Sexuality Research Articles

Life course history of physical and sexual abuse is associated with cardiovascular disease risk among women living with and without HIV.

Sexual and physical abuse predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women in the general population. Women living with HIV (WLWH) report more abuse and have higher CVD risk compared with other women, yet associations between abuse history and CVD have not been considered among WLWH. This study fills this gap, and describes possible pathways linking abuse to CVD risk among WLWH and women living without HIV (WLWOH). Using 25 years of data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS; n = 2734; WLWH n = 1963; WLWOH n = 771), we used longitudinal generalized estimating equations (GEE) to test associations between sexual and physical abuse with CVD risk. Framingham (FRS-H) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association-Pooled Cohort Equation (ACC/AHA-PCE) scores were examined. Analyses were stratified by HIV-serostatus. Among WLWH, childhood sexual abuse was associated with higher CVD risk ( βFRS-H = 1.25, SE = 1.08, P = 0.005; βACC/AHA-PCE = 1.14, SE = 1.07, P = 0.04) compared with no abuse. Adulthood sexual abuse was associated with higher CVD risk for WLWH ( βFRS-H = 1.39, SE = 1.08, P < 0.0001) and WLWOH ( βFRS-H = 1.58, SE = 1.14, P = 0.0006). Childhood physical abuse was not associated with CVD risk for either group. Adulthood physical abuse was associated with CVD risk for WLWH ( βFRS-H = 1.44, SE = 1.07; P < 0.0001, βACC/AHA-PCE = 1.18, SE = 1.06, P = 0.002) and WLWOH ( βFRS-H = 1.68, SE = 1.12, P < 0.0001; βACC/AHA-PCE = 1.24, SE = 1.11, P = 0.03). Several pathway factors were significant, including depression, smoking, and hepatitis C infection. Life course abuse may increase CVD risk among WLWH and women at high risk of acquiring HIV. Some comorbidities help explain the associations. Assessing abuse experiences in clinical encounters may help contextualize cardiovascular risk among this vulnerable population and inform intervention.

Impact of Family Caregiver and Patient Related Factors on Quality of Life in Head Neck Cancer Patients

To study an impact of family caregiver and patient related factors on quality of life in head- neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNC) patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in department of radiation oncology at a rural tertiary cancer center from August 2019 to January 2022. Marathi speaking, newly diagnosed, non-metastatic, histopathology proven HNC patients who consented for study were included. Marathi version of an updated head neck specific European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-H&N43) was used. Indigenously prepared and validated interviewer administered questionnaire (IAQ) for patients and respective family caregiver (FCG) were used to understand attitude towards HNC(ATHNC) and FCG's attitude as a caregiver (ATC). Total score was directly proportional to ATHNC and inversely proportional to ATC. Graph-Pad, Instat-3 (California Inc) was used for statistical analysis. A total of 210 patients and respective FCG were interviewed. Subgroup analysis of QOL was done for 201 radically treated patients (RTP) with respect to age, sex, education, socioeconomic status, place of residence, duration of symptoms, stage and disease sub-site. QOL of palliative treatment group (N = 9) was compared with RTP. All these parameters had impact on QOL with medium to large effect size difference and minimum important difference/change. ATHNC was significantly better for young (p = 0.022), literate (p = 0.004) and upper socioeconomic class (USC) (p = 0.043) FCGs. It was significantly better for male (p = 0.003), literate (p = 0.001), USC (p = 0.004) patients presenting in early stage of disease (p = 0.013). Though it was not significant on multivariate analysis. ATHNC score of FCGs had significant effect on QOL of patients with respect to role function (RF) (p = 0.032), financial difficulties (FI) (p = 0.017) and sexuality (SX) (p = 0.048). Patients with higher ATHNC score had significantly better QOL with respect to social function (SF) (p = 0.0004), FI (p = 0.0002), body image (BI) (p = 0.0033) and social contact (SC) (p = 0.0057). QOL of patients having FCGs with lower ATC score was significantly better. QOL of patients with younger FCGs was significantly better with respect to FI (p = 0.0244) while it was significantly better for pain (PA) (p = 0.0462) and emotional function (EF) (p = 0.0144) if FCG was male. Suboptimal literacy and accountability level were few short comings of this study. Informer bias cannot be ruled out CONCLUSION: Age, sex, place of residence, educational level, socioeconomic status, duration of symptoms, stage, and site of lesion affects different QOL parameters differently and hence an individual QOL needs to be addressed. FCGs parameters affect QOL of patients. Understanding the determinants and its pattern of effect on QOL of patients will guide us to offer timely care and interventions in a pragmatic mode.

