Intimacy and marital satisfaction in spouses

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between intimacy and marital satisfaction of couples in different stages of the family life cycle. The Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (PAIR) questionnaire (Schaefer & Olson, 1981) and a subscale of the Enriching and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication and Happiness (ENRICH) questionnaire (Olson, Fournier, & Druckman, 1982) were administered to 57 couples. Significant differences between men and women were found on two of the five aspects of experienced intimacy (sexual and recreational) as well as for social and sexual discrepancy scores (difference between experienced and desired intimacy). With the exception of social intimacy as experienced by women, a positive correlation was found for both sexes between all the components of experienced intimacy and marital satisfaction. No differences were found for experienced intimacy or marital satisfaction according to family developmental stages.     

社区居民性健康与婚姻态度的相关性研究

目的探讨社区居民性健康与婚姻态度的相关性及影响因素。方法采用便利样取样法选取某社区的312名居民,应用性健康量表、婚姻态度量表进行问卷调查。结果性健康总分为(35.00±10.21)分,性行为健康得分(55.00±9.42)分,性心理健康得分(20.00±6.87)分。不同年龄、文化程度、职业差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);性别差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),性健康与婚姻态度呈正相关;性健康与婚姻态度各维度(婚姻心理准备态度、家庭关系控制、婚姻控制态度)呈正相关;性健康各维度中性行为健康与婚姻态度及各维度呈正相关;性心理健康与婚姻态度及各维度相关,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论性健康能促进家庭的和谐,夫妻的美满。性健康能够增进夫妻双方对婚姻态度的理解及认识。     

煤矿职工艾滋病相关态度、行为与家庭功能关系的研究

目的探讨煤矿职工艾滋病相关态度和行为与家庭功能之间的关系及其影响因素,为改变煤矿职工艾滋病相关态度、行为提供理论依据。方法采用家庭功能问卷（APGAR）和自编艾滋病相关问卷,对整群抽取的2个矿区1180名煤矿职工进行问卷调查。结果35．94％的煤矿职工有家庭功能障碍。多因素Logistic分析显示,艾滋病相关态度、行为和家庭功能之间均有统计学关联（P〈0．05）。结论家庭功能对艾滋病相关态度、行为有预测作用,改善煤矿职工的家庭功能,可能是艾滋病预防的一个有效途径。     

Sexuality and marital life: results of a survey

This article presents the results of a telephone survey regarding the conjugal and sex life of men and women from the Montreal region. Surprising as it may seem, the relationship between sexual and marital functioning within the couple has been the focus of little study to date. In fact, relatively little is known about the relationship among sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, sexual fantasies, and marital functioning. In this survey, a questionnaire covering these four variables was administered to 996 subjects chosen at random. The results indicate that women seem to have a more positive perception of their sexual behavior, whereas men seem to have a more positive perception of their marital life. Multiple regression analyses were run to examine the relationship between marital functioning and items related to sexual functioning. The links between sexual satisfaction and other items of the questionnaire concerning sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, and sexual fantasies were also analyzed. For this purpose, we subdivided the subjects into two age groups (under 60 and 60 and over) based on the loss of interest in sexual activity that the questionnaire allowed to discern in the 60+ group. The relationship between marital functioning and items related to sexual behavior proved statistically significant. Various items pertaining to sexual functioning also proved to be related to a global assessment of sexual satisfaction. Cognitive variables (sexual attitudes and sexual fantasies) were found to influence sexual satisfaction but had a lesser impact on marital functioning. Gender and age (under 60 or 60 and over) also had an effect on these relationships.     

Sexual Experience and Responses to a Birth Control Film

The objective of this research was to examine the relationship between sexual experience and sexual and contraceptive attitudinal responses to a birth control film. A questionnaire was administered immediately before and after showing a birth control film to 103 college females. Subjects were classified into three groups according to their sexual and contraceptive experience. With perceived change measures, it was found that the film reinforced sexual and contraceptive beliefs. Significant group differences were found regarding reinforcement of sexual attitudes but not for contraceptive attitudes.     

