Sexual Beliefs Research Articles

Alcoholic herbal sex drinks and the construction of masculinities in Nigeria

Extant works on masculinities have focused on their differential patterns in Nigeria. However, none of these studies has examined how masculinities are constructed through the metaphorical representation of alcoholic herbal sex drinks and their functions. Drawing insights from Lakoff and Johnson’s conceptual metaphor theory, Forceville’s visual metaphor and van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach to ideology to analyze the names together with verbo-visual conceptualization of alcoholic herbal sex drinks, this paper discusses some of the subcultural ideologies that delineate masculinities among the manufacturers, sellers, and consumers of these drinks in southwestern Nigeria. Analysis of the data reveals the construction of masculinities by this group in terms of the territorial and subordinating sexual status of the male. Also, the male sex organ and muscular male body are conceptualized by this group as sexual weapons, controllers of the female sexual satisfaction, and the cleaning agents for vagina. The paper concludes that these drinks and the associated sexual beliefs reflect some of the trending subcultural ideologies that discursively shape the construction of masculinities in Nigeria.

Sexual functioning beliefs, sexual satisfaction, and sexual functioning in women: a cross-sectional mediation analysis

Sexual dysfunctional beliefs are known to be negative predictors of women's sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction, but little is known about the role that beliefs about sexual functioning play in women's sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of sexual functioning in the relationship between women's beliefs about sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. A sample of 301 women was invited to participate in a web survey about female sexuality in May 2020. Participants completed the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Beliefs About Sexual Functioning Scale, the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women, and the Female Sexual Functioning Index. Sexual functioning was a significant mediator in the relationship between beliefs about sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction in women. When the dimensions of sexual functioning were considered as mediators, only sexual desire and absence of sexual pain were significant mediators in the relationship between beliefs about sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction in women. Negative beliefs about sexual functioning in women are associated with poor sexual functioning and lack of sexual satisfaction. Therefore, beliefs about sexual functioning should be assessed during the intervention for women's sexual difficulties and to increase sexual pleasure and satisfaction. In addition, special attention should be paid to women with problems with sexual desire and sexual pain when beliefs about sexual functioning are being assessed. This study is one of the first attempts to explore the role of beliefs about sexual functioning in women's sexual satisfaction and to examine the mediating role of sexual functioning. Limitations include the small sample size, the lack of a clinical sample, and the nonlongitudinal methodological approach. Beliefs about sexual functioning are a negative predictor of sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction in women. In addition, women with sexual pain and lack of sexual desire are more likely to have lower sexual satisfaction if they have more negative beliefs about sexual functioning.

How Sexual Information Sources are Related to Emerging Adults' Sex-Positive Scripts and Sexual Communication.

Prior research suggests that parents, peers, and media are popular sources of sexual information and beliefs among emerging adults. Sex-positivity is an orientation toward sex that emphasizes open-minded beliefs and communication about varying sexual behaviors, preferences, and orientations. The current study investigated whether these sexual information sources were associated with emerging adults' endorsement of sex-positive and sexual orientation-related sexual scripts, and if these sources and scripts were associated with sexual communication among a sample of college students ages 18-22 (n = 341). Results indicate that learning from television was positively related to sex-positive sexual script endorsement, and that sex-positive scripts were associated with more positive sexual communication. An interaction also emerged between gender and learning from television on sex-positive script endorsement, and between gender and learning from social media on sexual orientation-related script endorsement. The implications of these findings are contextualized within emerging adults' sexual agency and behavior. Future directions of research are also discussed.

Beyond Wokeness: Why We Should All Be Using a More "Sensitive" Measure of Self-Reported Gender Identity.

Gender plays a significant role in an individual's experiences and behaviors, as well as their expectations of others. Researchers have long operationalized gender using limited, mutually exclusive categories that fail to capture the rich variability within a gender-diverse population. While open-ended responses or multi-item scales may be a socially progressive approach and necessary for some gender-based research (e.g., Bauer et al., 2017), it may be unsuitable and statistically unfeasible for quantitative researchers in other areas. We analyzed responses from over 700 gender-diverse participants in the U.S. on a series of unipolar scales (i.e., gender identity, expression, and perception by others) that granted participants the flexibility of selecting a comprehensive self-definition while still enabling quantitative analysis of group differences as well as capturing maximum within-group variability. Using a cluster analysis, we found that participants' responses were best represented by five categories: Archetypical Men (n = 169), Archetypical Women (n = 168), Intertypical Men (n = 158), Intertypical Women (n = 126), and Nonconforming (n = 85). We explore the variability of characteristics and beliefs (e.g., gender norms, sexist beliefs) within and between traditional sex and these new gender categories. In this paper, we discuss theoretical considerations for future research and how using this comprehensive operationalization of gender can expand our understanding of "gender differences'' beyond the current scientific assumptions and barriers.

