, believed to enhance charisma and sexual attraction, gaining immense popularity among trans-Asian ethnic Chinese communities. Opinions about his legitimacy vary, with some viewing him as a swindling opportunist while others see him as a gifted ritual master. The Nine-Tailed Fox amulet reflects the inclusivity of Thai religious practices and the rise of “cults of charisma” since the late 2000s, bridging two cultural traditions.

Brief Report:Availability of and Interest in Gender-Affirming Care, PrEP, and HIV Prevention Services in a Global Sample of Transmasculine Persons.

We assessed access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and interest in integration of PrEP with gender-affirmative care in a global sample of transmasculine persons. Transmasculine persons (N = 590) aged 18 years and above from 57 countries completed a brief online survey from April to July 2022 about sexual behavior, knowledge, and interest in PrEP, current access to PrEP and gender-affirmative care, and preferred context for accessing PrEP. Descriptive analyses were stratified by country income group. Most participants (54.4%) lived near a health center offering care to trans people. Overall, 1.9% of respondents reported ever receiving a positive HIV test result. Among those who had not (n = 579), more than a third reported engaging in receptive sex in the past year (35.2%) or anticipated doing so in the next year (41.5%), 86.9% had never received information about HIV prevention specific to transmasculine people, and 76.3% had heard of PrEP. Among those who had heard of PrEP (n = 440), only 18.9% had discussed or been offered it by a provider, and only 3.6% were currently taking it-yet 67.9% who had heard of it but were not using it would "definitely" (28.5%) or "maybe" (39.4%) be interested in taking it were it available for free. Out of these participants, the majority (60.5%) preferred the idea of accessing PrEP from the same clinic where they received gender-affirming care. Interventions are needed to improve PrEP access for transmasculine people globally. Clinics already providing gender-affirming care to trans people are acceptable clinical contexts to integrate such interventions.