Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Sexual attraction and sexual behaviour'

ABSTRACT Background: Sexual orientation is comprised of distinct components, including sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual behavior. Lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents are at an increased risk of experiencing poor health outcomes compared to non-sexual minority youth. Health care professional organizations recommend that health care providers discuss each component of sexual orientation at every adolescent health supervision visits in order to best assess the adolescent's health risks and needs for intervention and education. Objective: This survey assessed the frequency with which nurse practitioners (NPs) in the state of Vermont discussed sexual identity, attraction and behavior with adolescents during annual health supervision visits. Design: A cross sectional study that analyzed descriptive statistics of a small convenience sample of Vermont NPs. Setting and Participants: Attendees of the Vermont Nurse Practitioner Association 2015 annual conference. Participants in the study were licensed, practicing NPs in the state of Vermont responsible for the health supervision of adolescents. Results: Participants were overwhelmingly female (93%), with a median age between 40-49 years old, and a median length of years in practice of six to ten years. Sixty-two percent of respondents specialized in family practice. Respondents reported that they always asked adolescents about the sex of sexual partners at 49% of health supervision visits. Respondents always discussed sexual attraction and sexual identity at 31% and 24% of health supervision visits, respectively. Twenty percent of respondents reported rarely or never discussing sexual attraction, and 38% reported rarely or never discussing sexual identity. Conclusions: The Vermont NPs who participated in this survey were demographically similar to national NP cohorts. Vermont NPs discussed the adolescent's sexual behavior at health supervision visits as frequently as health care providers nationally, and Vermont NPs discussed sexual attraction and sexual identity more frequently than providers nationally. However, Vermont NPs discussed sexual attraction and identity much less frequently than they discussed sexual behavior. Results of this survey illustrate that there is substantial room for improvement regarding the frequency with which Vermont NPs discuss the three components of sexual orientation with adolescents, particularly the components of sexual identity and attraction.

The LOOK is an iPad-based application that measures sexual interest. It does this by recording the amount of time individuals take to view and rate the attractiveness of images of fully clothed people from differing age, gender, and racial demographics. Viewing-time measures, such as the LOOK, operate under the assumption that individuals view sexually attractive images longer than they view images that they deem unattractive or sexually non-preferred. Although there is research to show the efficacy of these kinds of tests, there is a lack of research supporting the assumption that viewing-time correlates strongly with reported ratings of sexual preferences. This study analyzed existing data from the LOOK to assess the nature of this correlation and how it varies across gender groups. The results of this analysis found that a moderately sized correlation did exist between time spent rating the image (Rate-time) and the subsequent rating of sexual attraction (Ratings) in most age and gender categories. However, for both men and women, these correlations were significantly weaker or were negative in target categories (those categories in which they rated the highest amount of sexual attraction). Additionally, cluster analysis indicated two clusters within both the male and female participant groups that had significantly different mean Rate-time, mean Ratings, and correlation coefficients. Given these results, the viewing-time theory that Rate-time is strongly associated with sexual attraction is questionable. A greater understanding of what viewing-time measures truly assess will require additional research.

Sexual orientation is a multi-dimensional construct, including sexual identity, attraction, and behavior. Adopting this multidimensional perspective, this thesis is structured in two manuscripts that investigate adolescent sexual orientation among a community sample of students from 14 high schools in Montréal, Québec. Study I examined sexual orientation and youth suicidality. Study II assessed factors related to concordance versus discordance of sexual identity, attraction and behavior. Students were surveyed anonymously. The survey included items assessing sexual orientation, health risk behaviors, suicidality, demographics, and social attitudes towards homosexuality. Multiple logistic regression models were used in both studies. Study I found that compared to youth with heterosexual identity, attraction and behavior, adolescents with GLB and “unsure” identities were at greater risk of suicidality. However, youth who reported same-sex attraction or behavior, but a heterosexual identity, were not at elevated risk. Study II found that compared with heterosexual-identified students, students with GLB identities were more likely to be older and to report that school homosexual attitudes were ridiculed, accepted, or appreciated versus tolerated or ignored. Overall, results highlighted the potential importance of social environment in sexual minority youth mental health outcomes and identity development.
L'orientation sexuelle est une construction mentale multidimensionnelle qui inclut l'identité sexuelle, l'attirance physique et le comportement sexuel. Cette thèse adopte la perspective multidimensionnelle et étudie l'orientation sexuelle chez un échantillon d'étudiants adolescents dans 14 écoles secondaires à Montréal, Québec. La thèse est divisée en deux manuscrits. La première étude examine l'orientation sexuelle et la suicidalité chez les jeunes. La deuxième étude examine les facteurs reliés à la concordance ou discordance de l'identité sexuelle, l'attirance physique et le comportement sexuel. Des étudiants étaient interrogés anonymement. Le questionnaire incluait des points qui évaluaient l'orientation sexuelle, les comportements de santé à risques, la suicidalité, les données démographiques et les attitudes sociales envers l'homosexualité. Les deux études ont utilisé des modèles de régression logistiques multiples. La première étude a trouvé que les jeunes avec une identité Gay-lesbienne-bisexuel(le)s (GLB) et « incertaines » étaient plus à risque pour la suicidalité comparer aux jeunes avec une identité, une attirance et un comportement hétérosexuel. Cependant, les jeunes qui ont mentionné avoir des attirances physiques ou des comportements sexuels avec le même sexe mais une identité hétérosexuelles n'étaient pas plus à risque. La deuxième étude a trouvé que, comparé aux étudiants avec une identité hétérosexuelle, les étudiants avec une identité GLB étaient plus vieux et plus porté à mentionné que l'attitude de leur école envers l'homosexualité était ridiculisé, accepté, ou apprécié au lieu de toléré ou ignoré. En tout, les résultats soulignent l'importance de l'environnement sociale pour la santé mentale et le développement de l'identité sexuelle chez les jeunes minorités sexuelles.

Sport psychology professionals (SPPs), like psychologists in general, may cross therapeutic boundaries (e.g., hug a client) and even become sexually attracted to their athlete-clients (ACs). I examined the prevalence of these issues, as well as SPPs' ethical training and use of supervision in relation to them. Participants were 181 SPPs; 92 (50.8%) reported being sexually attracted to one or more of their ACs. In regards to specific behaviors, approximately half (49.4%) reported discussing personal matters unrelated to their (n = 87), whereas far fewer had engaged in sexual behaviors with their ACs, such as discussing sexual matters unrelated to their work (n = 4), and caressing or intimately touching an AC (n = 1). No SPP reported kissing, dating, having sexual intercourse, or engaging in other sexual activities with their ACs. The three most common nonsexual boundary crossings were (a) consulting with an AC in public places (e.g., hotel lobby or practice field; 87.8%), (b) working with an AC at practice (86.2%), (c) working with an AC at a competition (75.0%). Interestingly, few SPPs sought supervision/consultation regarding the attraction, though 83.7% said they would do so if they were attracted in the future. I also examined differences across gender, mental health licensure, and years since graduation in relation to the outcome. Sexual attractions appear to exist between SPPs and their AC and should be discussed during training to normalize the experience and increase the likelihood of them discussing such attractions when they occur. Further, self-reflection and supervision are recommended approaches to managing such feelings and to minimize the chances of harming ACs.

This study examined the effect of sweat exposure on sexual attraction in heterosexual and homosexual women. Strictly heterosexual and homosexual female participants were exposed to underarm pads containing sweat. Samples were collected during the Stimulus Preparation Phase from healthy, strictly heterosexual men and women. Women’s samples were collected on Day-14 and Day-27 of cycle, and men’s from any two days.

In the Stimulus Exposure Phase, the male sweat and Day-14 female sweat samples were the experimental conditions, and the no male sweat and Day-27 female sweat were the controls. During the exposure phase, sweat samples were hidden and participants completed two computer tasks. First, the key-press task had participants view or skip male and female photographs. Second, the rating-task had participants rate attractiveness of the male and female photographs. The ratings and viewing times were collected then analyzed.

Heterosexual women showed a strong preference for male photos over female photos only when exposed to male sweat. They also preferred female photos less than homosexual women when exposed to male sweat or Day-14 female sweat. Homosexual women showed a strong preference for female photos over male photos when exposed to male or female Day-14 sweat.