A knowledge attitudes and practice study of media consumption in medical students of tertiary care teaching institute and it's relation with their sexual attitudes and beliefs

A knowledge attitudes and practice study of media consumption in medical students of tertiary care teaching institute and it's relation with their sexual attitudes and beliefs

Predictors of attitudes toward potentially having a lesbian, gay, or bisexual child among Chinese heterosexual adults.

Parental acceptance is a robust protective factor for lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) individuals' mental health, yet its predictors have not been frequently studied in China. The present study examined predictors of Chinese heterosexual adults' attitudes toward potentially having an LGB child. Participants were 700 Chinese nationals (37.6% women and 62.4% men) aged 18-64 who identified as exclusively heterosexual and did not have an LGB child. We found that beliefs about the changeability of sexual orientation and beliefs in negative outcomes of being LGB predicted negative attitudes toward having an LGB child in domains of emotion, cognition, and behavior. Moreover, more exposure to LGB individuals predicted reduced disapproval and negative actions as well as increased positive actions. These findings revealed the key factors to changing Chinese people's attitudes toward having an LGB child. Clinical implications for therapists and counselors working with Chinese LGB individuals and their parents are discussed.

Nursing students' attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual healthcare in Ethiopia: An online cross-sectional study.

Unresolved sexual issues can have an impact on a person's wellbeing, social interactions, or even medication compliance. Given the enormous global demand to enhance and preserve sexual health, faculty members have a specific goal of developing nursing workforce who are truly prepared to work with clients who have sexual health issues. Hence, the study's purpose has been to evaluate the current state of attitude and belief of nursing students toward sexual healthcare and the factors that influence it in Southwest Ethiopia. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Mizan-Tepi University involving 134 undergraduate nursing students from February 1 to March 10, 2022. The Sexual Attitude and Beliefs Scale (SABS) were used to assess the level of attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual care. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 26 was employed for data analysis. Multivariable linear regression analyses was conducted to identify predictors of attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual healthcare. The significance level was set at p<0.05. The mean age of the nursing students participating in this study was 28.47±5.2. In our study, mean SABS score of the nursing students was found as 42.3 ± 2.1. The mean score of the SABS items ranged from 1.68±0.93 to 4.37±1.48. Having receiving sexual health education (p<0.001) was significantly associated with attitude and beliefs regarding sexual healthcare. Ethiopian nursing students have been found to have a negative attitude and beliefs about sexual health care. Because comprehensive sex education is sorely lacking in nursing schools, this scrutiny prevents student nurses from receiving an adequate education. As there is a lack of appropriate sexual health subject matter, it is critical to standardize sexual health education in nursing programs so that nursing students can learn to provide comprehensive care to clients.

The Role of Motive in Sexual Assault Trials

In sexual assault cases, the motive of the complainant has traditionally been heavily scrutinized, based on sexist beliefs that women are likely to bring false complaints of rape based on motives of revenge, fantasy, and shame. Recent sexual assault cases have demonstrated the persistence of these beliefs even after the formal rules that validated them were abolished. At the same time, attempts by the Crown to show an absence of motive to lie have faced a high bar. Consistent with the general rule that motive is not required to prove mens rea, the accused’s motives have mostly escaped scrutiny. However, the recent high-profile case of R. v Barton shows the dangers of allowing the accused to rely on his alleged lack of motive to sexually assault the complainant. This article examines how both evidence of motive and absence of motive have been applied to the complainant and the accused in sexual assault cases. Caution is necessary when considering motive in relation to the complainant because of the direct connection with rape myths. Reliance on an accused’s absence of motive should also be discouraged as the reasons men rape cannot be reduced to a personal vendetta towards any one victim.

Does Pornography Misinform Consumers? The Association between Pornography Use and Porn-Congruent Sexual Health Beliefs

Pornography may contribute to sexual health illiteracy due to its often fantastical and unrealistic depictions of sex. This cross-sectional study investigated whether pornography use was associated with holding porn-congruent sexual health beliefs among a sample of 276 Australian and Singaporean university students (Mage = 23.03, SDage = 7.06, 67.9% female, 47.8% Australian). The majority of participants (95.5% of males and 58.9% of females) reported viewing pornography in the past six months. Perceived realism of pornography and prior sexual experience were tested as potential moderators of the relationship between pornography use frequency and sexual health beliefs. Pornography use frequency showed no zero-order association with sexual health beliefs in the overall sample (although a significant zero-order association was observed among female participants). However, a significant positive association between porn use and porn-congruent sexual health beliefs was found in the overall sample, after controlling for demographic variables. Neither perceived realism nor sexual experience were found to act as moderators. Interestingly, prior sexual experience showed a significant zero-order association with sexual health beliefs, such that prior sexual experience was associated with holding porn-congruent beliefs. Perceived realism was unrelated to porn-congruent sexual health beliefs. The study provides some preliminary support for pornography having a misinformation effect on the sexual health knowledge of consumers.

