Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Psychosexual disorders'

The research presented here is an exploratory investigation of the potential role of psychosexual factors in the development of the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. The study sample involved 41 female eating disordered patients (16 anorexics and 25 bulimics), diagnosed using the DSM-III-R criteria. These patients were recruited from The Eating Disorders Program at St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital in Radford, Virginia. Five hypotheses were tested concerning the following psychosexual factors: sexual knowledge and attitudes; sexual experience and functioning; sex roles; gender identity (sexual orientation); and history of sexual abuse or incest. The hypotheses postulated that the psychosexual factors would exist or be perceived by eating disordered patients as significantly different than would be statistically expected according to available normative data. The instrumentation for measuring these factors included the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory, the Bern Sex Role Inventory, and the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid. Compared to normative data, significant results were found in the total sample for all psychosexual factors except Sexual Knowledge and Gender Identity. However, no significant differences were found between the anorexic and bulimic subsamples. These results are discussed along with their implications for therapy and research.
Ph. D.

Hypoactive sexual desire is one of the most prevalent psychosexual problems seen by clinicians, yet there is little consensus as to its etiology, maintenance, appropriate therapeutic intervention or prognosis. Sexual disinterest is considered to be difficult to treat due to severe intrapsychic and/or interpersonal conflict. Few empirical studies exist, however, regarding intrapsychic or interpersonal dynamics in couples where one spouse is assigned the diagnosis of hypoactive sexual desire (HSD). The purpose of this study was to develop a clearer understanding of the intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics of the clinical group diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire. Individual and interactional data was collected from both diagnosed individuals and spouses. The sample consisted of three groups of subjects and their partners. Twenty-two subjects assigned a DSM-III-R diagnosis of lifelong or acquired, generalized Hypoactive Sexual Desire (HSD) and their spouses were compared on intrapsychic and interpersonal variables with two groups consisting of twenty-one sexually dysfunctional subjects displaying a DSM-III-R arousal or orgasm disorder (SDys) and their spouses, and 19 couples with no reported sexual dysfunction (NSD). Only subjects free from other Axis I disorders, medical illness, or substance abuse were selected. Control subjects met similar criteria but had no reported sexual dysfunction. All partners were sexually functional. Subjects were administered: the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI), the Sexual History Form (SHF), the Medical History Questionnaire (MHQ), the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the Affect Balance Scale (ABS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) over a three week period. Statistical procedures used to analyse the data included Canonical Correlation, ANOVA, Profile Analysis, Hotelling's test (T²) and Student-Newman-Keuls test procedure. The test results measuring intrapsychic phenomena revealed that although all groups had normal MMPI profiles, the affect/anxiety variate was significantly elevated in the HSD and SDys groups. In addition, self concept as measured by the SASB introject was significantly more negative in the HSD and SDys groups as compared to the control group. No significant intrapsychic differences were found between partners in the three groups. The interpersonal measures indicated that HSD subjects and SDys subjects perceived their relationships as less nurturing and affirming than did control subjects. Additionally, HSD subjects and their spouses perceived their relationships as measured by the SASB to be more hostile. The study provides some evidence to support the view that HSD subjects have lower self concepts and higher relationship conflicts than do subjects with arousal or orgasm problems or control subjects. Similar to much of the previous research conducted on nonmedical aspects of human sexuality, the study design was exploratory and descriptive in nature thus removing any possibility of drawing cause and effect conclusions.
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Graduate

