Age of partners at first intercourse among Danish males and females

In 1984–1985 a representative sample of 286 Danish women (response rate = 75.3%) and 336 Danish men (response rate = 77.8%), ages 16–20 years, was interviewed about their first sexual intercourse. A cumulative frequency function was constructed and the median age at sexual debut was estimated at 16.8 years for both male and female. Generally the age difference between the partners at first intercourse was only a few years. However, the young women almost never reported their first sexual partner as younger than themselves. A cross-check was made of the information given by two homogeneous subsamples of the 47 young women and 80 young men who had their first sexual intercourse with a partner who was also a debutant. Self-reported age among the males differed significantly from the age of the first sexual partner as stated by the females in these subsamples. Therefore, there is bias in the reporting of age of partner at first intercourse. As the self-reported age at first sexual intercourse by young women agrees with the age of first partner as stated by young men, the bias seems to manifest itself predominantly as a systematic misreporting in the age of male partners of debutant females.This work supported by a research grant from Sygekassernes Helsefond.     

Infant health consequences of childbearing by teenagers and older mothers

The association of childbearing at early and late ages with various adverse outcomes of pregnancy was explored in data collected in the 1980 National Natality and Fetal Mortality Surveys. The characteristics of interest for teenage mothers were marital status at conception and the trimester of pregnancy in which prenatal care was begun. For married mothers aged 30 years and older, the variables considered were employment status and occupation during the year preceding childbirth and smoking status before and during pregnancy. The pregnancy outcome variables analyzed were the same for both groups of mothers: fetal loss, low birth weight, and low 1-minute Apgar scores. Although more than half of all births to teenage mothers were to unmarried women, an additional one-quarter of these births were to women who married between the time of conception and the birth of the child. Generally there was little difference in outcomes for teenage mothers who were married at the time of delivery, regardless of their marital status at the time of conception. Pregnancy outcomes for teenagers who did not marry prior to delivery were considerably less favorable. Nearly 90 percent of women aged 30-34 years who had a first birth in 1980 were employed during the year before delivery, an extraordinarily high labor force participation rate. More than half of these employed mothers were in professional occupations, consistent with their very high levels of educational attainment. Although the analysis is limited by the small numbers of births involved, it appears that professionally employed women generally have the best pregnancy outcomes. When mother's smoking status is taken into account,nonsmokers had more favorable outcomes, with births to professionally employed mothers generally most favored.     

Differences between males and females in motives for engaging in sexual intercourse

In a test of the hypothesis that a difference exists between males and females in motives for participating in sexual intercourse, a random sample of 249 college students was given a questionnaire containing questions about sexual behavior and attitudes, focusing on motives for having intercourse. There were significant differences between males and females in approval of casual sexual intercourse, number of premarital sexual partners, most important part of sexual behavior, and whether an emotional involvement was a prerequisite for participating in sexual intercourse. Effect-size analyses indicated that these differences are large, with a median ² = 0.24. Both males and females approved of premarital sexual intercourse in a serious relationship and stressed the importance of feeling loved and needed. However, males found it easier to participate in sexual intercourse without an emotional commitment, whereas females were unlikely to want intercourse for physical pleasure in the absence of psychological involvement.     

The sexual vocabularies of heterosexual and homosexual males and females for communicating erotically with a sexual partner

This study explored what terminology constitutes an erotic or arousing language for male and female, heterosexual and homosexual, and the extent to which that language is used with a sexual partner. Five sexual references were included: male genitalia, female genitalia, lovemaking/coitus, oral—genital contact, and hand—genital contact. Respondents consisted of 120 urban midwestern university students, 30 in each gender and sexual orientation category. Sexual orientation was as powerful a predictor as gender for language that was considered erotic. Lesbians and gay males more often than heterosexual females and males used erotic or arousing vocabulary with a spouse or lover. Gay males more often used slang with a spouse or lover than did heterosexual males and heterosexual females. Implications for sexual arousal based upon communication are discussed.     

Effects of completing sexual questionnaires in males and females with histories of childhood sexual abuse: implications for institutional review boards

Few studies have sought to examine empirically the immediate effects of participation in sexual abuse research. The present study investigated the effects of childhood sexual abuse on measures of personality and psychological functioning in 250 males and females. The null hypothesis was that sexually abused and nonabused groups would show no significant differences between pre-and post-testing on measures of state anxiety, state depression, and state anger. No significant differences between pre-and post-testing were observed between nonabused, abused, and severely abused participants. In addition, there were no gender differences among the groups. Findings from this study support those of Savell, Kinder, and Young (2006) and have significant implications for Institutional Review Boards (IRB) as they suggest that participation in childhood sexual abuse or sexuality research does not place sexually abused individuals at greater than minimal risk for immediate increases in anxiety, depression, or anger.     