The use of a self-report questionnaire to assess the frequency of sexual dysfunction in family practice clinics

The epidemiology of sexual dysfunction has been investigated recently in various clinical and nonclinical conditions but, to date, little research has been conducted in the family practice setting. The authors have developed a brief self-report questionnaire addressing most of the common sexual problems, and assessed its usefulness as a screening device in two distinctly different family practice clinics. The proposed questionnaire has gained over 90% response rate in each practice, indicating an appropriate level of acceptability. The sex- and practice-specific prevalence ranged from 31% to 63%, and was found to be significantly higher among male patients than among female patients. Overall dissatisfaction with the present sexual life of either the respondent or his partner (as indicated by the former) was expressed by nearly 20% of the respondents, the majority of whom reported on both self and partner's dissatisfaction. Relatively few patients of those who reported on a sexual problem had ever sought any professional help, but approximately 50% of men and 25% of women indicated that the family physician was their preferred expert for this purpose. It is concluded that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in the family practice setting but is nevertheless under-reported. Anonymous screening in one's practice, as presented in this study, will provide the family physician with valuable information, and may contribute to further direct discussions of these delicate concerns.     

女性尿失禁患者生活质量调查

目的:探讨妇科门诊患者尿失禁的严重程度及其对生活质量的影响。方法:对2003年11月~2004年12月就诊于广州市妇婴医院妇科门诊年龄为18~86岁的1 880例女性患者以调查表进行面对面问卷调查。调查内容有一般状况(包括年龄、身高、体重、婚姻状况、收入、文化程度)、尿失禁的症状及其严重程度、尿失禁对患者心理的影响、尿失禁对日常生活的影响、尿失禁对性生活的影响、尿失禁对生活质量的影响。结果:病人对此疾病认识严重缺乏,尿失禁对患者生理、心理、日常生活、性生活及生活质量有较大的影响。结论:应采取措施提高人们对尿失禁的认识。提高公众的健康意识、提高医生的理念、技术,提高妇女的生活质量,实现真正意义上的健康。     

Evaluation of a Third Grade Sexual Abuse Curriculum

ABSTRACT: This paper presents results from a third grade sexual abuse prevention program. A 24-item questionnaire was administered as a pretest and post-test to an experimental group (n = 236) and a control group (n = 195) of third grade students. Those receiving the sexual abuse prevention program significantly increased their sexual abuse knowledge scores from pretest to post-test. In addition, differences in knowledge were significantly higher in the experimental compared to the control group. Students who received the sexual abuse curriculum significantly improved from pretest to post-test on their behavioral intention scores. Results from this evaluation indicated a modest improvement can be obtained through use of this two-hour sexual abuse prevention curriculum.     

Sexual knowledge, attitudes, fears and behaviors of adolescents in Finland (the KISS study)

In 1986 and 1988, a structured questionnaire on sexual knowledge, attitudes, fears and behaviors was administered to 13, 15 and 17 year olds in Finnish public schools; 5289 (88% response rate) responses were recorded. With the exception of a few small differences in attitudes, no significant regional differences were recorded--suggesting that the results are representative of all Finnish adolescents. Except for 13 year olds, knowledge level was satisfactory. With increasing age, most attitudes showed increasing tolerance towards sexual matters and liberalism. Although several fears increased, AIDS was not perceived as an exceptionally great personal danger. By comparison with data from surveys 20 years previously, the age of first experience of sexual intercourse was lower--especially among women. About a third of the adolescents surveyed used no birth control and about 60% used a condom. Implications for educational policy and planning are discussed.     

A Comparison of Sexual Outcomes in Primiparous Women Experiencing Vaginal and Caesarean Births

Background and Objective:

We conducted this study to evaluate and compare postpartum sexual functioning after vaginal and caesarean births.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out in postnatal health care in a hospital. A total of 50 primiprous women who had given birth 6-12 months ago and came to the hospital for postnatal care were asked to join the study. Forty of the women completed the entire questionnaire. Among these women, 20 delivered spontaneously with mediolateral episiotomy and 20 had elective caesarean section. Sexual function was evaluated by a validated, self-created questionnaire. A statistical evaluation was carried out by SPSS v.11. A two-part self-created validated questionnaire for data collection was administered regarding sexual function prior to pregnancy and 6-12 months postpartum.

Results:

The median time to restart intercourse in the normal vaginal delivery with episiotomy (NVD/epi) group was 40 days and in the caesarean section (C/S) group was 10 days postpartum. The most common problems in the NVD/epi group was decreased libido (80%), sexual dissatisfaction (65%), and vaginal looseness (55%). In the C/S group, the most common problems were vaginal dryness (85%), sexual dissatisfaction (60%), and decreased libido (35%). There were clinically significant differences between the two groups regarding sexual outcomes, but these differences were not statically significant.

Conclusion:

Postnatal sexual problems were very common after both NVD/epi and C/S. Because sexual problems are so prevalent during the postpartum period, clinicians should draw more attention to the women''s sexual life and try to improve their quality of life after delivery.     