Homosexual women also preferred female photos more than heterosexual women when exposed to male sweat or Day-14 female sweat.

The findings of this study suggest that exposure to male sweat may enhance heterosexual women’s preference for men and exposure to female sweat from the ovulatory period of the menstrual cycle may inhibit the preference for women of heterosexual women. However, exposure to male sweat and female sweat from the ovulatory period may enhance the preference for women in homosexual women.

Human asexuality is generally defined as a lack of sexual attraction. Various theories have been proposed to explain how asexuality should best be conceptualized, including that asexuality should be classified as a sexual orientation, that it is due to a mental health difficulty, that it is an extreme variant of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), or that some asexual individuals actually experience a paraphilia of some kind. This dissertation employed a series of Internet-based research studies to investigate these three topics: an examination into mental health correlates of asexuality, a comparison of asexual individuals with individuals who meet diagnostic criteria for HSDD, and an investigation into patterns of sexual fantasy among asexual individuals. By investigating these topics, I sought to test whether asexuality might be a psychopathology, sexual dysfunction, or a paraphilia, with the ultimate goal of testing my hypothesis that asexuality is, in fact, a unique sexual orientation. My findings suggested that asexuality may be associated with higher prevalence of mental health and interpersonal problems, including anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, psychoticism, and suicidality, but that it is not, itself, a mental disorder. I concluded that this may be in response to perceived stigma against their sexual orientation, which might lead to psychological symptoms, or that lack of sexual attraction may arise from an underlying difficulty such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Next, I found that asexuality is unique from the well-known sexual dysfunction HSDD. In my test of whether asexuality was a paraphilia, I found that asexual individuals were less likely to masturbate than sexual individuals, and that they were more likely to report never having had a sexual fantasy. Further, there was a large amount of unexpected overlap in the content of sexual fantasies between asexual and sexual participants. Together, these findings suggest that at least some asexual individuals may have a paraphilia. Overall, this dissertation highlights that no single theory can explain asexuality, and underscores the diversity among the asexual population. This dissertation leads to a number of new hypotheses about the nature of asexuality that will be the focus of future research.
Arts, Faculty of
Psychology, Department of
Graduate

This thesis presents two studies where natural and sexual selection have interacted to evolve sexual behaviours. The thesis uses mathematical modelling to understand how these forces have caused each behaviour to evolve. This is useful because the results allow for reflection on the potential role of sexual selection in adaptation of these species to a changing environment. The first study is of early male arrival to spring breeding grounds in migratory avian species, this is termed protandry. The study explores the main hypotheses for avian protandry and then tests the susceptibility of each hypothesis to changing environment. The second study is of convenience polyandry in species where there is conflict over mating rate. Females have multiple strategies to avoid harassive males but strategies vary in cost and success rate; she must balance her strategy use to minimise her fitness depreciation. The study identifies the main factors that cause convenience polyandry to evolve and paves the way for future studies to investigate if sexual selection over resistance strategy provides these species a future advantage in adaptation to a changing environment.

Research has demonstrated that for a significant minority of men, exposure to sexually violent media results in a series of changes. These men are more likely to be sexually aroused by sexually violent stimuli, and also believe in certain rape myths and admit a greater likelihood to sexual aggression. The construct Attraction to Sexual Aggression, which comprises the affective, cognitive and behavioral responses to sexually aggressive media, has been proposed by Malamuth (1989a, 1989b). The Attraction to Sexual Aggression Scale has been developed as a dependent measure of the construct. A study by Malamuth and Check (1983) proposed that lack of pleasurable physically affectionate experiences with women may contribute to sexual aggression. This proposal reflects the theory put forward by Prescott (1977), who hypothesized that lack of physical affection at critical stages of development results in a greater propensity towards aggressive behavior. The current study is an initial investigation into attraction to sexual aggression and physical affection experiences.

South African organisations face increasing diversification of the workforce, with the concomitant benefits and potential challenges thereof. Along with the traditional approaches towards the management of diversity, less conventional areas have yet to be explored within the South African context. One such area is that of sexual attraction in the workplace. With the growing need for organisations to become employers of choice, to create organisational competitive advantage and optimally leverage their human capital it is becoming evident that acknowledgment of innate humanity is essential. The question under exploration was to determine what the perceptions surrounding the prevalence and effects of sexual attraction in the South African workplace are. Employees are human beings, human beings are essentially sexual in nature and therefore it can be said that sexuality and all its composite elements are present in and acting upon organisations. The researcher focused exclusively on self-reported perceptions and experiences surrounding this phenomenon in the workplace, including its perceived effects on productivity; communication; job performance; job involvement; job satisfaction, stress; sexual harassment; morale; the individual and the workgroup. In addition the perceived roles of management in regulating sexual attraction as well as potential perceived motives underlying its initiation in organisations were also explored. The research explored and described differences with regards to these areas of organisational life in respect of age groups; gender; marital status; relationship status; experience of sexual attraction; awareness of sexual attraction and workplace rendezvous experiences. A self-administered questionnaire was designed specifically for the study by the researcher and was used to gain feedback from 155 respondents in numerous fields and organisations through a mixed methods sampling technique. Analysis of data was statistical in nature, including detailed descriptive or frequency distributions; correlations and inferential statistics. The research yielded substantial results with regards to perceptions of sexual attraction in the South African workplace, with numerous implications for management and Human Resource practitioners abounding. Sexual attraction in the workplace is perceived to be a prevalent organisational condition amongst respondents with findings revealing that it is viewed as inevitability in the workplace. Personal experience of sexual attraction was alluded to by the majority of respondents. In addition, various organisational factors, such as proximity, similarity and ongoing work requirements were confirmed as having a perceived influence on the prevalence of sexual attraction amongst co-workers. This linked with findings and existing research with regards to aspects of diversity in the workplace, particularly similarity of moral values. In line with the body of literature, elements underlying sexual attraction were divergent, indicating that attraction is individual specific. Younger respondents indicated that they found physical elements of their co-workers attractive, which was less the case for the older respondent group. When evaluating findings on the perceived effects of sexual attraction in the workplace it was evident that respondents felt that sexual attraction had a slight positive effect on productivity. Significant differences were observed between age groups as well as personal experience of sexual attraction on this construct. Interestingly, sexual attraction was perceived to have a positive effect on job involvement by respondents, with differences observed due to age groups and amongst individuals whom had been previously sexually attracted to a colleague and those whom had not. Gender differences were also observed herein, with females having higher perceived positive effects on job involvement. Job satisfaction was perceived to be positively affected by sexual attraction in the workplace by respondents. Significant differences between age groups as well as with regards to marital statuses and relationship statuses were also found with regards to this construct. Mixed perceptions existed around the influence of sexual attraction on the experience of stress, with a respondents age group found to have an influence thereon. In addition thereto, a respondent’s marital status also made a difference in this regard. Generally the findings concurred with the available literature on the topic. Moreover, the general affects of sexual attraction on the individual involved in this workplace dynamic were fairly positively perceived by respondents. This finding was evidenced to be influenced to some extent by respondents’ experience of prior sexual attraction to a colleague; age; relationship status and marital status. The latter was found to have the largest influence in this regard. Sexual attraction was perceived by respondents to have a negative effect on communication and job performance. The perception of the latter was found to be significantly different between individuals whom had been aware of sexual attraction in the workplace and those whom had not indicated that this was the case; as well as with respondents whom reported prior sexual attraction to a colleague having higher perceived positive influences thereof on job performance. Age was also found to be an influential factor on perceptions surrounding job performance. Morale was found to be slightly negatively affected due to sexual attraction according to reported perceptions of respondents. The majority of respondents were inclined to feel that sexual harassment is an important organisational issue, yet the effects of sexual attraction thereupon may not be as negative as one might have thought. Prior sexual attraction to a colleague was found to have an influence on respondent perceptions of sexual harassment, as did the length of marriage for married respondents. Most respondents perceived sexual attraction to have more of a negative effect on the workgroup surrounding the sexually attracted individuals. Influencing variables in this regard were respondent age and marital status. In addition, motives underlying sexual attraction were negatively perceived by respondents. Marital status was found to have an influence on respondent perceptions of sexual attraction motives. Findings revealed that respondents in general felt that management has some form of role to play in the regulation of this workplace dynamic. However, the vast majority of respondents felt that it was the responsibility of the individual employee to manage their own sexual attraction in the workplace. Differences in this perception were found between males and females; age groups as well as the length of marriages of married respondents. The research established that sexual attraction is a prevalent condition in South African organisations. Moreover, substantial effects of sexual attraction were reported on various important areas of organisational functioning. Copyright 2009, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Mortimer, C 2009, An exploratory study on the perceived prevalence and effect of sexual attraction in the South African workplace, MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02162012-103105 / > C12/4/203/gm
Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2009.
Human Resource Management
unrestricted