Changes in sexual behavior among young males and females between 1960–1970

On the basis of results of three West German sex surveys of a total of 4568 men and women born between 1936–1954, an analysis is made of the changes in youth sexuality in the 60s. Comparisons were made for boys and girls of high educational level (school attendance 13 years or more) and low educational level (school attendance 9 years or less). The following results were found: (1) The age at first masturbation for boys of both educational levels dropped only slightly; for girls of high educational level, the age dropped markedly during the last decade; there was no change among girls of low educational level. (2) The age at first coitus decreased markedly. This is especially true for the moreeducated boys and girls. (3) The age level at which sociosexual activities are started (dating, kissing, petting) decreased markedly among the less-educated boys and girls. (No data are available for more-educated boys and girls.) (4) These changes in behavior do not correspond to any radical change in sexual standards or sexual philosophy. (5) The ability to experience the first coitus positively and free from conflict increased in the less-educated groups. (No data are available for more-educated boys and girls.) Translated by David Harris, Berlin.     

Prevalence of sexual activity and associated factors in hypertensive males and females in China: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important factor contributing to sexual dysfunction. The number of people with hypertension is increasing in China, but research into sexual life, which has implications for quality of life, is limited. We aimed to compare sexual activity and the influence of daily behaviors and sexual domain of hypertensive males and females in south China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the health care center of a university-affiliated hospital from 2007 to 2008. We enrolled 502 subjects with hypertension (225 males, 48.79+/-7.39 years old; 277 females, 48.26+/-6.93 years old) and 173 with normotension (82 males, 45.69+/-6.58 years old; 91 females, 46.14+/-7.03 years old), all sexually active. All subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire on sexual activity before a routine physical check-up. Data were collected on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, use of cigarettes and intake of beverages (including alcohol). RESULTS: Hypertensive and normotensive subjects differed in frequency of orgasms and of sexual satisfaction, as well as duration of sexual activity. For hypertensive men, low frequency of sexual activity, orgasms and satisfaction were associated with unemployed or retired status than physical labor work (odds ratio [OR] 0.28 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.12-0.69], 0.32 [0.12-0.86], 0.33 [0.19-0.88], respectively; p<0.05), and long sexual duration was associated with never drinking alcohol than heavy drinking (OR 4.49 [1.28-6.41]). For hypertensive women, low frequency and duration of sexual activity and low satisfaction were associated with never drinking tea than heavy tea drinking (OR 0.42 [0.18-0.96], 0.49 [0.24-0.98], 0.29 [0.14-0.64], respectively; p<0.05). Medication use and electrocardiography results were not associated with sexual activity for hypertensive patients. CONCLUSIONS: For hypertensive people in China, lifestyle factors are associated with sexual dysfunction, which differs by the sex of the person. Further research needs to examine serum hormone levels to validate the result.     

Characteristics of African American adolescent females who perceive their current boyfriends have concurrent sexual partners

PurposePerceived partner concurrency, reporting that a current sexual partner has other sexual partners, may pose sexual health risks to adolescents. We examined the contextual characteristics of African American female adolescents who reported their current boyfriend was having concurrent sexual relationships.MethodsParticipants were African American adolescent females (N = 511; mean age = 17.6) recruited from sexual health clinics. Before participating in an STD/HIV prevention trial, the participants completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews with measures of perceived partner concurrency and individual- (e.g., depression, substance use), interpersonal- (e.g., social support, interpersonal stress), and community-level factors (i.e., neighborhood quality).ResultsTwenty-seven percent of participants reported their belief that their current boyfriend had concurrent sexual partners during their relationship. In a logistic regression analysis, participants endorsing perceived partner concurrency reported less relational power (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = .94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .89–.98, p < .01), decreased relationship commitment (AOR = .88, 95% CI = .80–.96, p < .01), elevated perceived interpersonal stress (AOR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.003–1.04, p < .05), and previous STD diagnoses (AOR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.31–3.28, p < .01; overall model: χ² = 67.25; p < .001).ConclusionsResults suggest that the efficacy of sexual risk reduction interventions may be improved by emphasizing the increased HIV/STD risks associated with having a boyfriend with concurrent sex partners. In addition, interventions may benefit from incorporating stress management training and addressing key relationship dynamics, particularly among adolescents with a history of STDs.     