The aim of this study was to make an assessment of the role of the cognitive component in the development of sexual dysfunction. Past studies have largely focused on the impact of particular events on sexual dysfunction and have not assessed the role of the perception of these events. A number of theories on sexual dysfunction have been developed to explain the influence of cognitions, but these have not been empirically tested. This study investigated the role of the cognitive evaluation of sexual experiences among 30 sexually dysfunctional participants and 30 control participants who were matched on age, marital status and biological sex. The Cognitive Aspects of Sexual Dysfunction Measure (CASDM) was constructed to evaluate sexual dysfunction. This measure was designed to tap into the major events in participants’ lives and, more importantly, the participants’ perceptions of these events. The components assessed were the intergenerational (family of origin), individual, current life and relationship aspects of the person’s life. These factors were measured from the responses to questions regarding the participant's cognitions about past experiences, the effect of the past experience on the participant at the lime it occurred and the influence this experience had on the participant's sense of self now, their relationship now and sexual functioning now. The main findings in the intergenerational area were that past experiences were perceived by the sexually dysfunctional group to be having an impact on the self, relationships and their sexual functioning although there were no actual differences between the sexually functional and the sexual dysfunctional participants in the occurrence of the event. For the individual factors, there were differences between the sexually functional and sexually dysfunctional participants in both values and lifestyle, although these were not perceived to be having an impact on the self, relationship and sexual functioning. In the relationship area, anger was the major factor separating the sexually functional and sexually dysfunctional groups. Anger was high among the sexually dysfunctional participants and was perceived to be having an impact on self, the couple’s relationship and their sexual functioning. The importance of all these variables in providing a better understanding of the cognitive factors in sexual dysfunction was discussed. The findings demonstrate the importance of cognitions in influencing sexual functioning. Clinicians should not simply deal with the life experiences of sexually dysfunctional people when attempting to change their behaviour, but should focus on changing cognitions about the behaviours in relation to sexual functioning.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that occurs almost exclusively in women, with its prominent features being caloric restriction, excessive exercise, and emaciation. Research has found that women with anorexia nervosa generally have less sexual experience and more negative sexual attitudes when compared to "normal" women. There has been little research, however, on the potential relationship between sexuality and anorexic-like symptoms among women who do not meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. Therefore, this study employed a population of college women to investigate the hypothesis that anorexic-like symptoms would be related to less sexual experience and more negative sexual attitudes. The correlations that were obtained did not support the hypotheses. Results are discussed with regard to directions for future research.
Department of Psychological Science

Feederism is a fat fetish subculture that eroticizes eating, feeding, and gaining weight. This thesis attempts to explain the practice of Feederism using an evolutionary approach. Chapter one examines the historical and cross-cultural meaning of fat and its association with fertility, health, and beauty. Chapter one also reviews the current literature on fat admiration and Feederism, and introduces some possible explanations for what Feederism is, and how it can be conceptualized. Chapter two describes a case study that was conducted on a female member of the Feederism community. The results of this case study add support to the hypothesis that Feederism is paraphilic. Chapter three describes a psychophysiological study that tested how members of the general population respond to and rate feeding stimuli. This study was conducted to determine whether Feederism is an exaggeration of a more normative and functional mate selection strategy. The results of this study demonstrate that males and females both respond to and rate feeding stimuli similarly. No definitive conclusions were drawn with respect to the exaggeration hypothesis, because, although participants did subjectively rate the feeding stimuli as more sexually arousing than neutral stimuli, they did not genitally respond to the feeding stimuli significantly more than to the neutral stimuli. Chapter four summarizes the results of the two studies and discusses how these finding might inform future research on paraphilias, courtship, and intimacy.
viii, 128 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