Changes in supportive care needs over time from diagnosis up to two years after treatment in head and neck cancer patients: A prospective cohort study

To investigate changes in supportive care needs (SCNs) over time from diagnosis up to 2 years after treatment among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, in relation to demographic, personal, clinical, psychological, physical, social, lifestyle, and cancer-related quality of life factors. Data of the longitudinal NETherlands QUality of Life and Biomedical Cohort study (NET-QUBIC) was used. SCNs were measured using the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34) and HNC-specific module (SCNS–HNC) before treatment, three, six, 12 and 24 months after treatment. Linear mixed model analyses were used to study SCNs on the physical & daily living (PDL), psychological (PSY), sexuality (SEX), health system, information and patient support (HSIPS), HNC-functioning (HNC-Function), and lifestyle (HNC-Lifestyle) domain, in relation to demographic, personal, clinical, psychological, physical, social, lifestyle, and cancer-related symptoms as measured at baseline. In total, 563 patients were included. SCNs changed significantly over time. At baseline, 65% had ≥1 moderate/high SCN, versus 42.8% at 24 months. Changes in PDL needs were associated with gender, tumor location, smoking, fear of cancer recurrence, oral pain, and appetite loss, changes in PSY with tumor location, fear of recurrence, social support, emotional functioning, physical functioning, coughing, and use of painkillers, changes in SEX with treatment, changes in HSIPS with muscle strength, changes in HNC-Function with tumor stage, location, social support, physical functioning, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and speech problems, and changes in HNC-Lifestyle with smoking and alcohol use. SCNs diminish over time, but remain prevalent in HNC patients.

Correlation and Prediction of Modified Barium Swallowing Study with Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) for HPV Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> We combine data from three multi-site Phase II/III radiation therapy (RT) clinical trials aimed at treating HPV(+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Trials consisted of patients treated with standard of care (SOC) adjuvant (chemo) IMRT, de-escalated adjuvant RT and chemotherapy (DART), and mucosal sparing proton beam therapy (MSPBT). We provide models utilizing the EORTC-HN35 to predict scores for the modified barium swallowing impairment profiles (MBSImP). Validated, accurate models could provide significant clinical information while reducing patient personal, structural, financial, and emotional burden of treatment (BoT) by utilizing PROs in lieu of MBSImP. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> In total, 496 paired HN35/ MBSImP surveys were collected at pre-RT and 12 months post-RT for 249 trial patients. Analyses included all paired data points. Correlation, backward-stepwise regression (OLS), regression tree, and random forest models were fit to assess the predictive power of utilizing HN35 scales for MBSImP scales of penetration/aspiration, oral, pharyngeal, and overall impairment profiles. Model validation and calibration was conducted utilizing bootstrap replicates. <h3>Results</h3> Of the 18 HN35 scales, 10 were found through correlation coefficients and regression models, to be associated with MBSImP: swallowing (SW), social eating (SO), social contact (SC), pain (PA), speech (SP), senses (SS), sexuality (SX), dry mouth (DR), coughing (CO), and opening mouth (OM). OLS for MBSImP scales varied in variable selection and prediction accuracy (Table 1), however, all models demonstrated a high level of accuracy (mean absolute error) and calibration (slope). Underprediction of none/mild impairment (<2) was most common, however, predictions of high impairment were most accurate. Regression trees were able to accurately predict high impairment (top 75^th percentile) for each MBSImP scale utilizing 7 or less HN35 scales for 84% of patients. In many cases, patients which would typically score low on the MBSImP scales can be correctly classified with four or fewer HN35 scales: SW, SX, SS, PA. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The ability to use patient reported measures (HN35) to correlate and accurately predict the outcomes from a functional imaging (MBSImP) could have significant impact on burden of treatment. Verification studies are planned to confirm the efficacy of these models prospectively.

Women's oppression in the color purple

In this study, the writer analyses novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. The Color Purple is a narrative novel about Celie and Nettie, two African-American women who are struggling to deal with gender oppression in male dominated of early 20th century African-American society. There are some oppression that must be faced by the main character of this novel. But in this study, the writer limits on the oppression happens in the family and the struggles of main character. This study uses the qualitative descriptive method to draw a description about woman’s oppression. The writer uses Feminist Literary Criticism. Feminist criticism is a criticism that focuses on the struggles of woman to transform from the oppression to gain equality and have a good life. This study includes some oppression based on sexism includes physical, mental and sexual abuses and gender stereotypes. The main character is Cellie. She is also the narrator in this novel because she writes by herself about anything that she faced, specially the abuse from men in her life. This novel is epistolary because it consist of letters written by the main character.