Do Beliefs About Sexual Orientation Predict Sexual Identity Labeling Among Sexual Minorities?

Research has found that sexual orientation beliefs predict heterosexuals’ attitudes toward sexual minorities, and important sexual identity outcomes in sexual minority populations. To this point, no studies have systematically examined how sexual orientation beliefs may be associated with sexual identity self-labeling among sexual minority individuals. The present study examined this question in a sample of 1840 same-gender attracted individuals recruited for a cross-sectional online survey. Beliefs in the naturalness and discreteness of sexual orientation categories were highest in gay/lesbian individuals, intermediate in bisexual people, and lower in queer and pansexual individuals. Beliefs in the importance of sexual orientation were highest in gay/lesbian and queer identified individuals and lower in bisexual people. Within-group analysis demonstrated that gay/lesbian individuals who reported more exclusive same-gender attraction reported higher naturalness, discreteness, and importance beliefs than those with less-exclusive same-gender attraction. However, naturalness, discreteness, and importance beliefs were not associated with sexual attraction patterns in bisexual individuals. Finally, among predominately same-gender attracted populations, the adoption of a queer identity (over a gay/lesbian identity) was predicted by lower naturalness and discreteness beliefs, and increased perceived importance in females. Among non-monosexual populations, adoption of a pansexual identity over a bisexual identity was predicted by lower naturalness beliefs in females, but not predicted by sexual orientation beliefs in males. Collectively, these findings suggest that sexual orientation beliefs differ between sexual identity groups and may partly explain the adoption of particular sexual identity labels among contemporary sexual minority populations.

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Psychometric Evaluation of a Korean Version of the Sexual Risk Behavior Beliefs and Self-Efficacy Scale Among Female College Students: A Secondary Analysis.

Currently, no instrument exists to measure condom use behavior among Korean college students. This study aims to create a cross-cultural adaptation of the English version of the sexual risk behavior beliefs and self-efficacy (SRBBS) instrument into Korean and examine the psychological properties of the translated version. Participants included 169 female college students recruited using convenience sampling techniques. Validity and reliability were examined using item and factor analyses and Cronbach's alpha. Seventeen items were ultimately selected for analysis. Four factors were extracted through factor analysis, representing 63.80% of the variance. Following two modifications, it showed a good model fit in the KR-SRBBS. The KR-SRBBS may be suitable for evaluating sexual behavior and self-efficacy among female college students.

The portuguese version of the sexual distress scale: psychometric properties in male and female samples

<h3>Objectives</h3> The Female Sexual Distress Scale is one of the most widely used self-report instruments to assess sexual distress. This scale has been validated across populations, but no version for use in the Portuguese population is available to date. The aim of this study was to develop a Portuguese version of the scale—herein called the Sexual Distress Scale (SDS)—and to examine its psychometric properties in samples of women and men with and without distressing sexual problems. <h3>Methods</h3> A sample of 382 (283 women) and 1,109 (761 women) participants (age range = 18 to 72 years) with and without distressing sexual problems, respectively, completed a survey that included a sociodemographic and health questionnaire, the Portuguese version of the SDS, and validated measures of sexual satisfaction, sexual quality of life, sexual dysfunctional beliefs, sexual function, dyadic adjustment, and psychological distress. <h3>Results</h3> The Portuguese SDS replicated the unifactorial structure of the original scale. The Portuguese SDS also showed good evidences of validity based on content and on relations with other variables. Internal consistency and test-retest (1 month) reliabilities were excellent. The SDS scores did not flag differential functioning of items and test (DFIT) across gender, but flagged DFIT between participants with and without distressing sexual problems. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The Portuguese version of the SDS can be used to assess sexual distress in Portuguese women and men and can be used to compare between these two groups. Without further evidence the authors do not recommend using the SDS to compare the scores of individuals with and without distressing sexual problems as some items and the total score are biased against the former. <h3>Conflicts of Interest</h3> The authors report no conflicts of interest.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION ATTRIBUTIONS АND CONVENTIONAL PRE-EXISTING VALUES IN THE CONTEXT OF SEXUAL MINORITIES’ RIGHTS