关于青少年性健康教育问题的探讨

随着改革开放的不断深入和西方文化思潮的影响,人们的性观念逐渐开放,婚前性行为剧增,未婚青少年的非意愿妊娠和人工流产率呈逐年上升和低龄化趋势。为改变这一趋势,近几年我国在部分地区青少年中开展了有关青春期生殖健康、性教育等课程;2001年《中华人民共和国人口与计划生育法》第十三条明确指出,     

Self-reported frequency of sexual urges,fantasies, and masturbatory fantasies in heterosexual males and females

The frequency of sexual imagery outside of sexual behavior was assessed. In addition, an attempt was made to determine the viability of a distinction between internally generated sexual thoughts (fantasy) and externally provoked sexual thoughts (urge). After a 3-day practice period, 49 male and 47 female heterosexual undergraduates self-monitored the frequency of fantasies, urges, and masturbatory fantasies for 7 consecutive days. The most significant finding was that men reported a significantly greater frequency of sexual urges and masturbatory fantasies than women. No gender differences emerged with respect to fantasies. These findings suggest that a distinction between internally and externally generated sexual imagery is viable and may be useful in future studies examining the frequency, functions, and determinants of sexual imagery.     

Short-term sexual health effects of relationships with significantly older females on adolescent boys

PurposeTo examine the short-term effects on the sexual health of adolescent boys in age discordant relationships.MethodsWeighted logistic regression analyses were conducted using data from waves 1 and 2 of the National Survey of Adolescent Health to determine the health effects of entry into an age discordant relationship on adolescent boys.ResultsResults indicate that boys involved in an age discordant relationship, in comparison with boys in a similar age relationship, had higher odds of having had sexual intercourse (OR = 2.92), having got a partner pregnant (OR = 1.89), having been diagnosed with STD (OR = 4.41), and having lost one's virginity (OR = 3.39). Analyses on the sexually active subset reveal no significant relationship between involvement in an age discordant relationship and birth control use broadly, or condom use specifically, at their most recent sexual intercourse.ConclusionIn general, entering into an age discordant relationship as a younger partner is associated with some adverse sexual health effects for adolescent boys. Thus, some outcomes that were demonstrated in previous research to be problematic for adolescent girls dating significantly older males are similarly problematic for adolescent boys dating older females.     

Perfectionistic cognitions and eating disturbance: Distinct mediational models for males and females

ObjectivePerfectionism has long been known to correlate with eating disturbance (ED). One mechanism through which this personality tendency may lead to ED is through increasing one's daily perfectionistic thoughts. This study examined the mediating role of perfectionistic thinking in the personality perfectionism–ED relationship among both male and female college students, and included measures assessing both typically-male and typically-female ED symptoms.MethodA majority-White sample of 140 males and 329 females completed online versions of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Hewitt & Flett, 1991), Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (Flett, Hewitt, Blankstein, & Gray, 1998), Drive for Muscularity Scale (McCreary, Sasse, Saucier, & Dorsch, 2004), items from the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (Fairburn, 2008), and other measures. Regression tests examined the hypothesized role of perfectionistic cognitions as a mediator, including participant age, BMI, and positive and negative affect as covariates.ResultsAmong women, relationships between both self-oriented (Sobel's statistic = − 4.63, p < .001) and socially prescribed perfectionism (Sobel's statistic = − 5.77, p < .001) and dieting behavior were fully mediated by increased perfectionistic thinking. Among men, however, the relationship between only self-oriented perfectionism and bulimic (but not dieting) behavior, was fully mediated by increased perfectionistic thinking (Sobel's statistic = − 2.53, p = .01).ConclusionsPerfectionistic cognitions play an important linking role between personality perfectionism and ED, and can illuminate important differences by gender in eating disturbance. Such findings can improve validity of ED assessment in both genders, and provide a clear pathway to interventions to decrease ED in both genders.     