“The Elephant in the Room”: Neglected Construct of Occupational Sexism

“The Elephant in the Room”: Neglected Construct of Occupational Sexism

The Forgotten Creed: Christianity’s Original Struggle Against Bigotry, Slavery, and Sexism, written by Stephen Patterson

The Forgotten Creed: Christianity’s Original Struggle Against Bigotry, Slavery, and Sexism, written by Stephen Patterson

DISCURSOS SOBRE A SEXUALIDADE CONTEMPORÂNEA NO BRASIL

Neste artigo, analisamos quatro enunciados brasileiros que circulam em diferentes materialidades discursivas e que têm como objeto a sexualidade. O objetivo é discutir como o sexo é posto em relação com os domínios da saúde, da religião, da política e da família, fazendo derivar uma série de temas. Para tanto, ancoramo-nos nas discussões de Foucault (1999; 2002; 2008; 2019) acerca do discurso como prática e da sexualidade como um dispositivo historicamente construído, para analisar as materialidades enunciativas em sua densidade histórica, pondo-as em um campo associado, ou seja, em uma série de enunciados relacionados. Conclui-se que os dizeres sobre a sexualidade no Brasil contemporâneo são marcados por disputas em torno dos conceitos de família, do uso dos corpos dos sujeitos e do gozo de direitos civis, que vagam pelos campos da saúde, da religião, da intimidade familiar e da política.

Propiedades Psicométricas de la Versión Reducida de la Escala de Mitos hacia el Amor en Estudiantes de El Salvador

The aims of the study were to analyze the psychometric properties of the Myths Scale Toward Love in a sample of Salvadoran students and determine if there are any differences between men's and women's adoption of the myths of romantic love. The sample comprised 211 students (38.4% men and 61.6% women) from 2 universities located in San Salvador and Sonsonate, whose mean age was 22.43 years (SD = 4.92). The results of the exploratory factor analysis and the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a 2-factor structure. The reliability of the scale, evaluated with Cronbach's alpha, the index H, and composite reliability, was acceptable. Romantic love myths were found to correlate with the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory. Compared to women, men agree more with the belief that one can love someone who one mistreats. The instrument can be useful for analyzing the myths of romantic love in El Salvador.

Some Problems About Racism, Sexism, Etc.

Some Problems About Racism, Sexism, Etc.

Análise da qualidade de vida sexual em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia da próstata: revisão de literatura

Com o crescimento da população idosa, houve um aumento nos casos de doenças crônicas, dentre elas o câncer de próstata. Dentre os tratamentos, a cirurgia pode ter efeitos secundários que influenciam na qualidade de vida sexual. Com isso, torna-se necessário investigar esses pacientes. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a qualidade de vida sexual em pacientes que se submeteram a prostatectomia. O estudo se refere a uma revisão integrativa da literatura, no qual os critérios de inserção foram: artigos na íntegra que ressaltaram a qualidade de vida sexual em pacientes pós-prostatectomia publicados entre 2015 até 2020, nas bases de dados da SCIELO e LILACS. Para a construção dos achados foram selecionados 7 artigos por atenderem os criterios de elegibilidade. Tais evidências apontam que a redução da libido e a disfunção erétil podem contribuir para má qualidade de vida sexual. Informações sobre a chance de recuperação de ereções naturais dos pacientes foram frequentemente repassadas a eles para que, junto aos seus parceiros sexuais, para que se permitam encarar e se adequar à esta nova realidade. Ainda que a disfunção erétil tenha elevada prevalência entre homens que realizaram a cirurgia, em alguns casos há déficit de discussão no pré-operatório. Com isso, a qualidade de vida sexual pós prostatectomia é comprometida devido à impactos na sexualidade, repercutindo em diferentes esferas da vida. Ainda é um tema pouco abordado com pacientes e há escassez de evidência sobre o assunto. Este estudo visa abrir espaço para planejamento de mais estudos para melhor beneficiar pacientes pós prostatectomizado.