Introdução: O desenvolvimento psicossexual humano inicia no período pré-natal e é composto pelo papel de gênero (PG), pela identidade de gênero (IG) e pela orientação sexual (OS). Em indivíduos com DDS 46,XY, vários fatores podem comprometer esse desenvolvimento, levando a incongruência de identidade de gênero e à mudança de gênero. Nesses pacientes, a exposição androgênica pré-natal e o grau de virilização da genitália externa tem sido avaliados como possíveis influenciadores destes desfechos, mas seu papel ainda não foi esclarecido. Objetivos: Avaliar os desfechos psicossexuais - IG, PG e OS - e aspectos da vida sexual em uma coorte de indivíduos com DDS 46,XY na idade adulta com diagnostico etiológico caracterizado do ponto de vista clínico e molecular e investigar a influência da exposição androgênica pré-natal e do grau de virilização da genitália externa nesses desfechos e na prevalência de disforia de gênero (DG). Pacientes: 144 pacientes com diagnóstico etiológico confirmado de DDS 46,XY acompanhados do HCFMUSP com idade entre 16 e 60 anos foram incluídos neste estudo. Métodos: Os componentes do desenvolvimento psicossexual (IG, PG, OS) foram avaliados usando questionários e por teste psicológico projetivo (HTP - House-Tree-Person). O escore de Sinnecker foi utilizado para a mensuração do grau de virilização da genitália externa. A exposição androgênica pré-natal foi estimada de acordo com a etiologia do DDS 46,XY. Aspectos da vida sexual foram avaliados através de questionário específico.Todas as variáveis categóricas foram analisadas usando teste X². A força de associação foi avaliada pelo cálculo do V de Cramer. O índice kappa foi usado para avaliar concordância entre resultados dos testes. Resultados: Houve uma associação positiva entre exposição androgênica pré-natal e a maior incidência de desfechos psicossexuais masculinos em indivíduos com maior exposição. O grau de virilização da genitália externa não interferiu nos desfechos psicossexuais. Houve uma prevalência de 19% (27/144) de disforia de gênero em toda a coorte. Em 93% (25/27), a DG foi do sexo feminino para o masculino e ocorreu em 50% (16/32) de casos de deficiência de 5alfa-RD2, seguido de 33% (5/15) dos casos de deficiência da 17beta-HSD3 e se associou com exposição androgênica pré-natal (p < 001; V=0,461), mas não com a virilização da genitália externa. A mediana de idade do desejo de mudar de sexo foi de 8 anos (5 - 9) enquanto que a da idade da mudança de sexo foi 15 anos (10.5 - 20). Os desfechos psicossexuais mostraram maior concordância com o sexo social final (PG - k=0.81; IG - k=0.65 e OS - k=0.85) do que com o sexo de registro (PG - k=0.1; IG - k=0.25 e OS - k=0.15). Quanto a sexualidade, alguns parâmetros (fantasias sexuais, masturbação e parceiro sexual fixo) foram melhores no sexo masculino comparado ao feminino. No entanto, não houveram diferenças em relação aos parâmetros da vida sexual comparando indivíduos do sexo feminino com e sem atipia genital e indivíduos do sexo masculino que mantiveram o sexo social com os que mudaram para este sexo. Conclusões: A exposição androgênica pré-natal influenciou o desenvolvimento psicossexual em indivíduos com DDS 46,XY, de uma forma exposição-dependente, favorecendo desfechos masculinos, enquanto que o grau de virilização da genitália externa não influenciou estes desfechos. A DG do feminino para o masculino foi comum entre esses indivíduos e também foi influenciada pela exposição androgênica pré-natal. Os parâmetros psicossexuais nesses pacientes concorda muito mais com o sexo social final do que com o sexo de registro. A sexualidade dos indivíduos do sexo masculino tem aspectos mais satisfatórios que o feminino. Atipia genital no sexo feminino não afetou a sexualidade destas pacientes assim a sexualidade dos indivíduos que mudaram para o sexo masculino são semelhantes aos que foram registrados no sexo masculino Behavioral and Psychosexual Aspects of 46,XY DSD Individuals At Adulthood
Introduction: The human psychosexual development begins at prenatal period and is composed by gender role, gender identity and sexual orientation. In 46,XY DSD individuals a variety of factors may jeopardize an adequate psychosexual development and sometimes results in desire to change the gender. The effects of prenatal androgen exposure and the impact of atypical genitalia in the psychosexual outcomes have been suggested as influencing factors in the human psychosexual development but there is not conclusive evidence, especially in DDS 46, XY. Methods: We evaluated the psychosexual compounds - gender role (GR) at childhood gender identity (GI) and sexual orientation (SO) in individuals a large cohort of 144 46,XY DSD individuals, 86% of them raised in the female social sex, from a single tertiary medical center. The same psychologist, specialized in DSD, performed the psychosexual evaluation. We used a questionnaire and a projective psychological test (HTP test) to measure the psychosexual compounds. Prenatal androgen exposure was estimated considering the 46,XY etiology. Sinnecker\'s score was used to measure the external genitalia virilization. All ordinal variables were analyzed using Wilcoxon test. Categorical variables were analyzed using X2 test with posterior Cramer\'s V to measure the association strength. The kappa index was calculated as a concordance measure. Results: We found an association between prenatal androgen exposure and major prevalence of male psychosexual outcomes and a higher incidence of female to male gender dysphoria. There was not difference in the psychosexual outcomes according by external genitalia virilization in male and in female individuals. There was an incidence of 19% of gender dysphoria (27 out from 144). In 93% (n=25), the gender change was from female to male (F to M). The ethological diagnosis related with F to M GD were 5alpha-RD2 deficiency (5ARD2) in 16/32 (50%), followed by 5/15 (33%) in 17beta-HSD3 deficiency (17betaHSD3). Others diagnosis related with F to M GD were: partial gonadal dysgenesis (n=3/24; 12%) and 3betaHSD2 (n=1/3; 33%). Both cases of male to female (M to F) GD occurred in partial gonadal dysgenesis (8%; n=2/24). The median of GD age (desire to belong to another gender) was 8 years old (5-9), and the median of gender change itself was 15 years old (10.5 - 20). In F to M GD, gender change was associated with prenatal androgen exposure (p < 001; V=0,461). The psychosexual components showed higher concordance index with final gender (GI - k=0.81; GI - k=0.65 and SO - k=0.85) then with the assigned sex (GI - k=0.1; GI - k=0.25 and SO - k=0.15). Conclusion: Prenatal androgen exposure affects the psychosexual development, favoring more male outcomes. This influence was observed in GI, GR and SO. The degree of external genitalia virilization did not influence the psychosexual development. Female to Male GD is common in 46,XY DSD raised in female social sex, especially in 5ARD2 and 17?HSD3 deficiencies. There is a strong relationship between prenatal androgen exposure and F to M GD. On the other hand, M to F gender change was rare in 46,XY DSD and occurred only in partial gonadal dysgenesis patients

