Gender Expression and Sexual Orientation Differences in Diet Quality and Eating Habits from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

BackgroundDiet and eating habits during youth have implications on diet and eating habits during adulthood, however, little longitudinal research has examined sexual orientation and gender expression differences in diet.ObjectiveOur aim was to examine sexual orientation and gender expression differences in diet quality and eating habits from adolescence to young adulthood.DesignData across multiple time points from the longitudinal Growing Up Today Study cohorts (1997 to 2011) were used.Participants/settingParticipants (n=12,880; aged 10 to 23 years) were the children of women from the Nurses’ Health Study II cohort.Main outcome measuresDiet quality scores were assessed using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010. In addition, breakfast consumption (≥5 days/wk) and family dinners (≥5 days/wk) were assessed.Statistical analyses performedMultivariable generalized estimating equation regression models were fit to estimate sexual orientation and gender expression differences in diet quality scores, breakfast consumption, and family dinners, stratified by sex assigned at birth over available repeated measures.Results“Gender-nonconforming” males had significantly higher diet quality scores than “very gender-conforming” males (P<0.05). Diet quality scores did not differ by gender expression among females. “Mostly heterosexual” females and gay males had higher diet quality scores than their same-sex completely heterosexual counterparts (P<0.05). Adjustment for mother’s diet quality scores attenuated effects, except for gay males (P<0.05). “Gender-nonconforming” females were less likely to consume breakfast than “very gender-conforming” females (P<0.05). Similar results were found for “mostly heterosexual” and bisexual compared to completely heterosexual females. There were no gender expression or sexual orientation differences in family dinners among males and females.ConclusionsSexual orientation and gender expression have independent effects on diet quality scores and eating habits for both males and females. Very gender-conforming and completely heterosexual males had the lowest diet quality scores compared to other gender expression and sexual orientation groups. Additional research to explore the effects of sexual orientation and gender expression on diet-related health is needed to build upon these findings.     

The invisible nature of learning: Patient education in nursing

BackgroundLearning for patients and their families within nurses’ patient- and family-education practice is an important part of person- and family-centred care. Patients and their families must master health promotional or management strategies to optimise their health outcomes. Support is often provided by nurses, but how nurses facilitate each patient’s and their family’s learning, using cognitive learning principles, seems invisible in the nursing literature.AimThis discussion paper examines the important role of cognitive learning within nurses’ patient- and family-education practice. How learning is enabled, the differences between teaching and learning and the role of learning principles are discussed. Shortcomings are identified and possible ways to address these within nurses’ practice are considered.MethodsThe discussion draws on the limited current literature surrounding cognitive learning principles in nurses’ practice and nurses’ awareness of learning principles. Readers are encouraged to question their current conceptualisation of learning and their perceptions and use of learning principles in their practice.Findings and discussionThe learning process within nursing is overshadowed by explanations of teaching strategies, determinants of learning and the learning principles of one specific theorist. The principles of cognitive learning and their role in patient- and family-education are poorly described and possibly poorly understood. This creates a fundamental knowledge gap in nursing practice.ConclusionA significant rethink about the role of learning principles within nurses’ patient- and family-education practice is overdue. These principles need to be explored further by involving nurses, patients and their families to identify how nurses are perceiving and using learning principles in their practice.     

The Impact of Psychosis on Sexual Functioning: A Systematic Review

BackgroundSexual dysfunction among psychotic patients is highly prevalent. However, most research has focused on antipsychotic side effects on sexual functioning.AimTo provide evidence by means of a systematic review of the literature about the impact of psychosis on sexual functioning among unmedicated patients.MethodsSystematic search of MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies that reported sexual functioning among psychotic patients, who were drug-naïve or drug-free for at least 3 weeks before the study. Studies were published in English language between January 1994 and October 2019. We used the approach recommended by PRISMA, and the selection process was carried out by 2 reviewers.OutcomesThe outcome measures were sexual function and sexual dysfunctions.ResultsA total of 734 articles were obtained, 658 were obtained after duplicates were removed, 612 were excluded after reading the title and abstract, and 46 were included for a complete review of the articles. 5 papers were finally included. A total of 770 cases were included in the systematic review. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in psychosis varied from 16.8% to 70% and in ultra-high state was 50%. It is noteworthy that those ultra–high-risk (prodromal) patients who develop psychosis had higher rates of sexual impairment. Therefore, we found higher rates of sexual dysfunction among untreated patients, both psychotic and ultra-high risk patients, than healthy controls.Clinical ImplicationsThe assessment of sexual behavior should be a part of routine psychiatric examination not only in psychotic but also in ultra–high-risk patients.Strengths & LimitationsThis is the first systematic review about the impact of psychosis on sexual functioning among unmedicated patients. However, scarce and heterogeneous studies were identified.ConclusionsImpaired sexual functioning is common in the onset of psychosis (or during ultra–high-risk state) and prior to the beginning of treatment. This suggests that psychotic symptoms and sexual dysfunction may have common etiological pathways at the psychosocial and neurobiological levels.Vargas-Cáceres S, Cera N, Nobre P, et al. The Impact of Psychosis on Sexual Functioning: A Systematic Review. J Sex Med 2021;18:457–466.     

“Life behind the mask”: Sexual life of Iranian women with multiple sclerosis

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating and life-long disease that affects the sexual life of people. However, in Iran little attention has been paid to the sexual life of women with MS.

双酚A日常生活暴露与生殖中心就诊男性性功能关系的研究

目的 探讨双酚A（BPA）日常生活暴露与男性性功能的关系。方法 选取2014年9月至2015年4月在山西省妇幼保健院生殖中心门诊部因不孕不育就诊的男性作为研究对象,收集其一般人口学特征、性功能状况资料和空腹静脉血标本。应用德尔菲专家评分法计算性功能总得分,采用高效液相色谱法测定研究对象血清BPA水平。采用Spearman秩相关、秩和检验,多因素logistic回归分析进行BPA水平、影响因素、性功能指标之间的关联性及趋势分析。结果 共纳入353名研究对象,总体性功能异常率为45.0%,性欲低下（47.3%）为性功能异常的主要类型。研究对象血清BPA浓度范围为0.38~21.93 ng/ml,中位数5.79 ng/ml。血清BPA水平与总体性功能、性欲、勃起能力、射精力度均呈负相关,与早泄呈正相关。按BPA水平的四分位数分组,以低浓度组（0.38~3.79 ng/ml）为参照进行关联性分析,发现BPA水平增高可增加性功能障碍的发生风险。结论 性欲低下是男性性功能障碍的主要类型,日常暴露于较高水平的BPA可能增加男性性功能障碍。