Attributions concerning the origins of sexual orientation are acknowledged as significant predictors of attitudes toward sexual minorities. Sexual prejudice and opposition to same-gender couple’s rights are strongly linked with support of traditional values. The current study aimed to test that attributions for sexual orientation are significantly associated with opposition to same-gender adoption rights. Secondly, this study examined if participants’ specific attitudinal characteristics reflecting support of traditional values (e.g., religiosity, political positioning) are strong predictors of sexual orientation attribution beliefs supporting the concept that attributions for sexual orientation may stem from pre-existing conventional beliefs. This exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted from October 8 until December 20, 2020, via an online survey. A total of 119 respondents aged 18 to 48 years (Mage = 24.31; SDage = 8.36) participated in the study. Bivariate correlations were generated to explore the associations among variables of interest. Multiple regression analysis was performed to predict the influences of all variables of interest on etiological beliefs about sexual orientation. This study’s findings suggest that attitudes toward sexual minorities' rights tend to be more negative when their sexual orientation is believed to be controllable and that sexual orientation attributions conform to pre-existing context-specific conventional socio-cultural values and norms.

Adaptation and Validation of the Sexuality Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for the Italian Context.

Nurses dealing with a patient's sexuality must start from an awareness of their own experience, specific attitudes, and possible limits. What emerges from the literature is a conservative tendency in nurses, which underlines the difficulty in this awareness, but even a difficulty in improving the necessary knowledge/skills. It is, therefore, essential to create tools that can raise awareness of these limits. the present study aims to explore the psychometric properties of the Attitudes and Beliefs about Sexuality Scale, adapted and validated for the Italian context. This is an instrumental, cross-sectional piece of research, whose SABS validation process applies the steps of Beaton and Valmi. The convenience sample collected data from 223 participants in the first approach. This was followed by a retest involving 44 students randomly selected from those who responded in the first phase. Ethical principles were respected. The SABS questionnaire demonstrated good test-retest reliability, good internal consistency, and adequate construct validity. The Italian version of the SABS is valid and reliable for use with nursing students. This is the fourth language in which the SABS is available for research.

A Comparison of Sexual Minority and Heterosexual College Students on Gendered Sexual Scripts and Sexual Coercion Perpetration.

Prior work has identified endorsement of gendered sexual script beliefs as predictive of sexual coercion perpetration among heterosexual individuals, primarily men. This research is lacking among sexual minority individuals and may be important in informing inclusive and effective sexual coercion prevention efforts. The current study sought to (1) assess the level of adherence to gendered sexual script beliefs, (2) report relative rates of general sexual coercion and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV), and (3) examine the relationship between gendered sexual script beliefs and self-reported sexually coercive behavior among sexual minority and heterosexual college men and women. Undergraduate students (n = 1,199; 182 sexual minorities) completed self-report measures assessing gendered sexual script beliefs, sexual coercion perpetration, and sexual IPV. Results from Gender × Sexual Minority group ANOVAs and logistic regression analyses indicated similar rates of perpetration across sexual orientation groups, with men overall reporting the most perpetration. Furthermore, men and heterosexual individuals adhered more strongly to gendered sexual scripts than women and sexual minority individuals, respectively. Results of path models revealed no moderation by sexual orientation, and that adherence to gendered sexual scripts was positively related to sexual IPV perpetration among the full sample of heterosexual and nonheterosexual individuals, though this effect was small. Gendered sexual scripts did not significantly relate to general sexual coercion perpetration among the full sample, suggesting that traditional sexual script beliefs may not be as relevant to perpetration in a contemporary college sample. This study adds to limited literature on sexual coercion perpetration among sexual minority individuals and is an important step in understanding relationships between endorsement of gendered sexual script beliefs and sexual coercion perpetration among sexual minority and heterosexual college students.

I'm just joking! Perceptions of sexist humour and sexist beliefs in a Latin American context.

Previous research has stated a relationship between sexist ideologies and humour appreciation. However, most research has been done in North America and Europe. In the present study, we aimed to approach in an exploratory way to the social perceptions of sexist humour in Costa Rica. Data was gathered through an online survey, participants (N=323; 220 females) completed measures to characterise expressions of sexist humour. The main measures included perceived funniness, frequency and means of exposure, and perceived offensiveness, as well as completing the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI). Overall, previous exposure to this kind of humour was remarkably high. No significant differences were observed between women's and men's perceptions of the frequency, means and places of exposure, but emotional and behavioural reactions to sexist humour were gender-based. Women reported higher displeasure, more confrontation and felt angrier and more offended than men when exposed to this type of humour. Data support existing evidence of the relationship with sexist ideology. Specifically, hostile sexism was found to be a significant predictor of perceived funniness and offensiveness of the sexist jokes. An interaction effect between hostile sexism and the sex of participants was found, showing that as hostile sexism increased, perceived offensiveness decreased, but more rapidly for men. Results are discussed considering the practical implications and limitations, as well as the need for more research in the Latin American context.