The Relationship Between the Sexual Attitudes of Parents and their College Daughters'' or Sons'' Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Behavior

This study determined if three selected sexual attitudes of parents were related to similar sexual attitudes of their college daughters or sons and to five sexual behaviors. Only never married, college freshmen (N = 83) with both parents participating were utilized. A self-report questionnaire was administered to students at a large midwestern university and distributed to and returned from parents by mail. The Pearson product-moment correlation and the stepwise and multiple regressions were used to test four hypotheses. Mothers' sexual attitudes had a stronger relationship than fathers' attitudes with offspring sexual attitudes and behaviors, particularly for daughters. Generally, mothers with the most positive attitudes toward sexual-self had daughters who were more responsive relative to personal sexual expression (masturbation frequency and orgasmic experience), but who were not any more involved heterosexually (frequency of coitus and number of coital partners). Fathers' sexual attitudes had little relationship to offspring sexual attitudes and behavior. None of the male students' sexual behaviors were related strongly to parent sexual attitudes. Implications for school and parent sexuality education programs are briefly discussed.     

Menstruation disorders more frequent in women with a history of sexual abuse

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between menstruation disorders and prior sexual abuse. DESIGN: Questionnaire investigation. METHOD: A questionnaire was developed consisting of 50 questions about menstruation disorders, premenstrual syndrome and sexual abuse. The questionnaire was mailed to all female patients aged 12-54 years (n = 1805) of one family practice in Den Helder, the Netherlands. RESULTS: The response rate to the questionnaire was 69% (n = 1254). After excluding women who were postmenopausal, pregnant, without a uterus, or who did not answer the questions on sexual abuse, 947 remained. Of these women, 83 (8.7%) reported having experienced sexual abuse. These women had significantly more dysmenorrhoea, more dysfunctional menstrual bleeding and significantly more menstrual cycle irregularities. CONCLUSION: A statistically significant association was found between menstrual problems and prior sexual abuse. Sexual abuse should be considered in the differential diagnosis and treatment of women who seek medical help for inexplicable menstrual disorders.     

Religiosity and sexual responsibility: relationships of choice

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current influence of women's religiosity upon their sexual attitudes and behavior, including feelings of guilt. METHOD: An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 535 female undergraduates at a Midwestern university. RESULTS: Higher degrees of religiosity were associated with negative attitudes toward nonprocreative sexual activities, guilt towards masturbation, less likelihood of engaging in sexual intercourse, and fewer sex partners if sexually experienced. No significant differences were found regarding religiosity and physiological or psychological sexual satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Religiosity appears related to sexual attitudes and behavior of college women, but not physiological or psychological sexual satisfaction.     

Communicating with new sex partners: college women and questions that make a difference

Despite efforts of sexuality educators, many college women are uninfluenced by information about risks of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or initiating an unintentional pregnancy. This study used an anonymous questionnaire administered to 438 never-married undergraduate women to investigate the failure of college women to ask new sex partners about sexual histories prior to sexual intercourse. Significant differences were found between the three subsample groups: those who "almost always" (AA), "sometimes" (S), or "rarely" (R) asked their sex partners about sexual histories. At first sexual intercourse, AA group women were significantly more likely to have been in a committed relationship, to have been contracepted, and to have been older; and they were less likely to have been under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances. Furthermore, AA group women also reported fewer sex partners than other respondents. They also were more likely to discuss sexually related topics with their partners, to reach sexual decisions by their own thoughts, and to set personal goals.     

The association of sexual behaviors with socioeconomic status, family structure, and race/ethnicity among US adolescents

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the relation of socioeconomic status (SES), family structure, and race/ethnicity to adolescent sexual behaviors that are key determinants of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). METHODS: The 1992 Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey provided family data from household adults and behavioral data from adolescents. RESULTS: Among male and female adolescents, greater parental education, living in a 2-parent family, and White race were independently associated with never having had sexual intercourse. Parental education did not show a linear association with other behaviors. Household income was not linearly related to any sexual behavior. Adjustment for SES and family structure had a limited effect on the association between race/ethnicity and sexual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in adolescent sexual behavior by race and SES were not large enough to fully explain differences in rates of pregnancy and STD infection. This suggests that other factors, including access to health services and community prevalence of STDs, may be important mediating variables between SES and STD transmission and pregnancy among adolescents.     