This thesis investigates young people's understandings and experiences of 'good sex' and sexual pleasure, documenting the resources young people use to make sense of these meanings in the context of their everyday lives and relationships. The study uses a situated approach to explore the methodological possibilities for researching sexual pleasure with a diverse group of young people in one urban location and to examine the ways in which pleasure is embedded, mediated and gendered in young people's sexual cultures. The research is used to contribute to debates about the inclusion of pleasure in sexual health services for young people and make suggestions for future research/practice. Drawing on data from survey, focus group and interview methods the thesis documents the diversity of young people's understandings of 'good sex' and sexual pleasure, suggesting that young people have access to a range of competing discursive and affective frameworks for making distinctions between what counts as 'good' and 'bad' sex. Analyses suggest that sexual meanings and values are contested and contingent on young people's shifting sex and relationship experiences and social locations. Timeliness and reciprocity emerged as key contested areas, shaped by enduring gender arrangements and participants' evolving sexual biographies. The thesis provides a reflexive account of the practice of researching sexual pleasure with young people, reporting on each method to argue that the findings are situated, shaped by interactive and material context. The research documents the benefits of using critical feminist reflexivity to interrogate how researcher/practitioners can create safe spaces for engaging young people in work around sexual pleasure and concludes that possibilities for realising the 'pleasure project' in practice will depend on local, institutional and political context.

This thesis has explored the sexual offence crime investigation and risk management domains' from two interacting perspectives. It considered both the role and behaviour of the offender and the role and decision making of the investigator. The common theme was how can policing create a more balanced view of risk using evidenced based decisions. From a data set of 154 serial sexual offenders three questions were asked: what are the pathways of offending?' Do sexual offenders escalate? Do they specialise? Four pathways were derived as escalation, oscillation, maintenance and de-escalation; escalation was found in 13% of the offenders. The second part of the thesis then tested the decisions investigators made in a serial sexual offence scenario with an added stressor of time pressure. The results suggested that investigators did not make bad decision but omitted to make some important decisions. Furthermore, experience and intelligence acted as moderators of time pressure. The next part of the thesis considered a contemporary policing issue in terms of sexual offenders and resource decisions. What is the likelihood of an offender possessing indecent images of children (HOC) being a contact child sexual offender. The chapter compared a group of child sexual offenders who possessed HOC and a group of non-contact HOC possessing offenders. Contact and non-contact offenders could be discriminated by criminal convictions, access to children and the severity level of HOC possessed. More sadistic contact offenders possessed higher levels of HOC. The applications to policing knowledge bases were outlined. The findings were considered in terms of the contributions to psychological and criminological literature with two new models of decision making and sexual offending presented.

the motivation of this study is to assess the high risk behaviors that contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS among the youth. The most influential high risk behaviours that contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS are unprotected sexual intercourse and having more than one sexual partner.The population for this study includes all full time first year students who registered for the first time in 2006 that attended the orientation week. A stratified, sequential random sample was drawn from the students attending the orientation.

To date, only one national study has examined patterns of adult sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in New Zealand in the hope of improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes for all New Zealanders. This study was performed nearly two decades ago. The aim of this study is to explore current patterns of sexual health and wellbeing among a sample of adults from the Christchurch metropolitan area. Seven hundred and sixty seven participants were selected from the General and Maori electoral registers and invited to participate in an Internet-based self-administered anonymous survey. Data was collected on sexual health, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour and compared to five previous national studies in adult sexual health and wellbeing. Twenty-five men and 17 women responded to the survey. Overall, sexual health and wellbeing behaviours reported in this study are higher than those found in the five comparative studies. However, it is not clear whether this finding is an accurate reflection of the current sexual and reproductive health status of the sample population or whether participation bias has overestimated the rate of behaviours in question. In conclusion, the results from this study provide sufficient motive to continue on researching a possible shift in patterns of adult sexual health and behaviour over the last two decades in New Zealand.

Previous research on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has identified common physical and behavioural characteristics associated with children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol. The research suggests that many individuals with FASD have experienced involvement with the law, and engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour. However, there would appear to be a scarcity of research that identifies the life histories of individuals with FASD who have engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour. Identifying risk and protective factors towards positive outcomes for people with FASD has both individual and societal importance. In order to better understand individuals with FASD, this research paper explores the common characteristics of FASD which may lead to inappropriate sexual behaviour, such as deficits in social skills, self-regulation, and executive functioning. Another important characteristic that is explored in the research paper is how FASD can present as an invisible disability, and the risk associated with treatment of individuals who may not be identified as having organic brain damage, specifically in the criminal justice system. As the research on FASD is limited, this paper also explores the characteristics associated with the general population of people who have engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour, and people with disabilities who have displayed challenging sexual behaviour. The comparison of populations of people engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour highlights the importance of the responsivity of interventions. Despite the diagnostic label of “paraphilia” attributed to those who have been convicted of sexual crimes, each individual is a complex being. Responsivity indicates each individual must be holistically understood in order to design services that encourage individual change.

The introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has caused some parents to report concern that their daughters may change their sexual behaviour following vaccination. This concern consistently relates to vaccination acceptance, but had not been investigated in detail. Accordingly, five studies addressed the thesis objective: to explore parents’ concern about adolescent sexual behaviour following HPV vaccination in the context of the UK immunisation programme and to examine whether such concerns were justifiable. The first study examined discussions of risky sexual behaviour and HPV vaccination in news articles published over five years in British newspapers. The second study investigated mothers’ concern about their daughters engaging in risky sexual behaviour after vaccination by questioning a sample of mothers. The third study explored whether adolescents would interpret vaccination consent from parents as carte blanche approval for sexual activity, by surveying 162 girls. The fourth study prospectively investigated the impact of HPV vaccination and a fifth study compared differences between vaccinated girls and girls who had not been offered the vaccine. Concern about the impact of HPV vaccination on sexual behaviour was raised and countered in the media. A minority of mothers were apprehensive about girls’ sexual behaviour following vaccination, however these concerns did not relate to vaccine acceptance. Before the vaccination programme was introduced, some adolescents would infer implicit consent to sexual activity if their parents were to consent to vaccination but most would also take positive messages. Once the HPV immunisation programme was underway, girls’ sexual behaviour did not become more negative following vaccination, despite perceptions of risk lowering. Parents’ concerns may have resulted in reluctance to discuss sex with their daughters in the context of HPV vaccination so that implicit messages of approval for sexual activity are not conveyed. Risk perceptions were pertinent in HPV vaccination acceptability and when exploring behaviour change. These findings may help reduce resistance to HPV vaccination. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Background: Sexual behaviour among schoolchildren and adolescents is a sparsely researched area and there are delicate methodological obstacles and ethical concerns when conducting such research. Still it is a subject that engages both parents and professionals. A sexualized behaviour or an early sexual debut (younger than 14 years) can be a sign of sexual abuse. It is therefore of importance to describe what is common and what is uncommon sexual behaviour among children and what the consequences of an early or a late sexual debut may be for the individual upon reaching late adolescence. Adolescents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) are also a group that needs further attention and research since they are often described as having a lower quality of life and more often experience child abuse than heterosexual teens. Aims: The research leading to this thesis had four goals: 1) to elucidate the sexual behaviour of children between the ages of 7 and 13 as observed by their parents, 2) to investigate the relationship between an early sexual debut (before 14 years of age) and socio-demographic data, sexual experience, health, experience of child abuse and behaviour at 18-years-of-age, 3) to explore associations with no sexual debut (no oral, vaginal or anal sex) at the age of 18, and 4) to describe the relationship between sexual identification and socio-demographic background data, sexual behaviour, health and health behaviour, experiences of child sexual and/or physical abuse and present behaviour among Swedish adolescents. Methods: The parents of 418 children answered questionnaires about their child’s behaviour, both general and sexual, and a sample of 3432 Swedish high school students completed a survey about sexuality, health and abuse at the age of 18. In addition, 362 members of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) completed the same survey at a mean age of 21.4 years. Results: Most of the sexual behaviours among the schoolchildren were common, and in part related to, or varied with, age and gender. A small number of sexual behaviours often referred to as sexualised or problematic behaviours (for example, kissing adults with the tongue, imitating intercourse, masturbating in public, and touching other children’s genitals with the mouth) were found to be very unusual or not reported by any parent in this normative group of Swedish children. Among the adolescents, an early debut (younger than 14 years of age) correlated positively with number of partners, experience of oral and anal sex, smoking, drug and alcohol use and antisocial behaviour, such as being violent, lying, stealing and running away from home. Girls with an early sexual debut had significantly more experience of sexual abuse while boys with an early sexual debut were more likely to have a weak sense of coherence, low self-esteem and poor mental health, together with experience of sexual abuse, selling sex and physical abuse. A multiple logistic regression model showed that a number of antisocial acts and health behaviours remained significant, but early sexual debut did not increase the risk of psychiatric symptoms, low self-esteem or low sense of coherence at 18-years-of-age. Just under a quarter (24.6%) of the 3,380 adolescents had not had their sexual debut (no oral, anal or vaginal sex by the age of 18). There was a positive correlation between not debuting sexually at age 18 and a number of factors such as: being more likely to have caring fathers; parents born outside Europe; low sexual desire; lower pornography consumption; lower alcohol and tobacco consumption; less antisocial behavior and fewer experiences of sexual abuse than 18 year olds who had already made their sexua  debut. Adolescents with a minority sexual identity more often described their relationship with their parents as based on low care and high overprotection than did their heterosexual peers. The minority adolescents used alcohol and drugs to a significantly higher degree than the heterosexual adolescents. Multivariate analysis showed a positive correlation between a minority sexual identity and experience of anal sex, higher sexual lust, experience of sexual abuse, physical abuse and sexual exploitation. It was more than twice as common to have experience of penetrating sexual abuse and physical abuse with a sexual minority identity. Conclusions: Behaviours usually referred to as sexualised and problematic are uncommon among children at 7-13 years of age. Professionals and should give a child showing a sexualised behaviour special attention and investigate the reasons for the behaviour. Early sexual debut seems to be associated with problematic behaviours during later adolescence, indicating the fact that the early debut for some children is associated with an increased vulnerability, which has to be addressed. Family socio-demographics such as family stability and/or cultural status matter when it comes to time of sexual debut. Personality also seems to matter and further studies are needed to investigate if there is any correlation between personality traits and late sexual debut. Adolescents with no sexual debut at 18 years of age reported fewer antisocial acts, were less likely to smoke and drink alcohol, had less sexual desire and less experience of sexual abuse. Young people with a sexual minority identity (homo- and bisexual) could be seen to have a lower quality of life compared to heterosexual peers and studies need to be done to further explore possible reasons. They have a higher risk of having experience of sexual and physical abuse compared to heterosexual adolescents. Professionals need to be more aware of this group’s additional vulnerability including the increased risk of child abuse and offer different forms of support.
Barns och ungdomars sexuella beteenden är ett område som engagerar både föräldrar och professionella men det är ett förhållandevis outforskat område. Kanske mycket på grund av att det är ett tabubelagt område och att finns en hel del metodologiska hinder och etiska betänkligheter vid sådan forskning. Ett sexualiserat beteende kan vara tecken på sexuella övergrepp och det är därför viktigt att beskriva vad som är vanligt förekommande och förväntade sexuella beteenden hos barn och unga tillika vilka beteenden som är ovanliga och som kanske behöver utredas vidare. En tidig sexuell debut (debut före 14 års ålder) kan ses som ett riskbeteende i sig men även ett beteende kopplat till andra riskbeteenden som alkoholkonsumtion eller antisociala beteenden. Att vänta med den sexuella debuten beskrivs ibland som något önskvärt men det är inte särskilt väl utforskat. Därför är det viktigt att ta reda på vilka konsekvenser en tidig eller sen sexuell debut får för individen och vilka andra beteenden som är kopplade till en tidig eller sen sexuell debut. Ett annat viktigt område när det gäller ungdomar och sexualitet är sexuell identitet och dess konsekvenser. Ungdomar med en sexuell identitet som homo-, bisexuell eller transperson (HBT) beskrivs i tidigare forskning ofta uppleva en lägre livskvalitet samt oftare ha erfarenhet av barnmisshandel än jämnåriga med heterosexual identitet. Studierna i denna avhandling hade fyra huvudsyften: 1), att undersöka sexuella beteenden hos barn i åldrarna 7 till 13 år 2,) att undersöka sambanden mellan en tidig sexuell debut (yngre än 14 år) och sociodemografi, sexuella erfarenheter, hälsa, erfarenhet av barnmisshandel och beteende vid 18 års ålder 3), sen sexuell debut (ingen frivillig erfarenhet av oral-, vaginaleller analsex vid 18 års ålder) och sociodemografi, sexuella erfarenheter, hälsa, erfarenhet av barnmisshandel och beteende vid 18 års ålder samt 4), att beskriva relationen mellan sexuell identitet och sociodemografi, sexuellt beteende, hälsa, erfarenheter av barnmisshandel och nuvarande beteenden hos svenska 18-åringar. Föräldrarna till 418 barn i åldern 7 till 13 år svarade på en enkät angående deras barns generella och sexuella beteenden. För att undersöka ungdomars sexuella beteenden, debut och identitet genomfördes en undersökning bland 3432 svenska gymnasieelever i 18-års ålder. Dessutom svarade 362 medlemmar i Svenska Förbundet för homosexuellas, bisexuellas och transpersoners rättigheter (RFSL), med en medelåder på 21.4 år, på samma enkät. Det visade sig att många sexuella beteenden bland 7 till 13-åringarna var vanligt förekommande och att de varierade i frekvens med ålder och kön. Problematiska eller oroväckande sexuella beteenden (som till exempel att kyssa vuxna med tungan, imitera samlag, onanera inför andra, röra andras könsorgan med munnen och så vidare) rapporterades inte av några föräldrar eller var mycket ovanliga. En tidig sexuell debut (yngre än 14 år) korrelerade positivt med högre antal sex partner, erfarenhet av oral- och analsex, rökning, drog- och alkoholanvändning och antisocialt beteende, såsom våldsbenägenhet, att ljuga, stjäla och sova borta utan att föräldrarna vet om det. Flickor med en tidig sexuell debut hade större erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp än flickor med senare debut. Pojkar med en tidig sexuell debut hade oftare en svag känsla av sammanhang, låg självkänsla, psykisk ohälsa, erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp, att sälja sex eller fysisk misshandel jämfört med pojkar med en senare debut. Knappt en fjärdedel (24,6%) av de 3380 ungdomarna hade inte haft frivillig sexuell debut (oral-, anal- eller vaginalsex) vid 18 års ålder. Ungdomar med sen sexuell debut hade oftare en pappa-barn relation som byggde på en hög grad av omsorg. De hade oftare föräldrar födda utanför Europa, låg sexuell lust, låg pornografikonsumtion, låg alkohol- och tobakskonsumtion, få antisociala beteenden och mer sällan erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp än 18-åringar som redan debuterat sexuellt. Ungdomarna med sexuell identitet som homo- eller bisexuella hade oftare en föräldra-barn relation som byggde på låg omsorg och hög kontroll än sina heterosexuella kamrater. De homo-och bisexuella ungdomarna använde också mer alkohol och droger jämfört med de heterosexuella ungdomarna. Multivariat analys visade ett positivt samband mellan homo- och bisexualitet och erfarenhet av analsex, sexuell lust, erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp, misshandel och erfarenhet att sälja sex. Det var mer än dubbelt så vanligt att ha erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp och fysisk misshandel hos de med en sexuell minoritets identitet. En av slutsatserna blev att översexualiserade eller problematiska sexuella beteenden är sällsynta hos barn i 7-13 års ålder. Det är viktig kunskap för professionella som arbetar med barn och som ofta får frågor kring barns olika beteenden och måste avgöra om det är förväntade och vanligt förekommande beteenden eller beteenden som ska leda till någon form av utredning, Om ett barn visar ett översexualiserat eller annorlunda sexuellt beteende ska det observeras och undersökas vidare av professionella med kunskap om barn och dess utveckling. Tidig sexuell debut verkar vara förknippad med andra problematiska beteenden under senare tonåren. Detta kan också tyda på att den tidiga debuten för vissa barn är associerat med en ökad sårbarhet, som också måste identifieras och tillgodoses av olika yrkeskategorier som arbetar med barn och ungdomar. Det finns olika anledningar till varför vissa ungdomar inte haft sexuell debut vid 18 års ålder. Faktorer som familjestabilitet och kulturell bakgrund spelade roll. Ungdomar med sen sexuell debut rapporterade färre antisociala handlingar, var mindre benägna att röka och dricka alkohol, hade mindre sexuell lust och mindre erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp. Ytterligare studier behövs för att undersöka om det finns något samband mellan personlighetsdrag och sen sexuell debut. Ungdomar med en sexuell identitet som homo- eller bisexuell skulle kunna anses ha en lägre livskvalitet jämfört med heterosexuella kamrater men ytterligare studier måste göras för att ytterligare utforska möjliga orsaker. Det visade sig vara mycket vanligare med erfarenhet av såväl fysisk misshandel som sexuella övergrepp bland dessa ungdomar. Vuxna och framför allt professionella behöver bli mer medvetna om denna grupps sårbarhet, den ökade risken för erfarenhet av barnmisshandel och kunna erbjuda olika former av stöd.