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of why social workers believe a male juvenile would commit a sexual abuse act toward another child and how this juvenile should be understood within the social services system and society. Social workers believe interventions are needed once the abuse has occurred.

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MA (Counseling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology Faculty of Arts University of Zululand, 2004.
This is an exploratory study aimed at uncovering the personality dynamics of sexual offenders at Qalakabusha prison hi Empangeni. Various theories were reviewed in relation to the present study. The study was earned out focusing on the offenders who have been convicted for committing rape. With the assistance of officials at Qalakabusha prison, the researcher was able to use the purposive sampling technique hi selecting the respondents. Data was collected hi a series of individual interviews. In addition, the researcher also administered the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory Test (MCMl-IJI) and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) to assess the personality dynamics of sexual offenders. From the themes that emerged from the oral interviews with the research participants, it became evident that many beliefs about rape exists in the form of myths. It also became evident from the personality tests administered, as well as from the themes that emerged from the oral interviews, that through the process of socialization, males are taught to be strong, aggressive and sexually assertive. Females are taught to be submissive, passive and weak. Spurred on by this, males may resort to rape as a method of showing their power over women. The elevations from the MCMI-III suggest that the personality dynamics of sexual offenders is characterized by delusional disorder. Clinical syndromes that were devoted were alcohol dependence, anxiety, somatoform and dysthymia with basic aggressive and antisocial, schizoid, avoidant and depressive, personality patterns. They are also dominated by schizotypal and paranoid personality pathology. It was interesting to note similarities between the themes that emerge from the oval interviews and the scales that were elevated on the MCMI-III Test. These were aggressive outbursts and poor social relations. With regard to the TAT test, the participant's mood and tone were characterized by hesitancy, uncertainty, conflicted anxiety, guilt and self contemptuous. The main hero was an initiator (man), who was powerful. The main theme was that of anger towards females. Similarities also existed between the themes that emerged from the oval interviews and the TAT test administered. In both these, women were perceived as objects to be exploited, and their main needs were those of dominance, sex, aggression and recognition. The study then made the following recommendations: "There is a need for educational programs and public campaigns aimed at reducing the vulnerability to crime in all communities around South Africa, as well as rehabilitation programs, since the research has revealed some of the personality dynamics of sexual offenders. Such programmes would be cost effective and will help to reduce the cost of court hearings, should the offender be brought to trial. Incarceration of the offender whether in state hospital or prison, poses financial burden to the taxpayers. It is also recommended that there is a need for a co-ordinated effort and assistance of the diverse organizations and institutions such as prisons, business, trade unions, welfare agencies, NGO's. schools, and religious organizations to work together in combating crime in South Africa. While less research has been conducted on male rape. This study recommended future research on male (victim) rape, since males also experience the many reactions that females experience (National Victim Center, 1991). In the light of the above recommendations, the study concluded that rape is a crime that not only needs to be prevented but once committed, the involvement of a number of individuals, groups and organizations is needed to resolve the consequences it generates. The research also concluded that the present study made valuable contribution to our understanding of the world of the sexual offenders and was a success despite a few limitations. The understanding of the personality dynamics of sexual offenders through interviews and psychological tests, has indeed formed the basis for the development of an effective integrated prevention program at all levels, i.e. primary (preventing incidence). secondary (preventing prevalence) and tertian' levels (rehabilitation).
National Research Foundation (NRF)