Sexual Fluidity and Related Attitudes and Beliefs Among Young Adults with a Same-Gender Orientation

Little research has examined whether experiencing sexual fluidity—changes over time in attractions and sexual orientation identity—is related to specific cognitions. This study explored attitudes and beliefs among sexually fluid and non-sexually fluid individuals and developed two new measures of sexuality beliefs based on Diamond’s sexual fluidity research and Dweck’s psychological theory of intelligence beliefs. Participants were 188 female and male young adults in the United States with a same-gender orientation, ages 18–26 years. Participants completed an online questionnaire which assessed sexual fluidity in attractions and sexual orientation identity, attitudes toward bisexuality, sexuality beliefs, and demographics. Sexual fluidity in attractions was reported by 63 % of females and 50 % of males, with 48 % of those females and 34 % of those males reporting fluidity in sexual orientation identity. No significant gender differences in frequency of sexual fluidity were observed. Sexually fluid females had more positive attitudes toward bisexuality than non-sexually fluid females; however, no significant difference was observed for males. Females were more likely than males to endorse sexual fluidity beliefs and to believe that sexuality is changeable; and sexually fluid persons were more likely than non-sexually fluid persons to hold those two beliefs. Among males, non-sexually fluid individuals were more likely than sexually fluid individuals to believe that sexuality is something an individual is born with. Females were more likely than males to endorse the belief that sexuality is influenced by the environment. Findings from this research link sexual fluidity with specific cognitions.     

Reproducibility of an interview questionnaire on sexual behavior in japanese middle-aged or elderly males

The reproducibility of an interview questionnaire on sexual behavior in Japanese males was estimated with the use of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (r) and kappa coefficient. The subjects were 151 males aged 50 years or older (mean age = 63.6 years old) in a rural town of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, who participated in a consecutive mass screening for prostatic diseases at a one-year interval after their first participation during the period 1988–1993. They were individually interviewed about their sexual behavior by well-trained urologists who were supervised by one of the authors. A remarkably good reproducibility level at the one-year interval was shown among the questions about age at first marriage (r = 0.92), age at which first sexual intercourse was experienced (r = 0.80), and age at which sexual intercourse was no longer practiced (r = 0.87). The reproducibility of the questions about frequency of sexual intercourse when they were in their 30s, 40s and 50s was fair (r = 0.2-0.6), and that of the questions regarding the frequency in their 60s was poor (r < 0.2). However, there were rare extreme differences in answers of this frequency between the two interviews. In conclusion, the reproducibility of the questionnaire on sexual behavior in Japanese middle-aged or elderly males was considered to be satisfactory.     

低年级大学生性知识来源与偏好的差异性分析

目的 了解低年级不同性别大学生性知识来源与偏好、性相关议题关注度的差异,为性教育模式与内容提供思路。方法 采用街头方便抽样,对四川某高校低年级(大一、大二)的187名学生进行一对一问卷调查。结果 对于获取性知识的实际渠道和偏好渠道进行差异性分析,男女生均存在多项不一致。对于性相关议题的关注,43.8%的女生关注婚前性行为,较男生(20.9%)更高(P<0.05);23.1%的男生关注性选择与性愉悦,较女生(9.4%)更高(P<0.05)。结论 有必要加强家庭性教育,改进同伴教育质量,按照不同性别大学生的特征与需求有针对性地开展性知识教育和活动,并普及多元性知识。     

Factors associated with condom use in women from an urban area in southern Brazil

This study investigated the prevalence of factors associated with condom use during last sexual intercourse in 15-49-year-old women in a probabilistic sample from the urban area of Pelotas, southern Brazil. A questionnaire administered by an interviewer, investigating socioeconomic characteristics and habits, and another (self-administered) questionnaire on sexual behavior-related variables were used. Poisson regression, following a hierarchical model, was used for data analysis. 1,543 women were included, and losses and refusals amounted to 3.5%. Prevalence of condom use in last sexual intercourse was 28.0%. Condom use was positively associated with younger age, greater schooling, non-white color, single marital status, and greater number of sex partners in the previous three months. This suggests that the group most vulnerable to STDs/AIDS due to lack of condom use is white, adult women, in stable unions, with fewer sexual partners.     

African American women’s safer sexual practices: the influence of ethnic-racial socialisation and body esteem

African American women are disproportionately at risk for sexually transmitted infections (e.g., HIV and gonorrhoea). It is important therefore to explore cultural factors that may influence their sexual practices. The present study examined the relationship between safer sexual practices (i.e., using condoms and inquiring about partner sexual history), participants’ ethnic-racial socialisation experiences with maternal and paternal caregivers, and body esteem. Participants were 262, largely middle-class, African American women (ages 18 to 78) from a Midwestern US city who completed an online questionnaire. Results indicated significant differences on measures of safer sexual practice based on relationship status. Regression results suggested that certain paternal cultural practices were negatively related to inquiring about a partner’s sexual history. However, body esteem was positively associated with inquiry regarding partner’s previous sexual history. Implications for intervention efforts and research are discussed.