This thesis is based in two parallel strands of research. The first is an exploration of the theoretical distinctions between two competing paradigms dominant in sexual health research: social cognition models and discourse theory. The second is an exploration of the practical use of a discourse theoretical approach to research accounts from people in the forty-something' age bracket about their experience of developing new sexually intimate relationships. Some developments in connectionist theory are used to explore some possible distinctions between implicit and explicit knowledge. These distinctions are then used to explore the scope of the two paradigms and, drawing on findings from the practical research, to discuss some implications for sexual health research and intervention.

[Truncated abstract]Judgements of physical attractiveness are thought to reflect evolved preferences for a high quality mate. The central aim of this thesis was to investigate the hypothesis that female preferences are adaptations for finding good quality mates and that faces and bodies signal honest information about mate quality. To date, most human mate preference studies have examined face or body attractiveness alone, and many have created stimuli using computer graphic techniques. Throughout these studies, I endeavoured to maximise the biological relevance of my studies by incorporating both face and body attractiveness, and using photographs of individual participants. Most research on attractiveness has focused on faces or bodies separately, while our preferences have evolved based on both seen together. A fundamental requirement of studying face and body attractiveness independently is that there is no interaction between the two. My first study confirmed that the face and body did not interact when an overall attractiveness judgment was made. I also investigated the independent contributions of rated attractiveness of the face and the body to ratings of overall attractiveness. Face and body attractiveness each made significant independent contributions to overall attractiveness in males and females. For both sexes, facial attractiveness predicted overall attractiveness more strongly than did body attractiveness, and this difference was significant in males. ... This study indicates that although current levels of T covary with male mating success, this effect may not be mediated by women's preferences for visual cues to T levels conveyed in static face or body features. The fourth study in this thesis investigated the phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis, which proposes that females obtain reliable information on male fertility from male expression of sexual traits. A previous study of Spanish men reported that facial attractiveness was positively associated with semen quality. I aimed to determine whether this effect was widespread by examining a large sample of Australian men. I also extended my study to determine whether cues to semen quality are provided by components of attractiveness: masculinity, averageness, and symmetry. I found no significant correlations between semen quality parameters and attractiveness or attractive traits. While male physical attractiveness may signal aspects of mate quality, my results suggest that phenotype-linked cues to male fertility may not be generalised across human populations. Together, these studies challenge current methodologies and theories of preferences for secondary sexual traits as honest signals of mate quality. The findings show that it is important to study human mate preferences in biologically relevant contexts, for example by using photographs of both faces and bodies, to maximise the real life application of results. In addition, the findings suggest that male attractiveness does not signal cues to testosterone or semen quality, although testosterone is associated with mating success. The implications of these findings and possible avenues for future research are discussed.

The present research endeavors to predict prospectively sexually aggressive behaviours among heterosexual university males, while manipulating attitudes and emotions conducive to such behaviour. In both studies described below, questionnaires were used to assess risk for sexual aggression. For the first study (n = 65), participants were assigned to conditions: (1) insult/non-sexually coercive fantasy material; (2) no insult/sexually coercive fantasy material; and, (3) insult/sexually coercive fantasy material. Those deemed high risk for sexual coercion were more easily frustrated than the low group, especially when exposed to Condition 3. Changes in negative affect predicted likelihood of engaging in sexual aggression for the low but not the high risk group and anticipated enjoyment of sexual coercion in the high but not the low group. Controlling for degree of acculturation eliminated any differences between Chinese and Caucasian males. The results suggest that the appeal of sexually aggressive thoughts/fantasies is largely influenced by emotional reactivity in response to environmental stimuli. In the second study (n = 142), participants were assigned to conditions involving either an innocuous or a sexually aggressive cognitive priming task. Regardless of condition, high risk males were more likely to engage in sexual aggression in the laboratory than those deemed low risk. When the effects of discomfort were controlled, a significant interaction between risk and condition on sexual aggression was observed. While engaging in significantly less sexual aggression than the high group when assigned to the innocuous cognitive priming task, the low risk group assigned to the sexually aggressive cognitive priming task was indistinguishable from the high group. Chinese men were significantly more likely than Caucasian men to be deemed high risk and yet, this did not result in differential rates of sexual aggression in the laboratory. Discomfort in response to the sexually aggressive cognitive priming task did, however, result in Chinese men engaging in more sexual aggression than those assigned to the innocuous task. These findings suggest that even those not previously inclined towards sexual aggression can do so under opportunistic circumstances, following an increase in discomfort associated with exposure to and involvement with sexually coercive material.

The aim of this research was to examine an individual's stage of change (SOC) for positive sexual health behaviours, (i.e. using condoms and seeking screening for sexually transmitted infections-STIs) and level of state anxiety at different times during attendance at a sexual health clinic (before examination, after treatment and at 6 week follow up). The study investigated whether there is a relationship between level of anxiety and SOC for positive sexual health behaviours depending on whether a patient is asymptomatic or not. Furthermore the research aimed to find out if level of anxiety and SOC for positive sexual health behaviours predict whether patients return back to the clinic. The study involved a repeated measures longitudinal design. Participants were asked to complete a sexual health questionnaire, which examined components of the Transtheoretical Model of behaviour change and level of state anxiety at three different phases of the study. There was no relationship between SOC for condom use and patients who were asymptomatic and those who were not. There was a relationship found with STI screening; asymptomatic patients were more likely to be in the earlier SOC and symptomatic patients were more likely to be in the later SOC. There was no difference in levels of anxiety between patients who were asymptomatic and those who were not. Level of anxiety was not a predictor for SOC for positive sexual health behaviours at initial attendance. Finally, SOC for positive sexual health behaviour and anxiety did not predict whether a patient would return to the clinic.

This thesis investigates the underlying factors behind sexual risk-taking and non-risk-taking behavior with regard to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) among adolescents in Lusaka, Zambia. The Qualitative Approach was used for data collection and analysis and using the theory of Social Construction, the author explains how different contexts and aspects in the Zambian Society, that is Traditional, Socio-economic, Political, etc., influence the sexuality or sexual behavior of young people in Zambia. Hermeneutics was used to interpret the meanings in the texts/transcripts acquired through data collection and from the author’s knowledge and understanding of the Zambian historical and cultural contexts within which the participants of the research were constructed. Max Weber’s Ideal Type concept was also used to explain that each young individual’s sexual behavior is uniquely constructed by societal aspects. It explains how that the discourses of these different aspects of society impact on young people individually causing them to be either Sexually Risk-taking or Non Sexually Risk-taking. Either tendency depends on whether the societal aspect that has most the dominating influence on a given individual's life is a Power factor (causing them to rationally think their way into Non Sexually Risk-taking behavior) or a Risk factor(causing them to rationally think their way into Sexually Risk-taking behavior). The author of this thesis introduces a new Model for Social Construction of Adolescent Sexuality with regard to Risk-taking. She uses it to explain how it is either power factors or risk factors that can have a greater impact on an individual's thinking, causing them to have either sexual risk-taking or non-sexual risk-taking behavior. The author concludes that the extent to which unsafe sex among the Zambian adolescents constitutes a product of interacting and/or main discourses in relation to mainly Traditional aspect risk factors, varies from person to person depending on the strength of given risk factors over any power factors that may be at play in an individual's life.