The study emerges against a global and local backdrop of longstanding oppression and stigmatization of gays and lesbians, due to their sexual orientation. Regardless of transformative policies in South Africa which declare equal acceptance, treatment and inclusion of gay and lesbian citizens, prejudice and unfair discrimination still exists. The study investigates the experiences of gays and lesbians living in the Inanda area of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa with the view to developing a greater understanding of their experiences and realities of ‘otherness’ and oppression. The conceptual model which frames the study is based on the generic model of social identity development and general model of oppression put forward by Hardiman and Jackson (1997), offering a useful lens through which to better identify oppression in the experiences and realities of gays and lesbians. The focus on understanding human experiences locates the study firmly within a qualitative research design. This focus also led to the selection of personal narratives as the strategy of inquiry, thereby allowing the researcher to enter worlds of experiences different from her own. Face- to- face, semi-structured interviews with eight participants (four gays and four lesbians, between the ages of twenty one and twenty five) comprised the method of data generation. The participants were selected as a result of a snowballing sample method. All live near each other in the Inanda area and are in regular social contact with each other. While research using a small sample of eight participants from the Inanda area cannot claim to be a comprehensive study into the experiences of gays and lesbians in all South African communities, these narratives reflect to a large degree, experiences of ‘otherness’ and oppression common to all gay and lesbian people.
M. Ed. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.

Minimal scientific research has been conducted regarding female sexual offenders within the South African context, despite its prevalence. This study explores behavioural and contextual characteristics of female sexual offenders to gain an understanding of the phenomenon. This qualitative study in the form of a systematic review, focuses on the findings of ten original international research articles published from 2002 to 2012 regarding the behavioural and contextual characteristics of female sexual offenders. The epistemological foundation of this study was postmodernism and social constructionism. Three main themes and various subthemes emerged from the data by applying the thematic content analysis. The aim of this study was to explore the similarities and differences between the findings of the research articles. Lacunas in the existing literature were explored in an attempt to extend scientific knowledge on female sexual offenders. Finally, recommendations for future scientific studies on female sexual offenders were discussed.
Psychology
M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Background: Cervical carcinoma is frequently diagnosis of young, sexually active women. Radical hysterectomy, as a basic therapeutic modality of early stages of cervical cancer, has very positive oncogynaecologic results. On the opposite site it has it's significant morbidity including bladder and rectal dysfunctions, lymphedemas, and deterioration in patient's sexual life. Methods: Data of forty one patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer were used for analysis, as well as data of forty nine patients undergoing simple hysterectomy for benign gynacologic disease and fifty three healthy controls Participants filled out sexual function and quality of life questionnaires before surgery and three and six months postoperatively. Results: The most important finding was statistically significant worsening in objective arousal in cervical cancer patients (p = 0,041). Also decrease in libido and higher frequency of dyspareunia was registered. Patients undergoing simple hysterectomy showed decreasing trend in sexual dysfunctions, mainly in severe dyspareunia. Conclusions: Radical hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma has a risk of arousal disorder, libido decrease and worsening of dyspareunia. Psychosexual counselling decreases frequency of early postoperative sexual dysfunctions.