Are equitable physical performance tests perceived to be fair? Understanding officer cadets’ perceptions of fitness standards

ABSTRACT In the last few decades, the armed forces in Western countries such as Canada and the United States have accepted women into virtually all military occupations. Despite this, a growing body of research confirms that female service members face prejudiced treatment while conducting their work in these organizations that continue to be predominately masculine and male-dominated. In particular, women attending the Canadian Military Colleges (CMCs) experience gender-related conflicts arising from the dissimilar fitness test standards between male and female cadets. There have been, however, few studies that scrutinize the psychological mechanisms of these tensions. The aim of this study was to unpack the existing biased perceptions against women pertaining to physical fitness through ambivalent sexism, social dominance orientation, and right-wing authoritarianism. Officer and naval cadets (n = 167, 33.5% women) at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) completed survey measures. Indirect effect analyses showed that cadets who viewed the fitness standards to be unfair expressed more hostile rather than benevolent sexist outlooks against women, and these negative feelings were connected to greater levels of social dominance and right-wing authoritarianism. These results indicate that sexist beliefs, competitive worldviews, and authoritarianism are underlying attitudes that should be addressed by militaries striving to fully integrate women into their forces.

Longitudinal Associations Among Adolescents' Sexual Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors.

Youth sex and relationship education programs aim to improve adolescent well-being by changing their knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding sex and their health. However, there is a gap in existing research linking these cognitive targets to relevant behaviors, and a particular dearth of data on links with sexual behaviors. The current study tested longitudinal links between cognitive factors related to sex (attitudes about sex, normative beliefs, risk-avoidant intentions, and confidence in refusal skills) and outcomes of sexual behaviors (recent sexual encounters, number of sexual partners, and frequency of condom use). Data were drawn from three waves of data from a panel study of US high-school students and were analyzed using cross-lagged structural equation modeling. We hypothesized direct, reciprocal links between intentions and behaviors, but this hypothesis was not supported. Instead, more conservative attitudes about sex emerged as the most consistent prospective predictor of fewer sexual encounters and sexual partners, though with small effect sizes (βs = -.08 to-.131, ps < .05). Further, bidirectional interrelationships were observed among several of the cognitive and behavioral variables over time. These results highlight attitudes about sex as a potentially useful intervention target, but also suggest that sex and relationship education curricula and evaluations should consider multiple pathways of links between cognition and behavior. Continued research is needed on causal links between adolescents' sexual attitudes, knowledge, intentions, and behavior.

A field study of age discrimination in the workplace: the importance of gender and race‒pay the gap

PurposeThe study examines whether age intersects with gender and race during the initial stage of the hiring process and affects access to vacancies outcomes and wage sorting.Design/methodology/approachIn order to answer the research question, the study collects data from four simultaneous field experiments in England. The study compares the labour market outcomes of younger White British men with those of older White British men and women, and with those of older Black British men and women. The study concentrates on low-skilled vacancies in hospitality and sales in the private sector.FindingsThe results of this study indicate that older White British men and women, as well as older Black British men and women, experience occupational access constraints and are sorted into lower-paid jobs than younger White British men. The level of age discrimination is found to be higher for Black British men and women. In addition, Black British women experience the highest level of age discrimination. These patterns may well be in line with prejudices against racial minority groups and stereotypical sexist beliefs that the physical strengths and job performance of women decline earlier than those do for men.Practical implicationsIf prejudices against older individuals are present, then anti-discrimination legislation may be the appropriate response, especially for racial minorities and women. Eliminating age discrimination in selection requires firms to adopt inclusive human resources (HR) policies at the earliest stages of the recruitment process.Originality/valueThis research presents for the first-time comparisons of access to vacancies and wage sorting between younger male racial majorities and older male racial majorities, older female racial majorities, older male racial minorities, and older female racial minorities. In addition, the driven mechanism of the assigned differences is explored. Because the study has attempted to minimise the negative employer stereotypes vis-à-vis older employees, with respect to the employees' motivation, productivity, and health, such prejudices against older individuals may be considered taste-based discrimination.