Sex-related knowledge and behavior among children in senior grade of kindergarten in rural areas fo Sichuan Province

Objective To analyze the level of sex-related knowledge and behavior and related factors among children in senior grade of kindergarten in rural areas, and to provide the evidence for early childhood sexuality education. Methods Multi-state stratified sampling method was adopted. From March to May 2019, a total of 324 students and their parents from 16 kindergartens of rural areas in Sichuan Province were enrolled, self-developed questionnaire was used to collect the basic demographic characteristics, information of sexuality education knowledge and sex-related behavior. Results The average score of sexuality education knowledge was 5(4, 6) point, and the awareness rate was 33.6% (109). The qualified sex-related behavior was observed in 75.0% (243 of all the children), while 25.0% (81) needed to be improved. Multivariate analysis showed that, compared with children were aware of the sexuality education knowledge, children who were unaware of the sexuality education knowledge were more likely to have good sex-related behavior, with the OR (95%CI) value was 2.06 (1.14–3.72). The possibility of having good sex-related behavior among those children with more than 2 members in the family parents carring out sexuality education was higher than children without sexuality education in the family, with the OR (95%CI) value being 2.40 (1.17–4.89). Conclusion The level of sexuality education knowledge among children in senior grade of kindergarten of rural areas in Sichuan is low, and most children’s behavior needs to be improved. Children’s awareness of sexuality education knowledge and the number of family members who have carried out sexuality education are related to the occurrence of children’s sex-related behavior. 【摘要】 目的 分析农村大班儿童性教育知识知晓水平、性相关行为发生情况及相关因素，为开展幼儿性教育活动提供 参考。 方法 采用多阶段分层抽样的方法，在2019年3—5月，对四川省农村16所幼儿园的324名大班儿童及其家长，采 用自编问卷对基本人口学特征、幼儿性教育相关知识和行为等进行调査。 结果 研究对象知识得分为5(4,6)分，知晓率 为33.6% (109名 ) 。性相关行为习惯良好的占75.0%(243名 ) ，尚需改进的占25.0%(81名）。多因素Logistic回归分析结 果显示，与不知晓幼儿性教育相关知识的孩子相比，知晓者有良好的性相关行为可能性更髙（ OR = 2.06,95%CI =1.14~ 3.72);开展性教育的家长人数多2位的孩子有良好的性相关行为的可能性较家长人数为0位的髙（ OR = 2.40,95%CI =1.17 ~4.89)。 结论 四川农村地区大班儿童性教育知识知晓情况较差，多数孩子的行为习惯尚需改进。孩子的性教育知识知 晓情况和开展幼儿性教育的家长人数与孩子性相关行为有关。

Validation of the attitude towards sexuality scale in two samples of university students

There exists a scale, developed in Mexico, aimed to measure attitude towards sexuality. Good metric properties have been reported for this scale, but there have been no studies aimed at corroborating those observations. This study aims to verify the validity, as well as the invariance between two samples, of the three-factor model originally proposed for the scale, to estimate its internal consistency reliability, to describe its distribution, and to verify its concurrent validity in relation to the attitude towards homosexuality. Two incidental samples of 402 psychology students and 198 medical students were recruited. The Attitude towards Sexuality Scale (ASS-20) was applied to both samples. Likewise, the attitude towards homosexuality scale was also applied to the psychology students, whereas the factor of subtle rejection towards gay men, taken from the Mexican adaptation of Herek's Attitude towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale, was applied to medical students. Single-factor, correlated-factor, hierarchical, and bifactor models were tested. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the correlated-factor model had the best data fit as well as convergent and discriminant validity properties in both samples, although it was not invariant. The internal consistency of the scale was good. The total scores in ASS-20 followed a normal distribution and their average showed a liberal attitude with no difference between both samples. The correlation of ASS-20 with the two scales of attitude towards homosexuality was medium. It is concluded that AAS-20 shows internal consistency reliability, structural validity, and concurrent validity in relation to attitude towards homosexuality. Key words: Attitude, sexuality, homosexuality, psychometrics, students.

El kestos himas, la gran joya de Afrodita

espanolEste articulo reflexiona sobre las joyas como armas de seduccion de las mujeres griegas y, concretamente, sobre las de Afrodita, una divinidad multifacetica cuya accion prioritaria se enmarca dentro del ambito de la sexualidad y el amor. La diosa posee un ornamento magico, el kestos himas, en cuya superficie estan bordadas algunas de las emociones humanas como el deseo, la seduccion y el amor. Dicha joya es la protagonista de algunos episodios muy interesantes de la literatura griega, especialmente el conocido como Dios Apate o el engano de Hera para seducir a Zeus EnglishThis essay reflects on jewels as means of seduction for Greek women and, specifically, on those of Aphrodite, a multifaceted deity whose main action is framed within the sphere of sexuality and love. This goddess is the owner of a magical ornament, the kestos himas. On its surface are embroidered some human emotions like desire, seduction and love. This jewel has a leading role in some very interesting episodes of Greek literature, especially the one known as Dios Apate or Hera’s deception of Zeus in order to seduce him.