Parmi les modes de communication les plus exploités chez les insectes, la communication chimique figure en bonne place. D’ailleurs, la recherche moderne consacrée aux signaux chimiques émis et perçus par les individus d’une même espèce n’a de cesse de se développer depuis plus de 50 ans. A travers ce travail de thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à ces phéromones associées au comportement sexuel de Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera :Chrysomelidae). Nous avons menés, dans ce cadre, plusieurs bioessais comportementaux liés pour la plupart à des analyses chimiques par chromatographie gazeuse couplée à une spectrométrie de masse (GC-MS).

La fonction la plus évidente de la phéromone sexuelle de G. viridula est l’induction du comportement sexuel mâle. Cet « aphrodisiaque », probablement constitué de plusieurs composés cuticulaires (des alcanes méthylés lourds), est émis par la femelle et déclenche par contact la sortie de l’édéage des mâles. Etonnamment, ces composés se retrouvent aussi chez les mâles de G. viridula dont le comportement sexuel est alors induit au contact de composés cuticulaires mâles. Ceci constituerait la cause proximale des comportements homosexuels observés chez les mâles de G. viridula. Nous avons ensuite étudié le rôle des composés cuticulaires dans l’isolement sexuel entre G. viridula et G. cyanea. Le comportement sexuel des mâles des deux espèces est en effet induit préférentiellement par les femelles conspécifiques. Pour G. viridula, cette préférence est visiblement attribuable aux composés cuticulaires. Enfin, les signaux chimiques sont parfois indicateurs du degré de compétition spermatique rencontré par un mâle et permettent à celui-ci d’ajuster la quantité de spermatozoïdes transmis à une femelle. Avant d’étudier l’implication de tels signaux chez G. viridula, nous avons souhaité mettre en évidence un ajustement de la quantité de spermatozoïdes transmis par des mâles soumis à divers degrés de compétition spermatique. Nos résultats ne nous permettent malheureusement pas de signaler un tel effet.

Doctorat en Sciences
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

From an adaptive perspective human memory ought to be strategically attuned towards information deemed to be of value according to nature's criterion; i.e. that which promotes individual survival and reproduction. The experiments in this thesis represent an interdisciplinary venture to merge cognitive psychology with social perception research in order to study how sociosexual pressures may have shaped women's episodic memory systems. A vast literature has validated sexual dimorphism as a cue by which women comparatively judge the value of potential mates in terms of their perceived biological and behavioural characteristics (e.g. heightened sexual dimorphism in men correlates with positive biological attributes but also negative behavioural traits). The first 5 experiments extend this work by focusing on the functional contribution women's episodic memory systems may play in constraining generalisations. Experiments 1 and 2 reveal a mnemonic bias in women's memory for contents of encounters with men who have (attractive) masculinised low vs. (less attractive) feminised high pitch. Experiment 3 finds a similar memory benefit for information associated either with masculinised or feminised men's faces, depending on whether women prefer masculinised or feminised characteristics in men. Data from Experiments 6 and 7 reveal further evidence of sociosexual adaptation in women's episodic memory. Memory appears to be biased towards remembering the location of women with feminised (highly attractive) facial features, i.e. high-value competitors for potential mates. While no sociosexual bias was found in women's location memory for attractive male faces, a sociosexual bias was present in women's location memory for men with attractive, low-pitch voices. Considered along with other recent adaptive memory research, the data in this thesis further erode the idea of episodic memory as a general purpose mechanism.

This qualitative study comprised ten focus groups and 31 individual in-depth interviews conducted by same sex researchers with young people. Participants were selected purposively from major urban and rural districts of Kathmandu and Chitwan districts of Nepal. Most Focus participants were aged 18-22. This PhD found that many young people in Nepal face a range of socio-economic, psychological, sexual and reproductive health-related problems and these problems are created particularly due to less opportunity for sex, entertainment, curiosity, communication gap and poor sex education. Although dating practice is a relatively new phenomenon in Nepalese society, surprisingly, it has gained popularity among its young people. There is a huge influence of globalisation and modernisation on young people’s sex and relationships. Partnership formation, romantic relationships and dating practice among young people were found to lead to some form of sexual intimacy. Young people’s priority towards sexual pleasure has often discouraged them from using condoms and other sexual and reproductive health services. This PhD suggests that there is a need to disseminate more information on the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, targeting young people. In order to effect real improvements in young people’s sexual health, more attention needs to be given to rigorous research and appropriate interventions. Being a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society, Nepal’s different cultures and ethnic groups have their own norms and values around sexuality. Hence, these findings may not be easily transferable to other population groups.

In economic games the facial attributes of counterparts bias decisions to trust and decisions to enter play. We report research supporting hypotheses that trust and reciprocation decisions in trust games are biased by mechanisms of sexual selection. Hypotheses that trust game behaviour is modulated by inter-sexual competition were supported. 1) Attractive individuals elicit more cooperation. 2) Male participants display trust and reciprocation toward attractive female counterparts in excess of perceived trustworthiness (and this display is modulated by male self-reported physical dominance). 3) Female participants appear to respond to male trust as a signal of sexual interest and are therefore more likely to exploit the trust of attractive males. 4) In explicitly dating contexts females are more likely to prefer attractive males to pay for the meal. These results indicate that participants are biased by mate choice and mating display considerations while playing economic games in the lab. Hypotheses that trust game behaviour is modulated by intra-sexual competition for resources were also somewhat supported. 1) Male participants reporting an ability to win fights with same-sex peers are more exploitative of other males. 2) Cues to current circulating testosterone level in counterpart’s faces are less trusted but elicit more reciprocation. 3) The male sexually dimorphic trait facial width-to-height ratio (a trait which is related to both aggression and dominance) is related to an increased proportion of decisions to exploit others in the trust game while also being used by others as a cue to untrustworthiness. We conclude that trusting and trustworthy behaviour in both sexes is biased by mating market considerations predicted by intra- and inter-sexual selection.