Sustaining sexual safety in relationships: Hiv positive people and their sexual partners

This paper presents findings on how sexual safety is sustained in relationships. A qualitative study was undertaken to gather data on the social relations of sexual negotiation and safety among HIV positive people and their sexual partners. HIV positive people were found to avoid close relationships because of the difficulties of sustaining safer sex with regular partners. In response, many sought HIV positive concordant partners, and unprotected sex in these relationships was considered 'acceptable'. Action that suspended protected sex helped define relationships as intimate and important. As the emotional content of relationships developed, the acceptability of risk increased. Relationship risk management in the time of AIDS is as much an effort to protect relationships as intimate, loving and secure, as it is an effort to ensure viral safety. This was particularly the case in antibody discordant relationships. Here, 'love relationships' were presented as important as life itself. It was HIV negative partners in discordant relationships who most often negotiated for unprotected sex. Gay men were better able than heterosexuals to sustain safer sex in long term, love relationships. These differences in capacity to sustain safer sex between gay and straight people and between HIV positive and negative people may reflect differences in exposure to sexual safety and relationship norms. We discuss HIV prevention initiatives in light of these findings.     

上海市中老年社区居民对性教育态度及相关因素分析

目的 了解上海市中老年社区居民对性教育的态度及其相关因素。方法 2020年6月至2022年12月,通过多阶段抽样方法,对上海市≥50岁中老年社区居民开展一项横断面调查。样本量估计数为735人。问卷包括社会人口学特征、健康特征、性教育史等相关信息。采用多因素logistic回归模型分析中老年社区居民对性教育态度的相关因素。结果 研究对象824人中,男性489人,女性335人,年龄（65.1±8.1）岁,年龄范围为60~69岁（45.3%）。49.4%的参与者支持在中老年人群中开展性教育（男性：45.2%;女性：55.5%）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,男性（aOR=0.61,95%CI：0.44~0.83）、≥70岁（aOR=0.62,95%CI：0.40~0.94）、城镇居民（aOR=2.54,95%CI：1.81~3.58）、自评健康状况为好/非常好（aOR=1.64,95%CI：1.04~2.58）、有抑郁症状（aOR=0.37,95%CI：0.15~0.85）、接受过性教育（aOR=8.64,95%CI：4.62~17.70）与其对性教育的态度有关。结论 上海市中老年社区居民中支持性教育的比例不高。该人群对性教育的态度与自评健康状况、抑郁症状、性教育史相关,专业医疗人员或医疗机构应着重关注具有关键特征的中老年社区居民,定制化干预以期提高我国中老年居民性健康教育支持意愿,促进性教育在该人群中的普及。     

Bulimia in males: A matched comparison with females

The clinical characteristics of 15 male and 15 female bulimics matched as to age, duration of bulimia, and frequency of self-induced vomiting are compared. All subjects were given an extensive interview and psychometric evaluations to measure depression, anxiety, assertiveness, and attitudes about food and eating. Male subjects had relatively higher current and past weights, greater weight fluctuations, and more realistic perceptions about desired ideal weight than the women. Males also used fewer weight controls, such as laxatives, diet pills, and restrictive eating, but reported more present and past problems with drugs and alcohol. A statistically significant difference was found between men and women on marriage and sexual preference, with more women being married and more men reporting a homosexual or bisexual preference. Men and women scored similarly on psychometric measures. The findings are discussed in terms of differing sociocultural demands for men and women.     

Normal values for thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females

Objectives

This study was undertaken to compare normal values of thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females and in younger and older age groups. In addition, for thermal thresholds, the effects of the contact area (small and large) and stimulus location (glabrous and non-glabrous skin) were investigated.

Method

Eighty healthy subjects participated in the study: 20 males and 20 females aged 20–30 years, and 20 males and 20 females aged 55–65 years. Subjects attended one 45 min experimental session consisting of acclimatisation for 10 min followed by 35 min of testing. Using the method of limits, hot thresholds and cold thresholds were measured on the non-dominant upper limb at three locations (the distal phalanx of the middle finger, the thenar eminence, and the dorsal surface of the forearm) using two circular contactors 1.0 and 2.8 cm in diameter. Using the von Békésy method, vibrotactile thresholds at 31.5 and 125 Hz were measured on the distal phalanx of the middle finger of the non-dominant hand.

Results

Among the younger subjects there were significant gender differences in thermotactile thresholds but not vibrotactile thresholds. Age did not have any significant effect on thermotactile or vibrotactile thresholds. Hot thresholds were significantly higher and cold thresholds significantly lower when the larger stimulus area was used. The thresholds exceeded by 18% of the population (the mean plus one standard deviation) and by 2.5% (the mean plus two standard deviations) are provided and may be used to consider whether measured thresholds are within a “normal” range.

Conclusions

For males and females the same ranges of normal values may be used for vibrotactile thresholds but different ranges of normal values may be required for thermotactile thresholds. An age correction may not be needed for thermotactile or vibrotactile thresholds in persons aged 20–65 years. Contact area has an influence on thermotactile thresholds and should be controlled.