O processo de identificação sexual na adolescência: um estudo qualitativo no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Objetivo: analisar como adolescentes percebem o processo de identificação/definição da orientação do desejo sexual. Metodologia: estudo de abordagem qualitativa por meio de grupos focais com estudantes do ensino médio de escolas pública e privada. Foram realizados 5 grupos focais totalizando 59 estudantes, de 13 a 18 anos, sendo 37 do sexo feminino e 22 do masculino. As reuniões foram gravadas e transcritas e os dados submetidos à análise de natureza compreensiva com auxílio do software WebQDA. Resultados: os dados foram classificados em duas categorias de identificação/definição da orientação sexual: uma resultante de influências da família, sociedade, mídia e religião; e outra estabelecida pela natureza e experimentação. Na primeira há o reconhecimento dos condicionantes de gênero desde tenra idade e a opressão heteronormativa da sociedade. Na segunda categoria prevaleceu o entendimento de que a atração sexual surge com a puberdade e, na visão preponderante das moças, há necessidade de testar para se ter certeza da orientação do desejo, que pode mudar em qualquer época da vida, demonstrando maior fluidez da identidade sexual no sexo feminino. Conclusão: o processo de identificação e definição da orientação sexual é marcado pela heteronormatividade que demonstra constranger as possibilidades de expressão da sexualidade.

Una lectura sobre la diferencia sexual y la época

Nos encontramos en un tiempo donde muchos sujetos se presentan nombrándose por fuera del llamado binarismo sexual. Un tiempo donde el discurso sobre la diversidad sexual y el género parecen poner en cuestión la noción de diferencia sexual utilizada en psicoanálisis. Desarrollaremos algunos planteos sobre la concepción de la sexualidad que el psicoanálisis freudiano introduce en el discurso de su época, así como algunas referencias lacanianas, para pensar en las incidencias que estos tienen en el discurso actual. Finalmente abordaremos algunos planteos sobre cómo se relacionan la subjetividad, la época y la pulsión. Concluimos con la cuestión de si es necesario pensar un nuevo psicoanálisis o de sostener el desafío al que la clínica una vez más nos convoca.

Latter-day Screens. Gender, Sexuality, and Mediated Mormonism, by Brenda R. Weber

Latter-day Screens. Gender, Sexuality, and Mediated Mormonism, by Brenda R. Weber

Withdrawn: COVID-19 is ageist, sexist, ruthless, dispassionate and opportunistic – Protecting our vulnerable

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal

온라인 성차별적 혐오표현의 특징과 내용 규제 쟁점

이 연구의 목표는 현재 한국 온라인 공간에 만연한 성차별적 혐오표현의 특징을 정리하고, 이와 관련하여 현행 성차별적 혐오표현 규제 관련한 쟁점과 한계를 논의하는 것이다. 온라인 공간의 성차별적 혐오표현은 기존 연구가 분류했던 외모, 성과 여성성, 나이, 능력 등의 내용과 신체적, 성적 폭력 표현을 포함해 ‘여성’과 인종적 소수자, 성 소수자, 탈북민 등 다른 소수자성이 교차하는 특징을 보였다. 또 이러한 표현들이 주류 공론장으로 확장되면서 현실에서의 물리적, 성적 폭력과 연관될 수 있는 개연성을 높였다. 따라서 이를 중단하게 할 제도적 절차가 필요하다. 하지만 방송통신심의위원회 중심의 온라인 내용규제는 ‘나쁜 말’의 단속이나 선량한 풍속 유지, 사회통합 등 도덕적 차원에서 이뤄지고 있으며 이는 성차별에 대한 맥락적 인식의 부족에서 기인한 것으로 지적됐다. 이에 따라 심의 과정에 성차별의 구조적, 역사적 맥락과 성인지 감수성을 반영하는 등 심의 규정을 정비하면서 성차별적 혐오표현의 심각성을 사회적으로 인식할 수 있도록 하는 국가, 언론, 플랫폼, 교육 등 다양한 사회적 노력이 필요함이 제안되었다. 온라인 공간에 만연한 성차별적 혐오표현은 여성에 대한 왜곡된 인식의 형성은 물론 여성들의 무력감, 여성의 사회적 배제나 차별 등을 야기한다는 점에서, 성평등의 달성을 위한 국가적⋅사회적 차원의 개선 노력이 필요하다.

Myths about men’s sexuality and how they affect their behavior

Myths about men’s sexuality and how they affect their behavior