This study is the first to collect detailed empirical data on sexual practice among backpackers while exploring the material and social context of backpacking using an ethnographic framework. The theoretical concepts of liminality and sexual scripts were drawn on to analyse the findings. Backpackers were recruited from hostels in Sydney and Cairns; 559 backpackers (243 women, 316 men) completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. In addition, 25 in-depth one-to-one interviews with backpackers and 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with sexual health and travel clinic staff and hostel service providers. Participant and non-participant observation in backpacker hostels also informed the analysis. Drinking alcohol, often to excess, was central to the backpacking setting and was both a reason for and a post-facto justification of unprotected sex. The backpacking setting encouraged transient liaisons. More than half (55%) of backpackers had sex with someone new during their trip and for 71% of them it was with someone that they had just met that day. Twenty-five per cent of those with no expectations to have casual sex on their trip and 22% of those with no previous experience of casual sex had casual sex during their trip. More than half (53%) of those who had sex with a someone new did so while other people were in the room. Only 55% always used a condom with their last new partner. While most backpackers carried condoms and intended to use them, unprotected sex was common. Perception of risk was low: 78% of those who did not use a condom the last time they had casual sex on the trip perceived their risk of getting HIV to be ??low?? to ??nil??. Three participants acquired HIV during their trip. The culture of backpacking encourages more sexually permissive attitudes but does not encourage condom use, especially for those who did not consistently use condoms at home. These findings highlight the need for more broad-based dissemination of information on STIs to young people, and for future sexual health campaigns to specifically target backpackers in the context in which they travel.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the value that body theology can add to an inclusive understanding of sexuality in adolescence. Sexuality was understood differently throughout different periods in time, but even today there is still no real clarity on what is meant by the term sexuality. Sexuality is a difficult term to define and its meaning plays an important role in the way people treat each other. Throughout the different periods the church has largely been either silent about sexuality or considered it a sin. As a result the church would not necessarily be seen as a good resource for advice on sexual matters. Adolescents go through a dramatic period of developing on a physical, cognitive and moral level, which all occur simultaneously, but sexual development is the most prominent. Sexual development prepares adolescents on a physical level to reproduce and to enter into sexual relationships, but cognitive and moral development also takes place; these two processes are supportive for the adolescent to understand and process the sexual development. These developing processes, together with the context in which an adolescent is growing up, has an impact on the type of moral value system compiled by adolescents, which determines how they behave. As already mentioned, the church is not necessarily involved in these discussions, and therefore this study challenges the churches to become involved again by making use of body theology. The research question can be formulated as follows: What contribution can body theology make to promote an inclusive understanding of sexuality during adolescence? To answer the research question, the first objective is discussed in chapter 2, namely to give a historical overview to obtain an understanding of sexuality and see how the understanding of sexuality changed over the different periods, but also to see that there were certain times when the understanding of sexuality was the same. The second objective is discussed in chapter 3, where the focus is on a historical overview of the understanding of the body. This historical overview is discussed to understand that the body often stood in an ambiguous position and dualisms formed part of the understanding of the body, but it also affects a deeper understanding of life. In chapter 4, the third objective is discussed by examining the centrality of sexual development during adolescence to understand the important role that sexual development plays in the adolescent's life, but also to realise that it affects other aspects of life. The fourth objective is discussed in chapter 5, which contains the discussion of body theology to indicate how it can promote an inclusive understanding of sexuality. This chapter also discusses how body theology developed and the importance of the body in body theology. Chapter 6 includes conclusions and recommendations, such as that youth workers and church leaders need to recognise their own understanding of sexuality and the body, but that body theology can promote an inclusive understanding of sexuality if youth workers and church leaders are able to make a theological shift and use body theology as a theological lens.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die waarde wat liggaamsteologie tot ʼn inklusiewe verstaan van seksualiteit tydens adolessensie kan byvoeg. Seksualiteit is deur verskillende tydperke verskillend verstaan, maar daar is selfs vandag nog nie werklik uitsluitsel van wat met die term seksualiteit bedoel word nie. Seksualiteit is ʼn moeilike term om te definieer en die verstaan daarvan speel ʼn belangrike rol in die wyse waarop mense mekaar hanteer. Die kerk was grootliks deur die verskillende tydperke óf stil oor seksualiteit óf het dit as ʼn sonde beskou, met die gevolg dat die kerk nie noodwendig as ʼn goeie hulpbron vir raad rakende seksuele sake beskou word nie. Adolessente gaan deur ʼn dramatiese tydperk waar alle ontwikkelingsprosesse, waarvan die seksuele ontwikkeling die prominentste is, gelyktydig plaasvind. Die seksuele ontwikkeling berei adolessente liggaamlik voor om voort te plant en in seksuele verhoudings te tree, maar kognitiewe en morele ontwikkeling vind ook plaas; hierdie twee prosesse is ondersteunend vir die adolessent om die seksuele ontwikkeling te kan verstaan en verwerk. Hierdie ontwikkelingsprosesse, tesame met die konteks waarin ʼn adolessent groot word, het ʼn invloed op die tipe morele waardestelsel wat adolessente saamstel, en wat bepaal hoe hulle optree. Soos reeds genoem, is die kerk nie noodwendig betrokke by hierdie gesprekke nie, en daarom stel hierdie studie voor dat kerke weer betrokke moet raak deur gebruik te maak van liggaamsteologie. Die navorsingsvraag kan soos volg geformuleer word: Watter bydrae kan liggaamsteologie maak tot die bevordering van ʼn inklusiewe verstaan van seksualiteit tydens adolessensie? Om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord word die eerste doelstelling, om ʼn historiese oorsig oor die verstaan van seksualiteit te kry, om te sien hoe die verstaan van seksualiteit oor verskillende tydperke verander het, maar ook op sekere tye dieselfde verstaan van seksualiteit gehandaaf is, in hoofstuk 2 bespreek. Die tweede doelstelling word in hoofstuk 3 bespreek, waar die fokus op ʼn historiese oorsig van die verstaan van die liggaam val. Die historiese oorsig oor die verstaan van die liggaam word bespreek om ook te verstaan dat die liggaam baie keer in ʼn dubbelsinnige posisie gestaan het en dat dualismes deel gevorm het van die verstaan daarvan, maar dat dit ook verdere verstaan van die lewe beïnvloed het. In hoofstuk 4 word die derde doelstelling bespreek deur die sentrale rol van seksuele ontwikkeling tydens adolessensie te ondersoek om te verstaan watter belangrike rol seksuele ontwikkeling in die adolessent se lewe speel, maar ook dat dit ander aspekte van die lewe beïnvloed. Die vierde doelstelling word bespreek in hoofstuk 5, wat die bespreking van liggaamsteologie bevat om aan te dui hoe dit ʼn inklusiewe verstaan van seksualiteit kan bevorder. In hierdie hoofstuk word daar ook bespreek hoe liggaamsteologie ontstaan het en wat die belangrikheid van die liggaam in liggaamsteologie is. Hoofstuk 6 sluit die studie af met gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings soos dat jeugwerkers en gemeenteleiers bewus moet word van hulle eie verstaan van seksualiteit en die liggaam, maar ook dat liggaamsteologie ʼn inklusiewe verstaan van seksualiteit kan bevorder, indien jeugwerkers en gemeenteleiers ʼn teologiese skuif maak en liggaamteologie as ʼn teologiese lens gebruik.

People engage in sex for a wide variety of reasons and these reasons can differ depending on the individual, his or her partner, and on the context of the sexual encounter. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine how sexual attraction and sexual orientation, of both self and partner, affect an individual’s reasons to engage in sex, or sexual motivation. Three studies were conducted to explore these effects from both the individual’s and the partner’s perspective. In Study 1, individual attitudes toward having casual sex, dating, and being in a committed relationship with a bisexual partner of the other gender were examined in a sample of 720 men and women. Participants reported negative attitudes toward having these relationships and more negative attitudes were reported as the commitment level of the considered relationship increased. Women also reported more negative attitudes and greater insecurity toward relationships than men. In Study 2, the psychometric properties of a comprehensive research tool, the Why Have Sex? (YSEX?) questionnaire to use in Study 3 for the study of sexual motivation were evaluated in a sample of 146 women with same-sex attraction. Overall, the reliability of this scale was excellent for casual sex motivations and motivations for sex in committed relationships with female partners. In Study 3, motivations for sex and the effects of relationship context, sexual attraction, and the gender of one’s partner were explored in a sample of 510 women including women with same-sex attraction and women with exclusively heterosexual attraction. Results of this study showed that relationship context had the largest effect on sexual motivation; physical motivations were more strongly endorsed for casual sex while emotional motivations were more strongly endorsed for sex in committed relationships. No effect of sexual attraction was reported. Further, no effect of gender of partner was reported by sexual minority women. The results of this dissertation have important implications for the study of sexual motivation, specifically as it relates to sexual attraction and orientation. Motivations for sex are likely to be affected by an individual’s attitudes and perceptions of his or her partner’s sexual orientation and associated stereotypes. In addition, the type of sexual relationship and associated level of commitment had strong, differential effects on sexual motivation. This is a novel finding as the context of the sexual relationship has not previously been considered with respect to individual motivations for sex. Henceforth, studies on sexual motivation need to be more contextualized and include more comprehensive assessments of individuals to increase the validity of findings and demonstrate the complex variation of human sexual motivation.

Recently, it has been discovered that serotonin (5-HT) receptors exist as subtypes in the mammalian brain. At least two major subtypes that differ in their distribution, and affinity for serotonergic drugs, have now been described. These receptors have been labeled 5-HT₁, and 5-HT₂ receptors. The purpose of this thesis is to determine what roles the 5-HT₁, and 5-HT₂ receptors might play in the modulation of sexual behaviour in the female rat. The administration of the 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist pirenperone inhibited sexual receptivity in adult, ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats that had been primed either chronically with estradiol benzoate (EB), or acutely with EB plus varying doses of progesterone (P). An inhibition occurred at peripherally administered doses of 50, 100 and 150, but not 25 µg/kg of pirenperone. Pirenperone also inhibited receptivity when administered intraventricularly at a dose of 15 µg/kg, however this dose of pirenperone was ineffective when administered peripherally. Increasing the dose of P did not attenuate the inhibitory effect of pirenperone. The 5-HT₂ antagonists ketanserin (2.5 mg/kg) and spiperone (250 µg/kg) also inhibited receptivity in females that had been primed with EB plus P. The inhibitory effect of pirenperone was attenuated by the 5-HT₂ agonist quipazine , however the 5-HT precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (20 mg/kg), and the 5-HT₁, agonists 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethytryptamine (5MeODMT) (200 µg/kg) and tryptamine (2 mg/kg) did not attenuate the effect of pirenperone. Quipazine, 5-HTP, and 5MeODMT did not effect receptivity in females that had been primed with EB plus P, however tryptamine inhibited receptivity. Whereas the nonselective 5-HT antagonist methysergide (3 mg/kg) failed to have an effect on receptivity in females that had been primed with EB, methysergide coadministered with quipazine facilitated receptivity. Pirenperone also inhibited proceptivity in females that had been primed with EB plus P. Although quipazine did not attenuate the inhibitory effect of pirenperone upon proceptivity, quipazine alone facilitated proceptivity in females that had been primed either with EB, or with EB and P. Methysergide did not effect proceptivity, and 5-HTP, 5MeODMT, and tryptamine were also ineffective with regards to proceptivity. The results of the present series of experiments are not entirely consistent with Meyerson's widely held theory of serotonergic inhibition , rather they suggest a dual role for 5-HT in female sexual behaviour. Therefore, a new theory regarding the role of 5-HT in sexual behaviour is proposed. Specifically, it is proposed that inhibitory effects of 5-HT are mediated by activity at 5-HT₁, receptors, whereas facilitatory effects are mediated by activity at 5-HT₂ receptors.
Arts, Faculty of
Psychology, Department of
Graduate

Part 1: Literature review - Aim: To review the literature and examine factors which have been identified to contribute to the job satisfaction of formal caregivers working within dementia care. Method: 11 papers were included in the review following a systematic search of three databases. Results: Factors found to be associated with job satisfaction in caregivers include Person Centred Care, setting type, caregiver distress, support and exposure to aggression. Several methodological limitations of the reviewed studies were noted; namely a lack of consensus on the definition of job satisfaction and a wide variety of measures utilised. Conclusion: Due to the ambiguity of what constitutes job satisfaction precision regarding predictive factors was difficult; this is also reflected in wider healthcare literature. Future research with a qualitative design may elicit what job satisfaction means to caregivers working within dementia care. Part 2: Research report - Aim: This study set out to explore the experience of informal caregiver’s living and caring for someone with dementia who presents with Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour (ISB). Method: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to explore the lived experience of two caregivers. Results: Analysis across both cases revealed divergence and convergence. Three super-ordinate themes were identified: ‘What the behaviour means to me’, ‘The change in our relationship’ and ‘Making sense of outsiders’. Both caregivers seemed to adopt coping strategies such as minimisation and distancing their spouse from ISB by attributing the behaviour to dementia. Conclusion: This study provided a unique glimpse into the lives of spousal caregivers experiencing ISB and the importance of raising awareness of this behaviour. Further exploration is required to build on the current study and develop this under-researched topic. Part 3: Critical appraisal - A reflective account of the whole research process which highlights key aspects of the journey.

Literature Review Dementia care in acute services is under researched, not least an examination of the emotional impact of the work. This review aimed to explore and synthesise the available literature regarding the experiences of staff in acute care settings. A systematic review was conducted using systematic and transparent methods. Themes, as experienced and described by staff, included environmental inadequacies and insufficient knowledge of dementia. The emotional impact of the work was elicited and areas of enlightened practice were indicated. Supporting patients with a dementia in the acute care setting appears to be complicated by a range of influences including case complexity, insufficient resources and staff constructions of the patient. The review highlighted areas of need as identified by staff. Empirical Paper Research assessing the impact of Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour (ISB) on staff working in dementia care is circumscribed. This study explored staff experience of ISB exhibited by older adults with a dementia. Interviews with fourteen staff working within an inpatient setting were undertaken and analysed using a Grounded Theory methodology. The core category, ‘A Question of Attribution’ was identified, describing the process experienced when confronted with ISB. Four main categories were inducted representing participants initial experiences, their contextualising of the behaviour, their process of interpretation and pragmatic management of ISB. Staff’s feelings about ISB appeared equivocal with some staff reporting indifference, others feeling violated. Findings imply that the impact of ISB should be more routinely considered in preparing staff for working with patients with a dementia. Critical Appraisal This paper outlined numerous reflections and observations made during the research journey with consideration of the chosen methodology, study limitations and the personal impact of conducting the research, in addition to the learning experience.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-82).
This study deals with sexual behaviour of adolescents in a rural area of South Africa. The primary objective is to explore the sexual behaviour of rural adolescents, specifically with regard to the first time they engage in sexual intercourse, the number of sexual partners, their use of contraceptives and their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and how this influences their sexual activity. This study also examines how alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, drug and substance use affect adolescent sexuality. Lastly, it explores the influence of religion and family connectedness on adolescent sexuality.

Fatherlessness is a problem that affects a majority of African families in South Africa. African fathers become absent in the home due to various reasons such as, death, divorce, separation, imprisonment and distant work commitments. Father figures such as older brothers, uncles and stepfathers are a prominent feature in the African the community. The literature study revealed that adolescence is a period of transitioning from childhood into adulthood. During adolescence, adolescents experience physiological, psychological, cognitive and social changes. This is the time when adolescents begin to move away from their parents and seek independence. Adolescence is also a time when romantic interests begin and adolescents worry about whether they are attractive and if others will accept them. Literature also revealed that fathers and father figures are essential in defining masculinity and socialising young boys. African male adolescents can be socialised into manhood through traditional male circumcision and mentorship. The literature study also questioned whether there is a crisis in masculinity and society’s role in redefining masculinity. The goal of the research study was to explore paternal influences on the sexual behaviour of African male adolescents. The intention of the researcher was to search for a deeper understanding of paternal influences by functioning biological fathers and father figures on the sexual behaviour of African male adolescents. The iv researcher also sought to identify how social services can improve service delivery to families, fathers and male adolescents. The research focused on the role fathers and father figures play on the sexual behaviour of young males who are currently in the developmental phase of adolescence, which can also be described as the period of transition into adulthood. The researcher used applied research and the qualitative research approach to conduct the study. The study was conducted with a sample size of 15 participants between the ages of 15 to 17 years. The researcher collected data by means of means of semi-structured interviews and the use of an interview schedule. The empirical findings of this study suggest that African male adolescents believe that African male adolescents are affected negatively by father absence. African male adolescence perceive a good father or father figure as a father who is more than just a breadwinner, a father who is able to provide guidance, advice and care as well as spend time with his son. African male adolescents also believe that a ‘real man’ knows how to treat women; he is faithful, trustworthy, considerate, decisive, assertive and honest. African male adolescents expect their fathers and father figures to teach them about relationships, sexuality, the consequences of unsafe sex and the importance of delaying sexual début. Some African male adolescents feel that their fathers and father figures often share little or no detailed information about sexuality, sexual behaviour and relationships with them. Some African male adolescents noted that additional sources of information about sexuality, sexual behaviour and relationships come from school and other male relatives in the family such as uncles. The empirical findings further revealed that some male adolescents are concerned about the sexual behaviours modelled by their own fathers and father figures, they observe that their fathers and father figures change partners too often and that creates confusion in their lives. However other African male adolescents expressed that their fathers and father figures model appropriate sexual behaviours that give them something to aspire to. African male adolescents shared that there are lessons about sexual behaviour that they have learnt from their fathers and father figures that are worthy of being passed on to their own sons one day. A few felt that they would rather pass on their own knowledge to their sons one day. The empirical findings confirmed that fathers and father figure are influential on the sexual behaviour of African male adolescents. Both the literature review and v empirical findings further confirmed that paternal influences or lack thereof influence the choices of African male adolescents about the kinds of fathers they want to be in the future. The study contains an in-depth literature review, research methodology, followed by empirical findings that answer the research question. The last objective of the study will be to draw conclusions and make recommendations on paternal influences on the sexual behaviour of African male adolescents to inform social services professionals’ service delivery to families and the youth, within the social work profession.
Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Social Work and Criminology
MSW
unrestricted