A novel, avatar-based treatment for Female Orgasmic Disorder (FOD) was developed to be administered in the virtual world Second Life. This Case Study explores the potential clinical utility of this treatment, administered to a 22-year-old woman diagnosed with lifelong, generalized FOD. From baseline to posttreatment, the patient reported decreases in sexual anxiety and sex-guilt levels, and increases in sexual behaviours, sexual satisfaction, sexual function, initiative and sexual communication, sexual knowledge, and self-esteem. As a result, the patient no longer fulfilled the criteria for FOD, and these changes were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments. The modular treatment plan features elements of psychoeducation, exposition, behavioral skills training, and cognitive restructuration of dysfunctional thoughts. Compared to traditional therapies, the avatar-based treatment seems to offer several advantages, such as privacy, flexibility, and the possibility of self-exposure to sexual stimuli in a safe environment.
This cross-sectional study examined sexual satisfaction and its associations with reproductive coercion, sexual coercion, sexual self-efficacy, sexual health literacy, and selected sociodemographic and relationship-related characteristics among 1,563 married women aged 18-49 years in T & uuml;rkiye. Data were collected using a field-assisted web-based questionnaire. Participants completed measures of sexual satisfaction, reproductive coercion, sexual coercion, sexual self-efficacy, sexual knowledge, sexual attitude, and relevant background characteristics. Descriptive, bivariate, correlational, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were performed. In the fully adjusted model, higher reproductive coercion (B = -1.397, p < .001), sexual coercion (B = -0.076, p < .001), and sexual attitude scores reflecting more negative attitudes toward sexual health information and communication (B = -0.616, p < .001) were independently associated with lower sexual satisfaction. Higher sexual self-efficacy (B = 0.581, p < .001) and sexual knowledge (B = 0.133, p < .001) were independently associated with higher sexual satisfaction. The final model explained 53.6% of the variance. These findings indicate that coercive partner experiences, perceived sexual agency, and distinct dimensions of sexual health literacy are concurrently associated with women's sexual satisfaction. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify temporal and potentially bidirectional relationships. LAY SUMMARY This study examined factors associated with sexual satisfaction among married women in T & uuml;rkiye. Greater reproductive coercion, sexual coercion, and more negative attitudes toward sexual health information and communication were associated with lower sexual satisfaction. Greater sexual self-efficacy and sexual knowledge were associated with higher satisfaction. Marital communication and sexual frequency were also relevant. Because the study was cross-sectional, the findings do not establish cause-and-effect relationships.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential indirect effect of rejection sensitivity in the relationship between body image quality of life and motivation for infidelity. This research included 431 participants from Romania, with 49.2% female and 50.8% male, ranging in age from 18 to 60 years (M = 25.63; SD = 7.81). The participants completed instruments that assessed rejection sensitivity, body image quality of life, motivation for infidelity and socio-demographic data. Our findings indicate that rejection sensitivity has an indirect effect on the relationship between body image quality of life and motivation for infidelity. Meanwhile, there is no direct effect of body image quality of life on the motivation for infidelity. This study contributes to advancing knowledge in the existing literature regarding the motivation for infidelity, as well as the role of rejection sensitivity and body image quality of life. Moreover, the results obtained may inform premarital counseling, couple therapy interventions, and psychoeducational programs addressing relational expectations and validation processes associated with motivation for infidelity, and may also contribute to raising awareness of factors associated with motivation for infidelity in couple relationships.
Men are more sensitive to their partners' sexual infidelity than women, whereas women are more sensitive to their partner's emotional (romantic) infidelity than men. The sexual imagination hypothesis predicts that such gender differences in jealousy stem from the fact that explicit imagery differs between men and women. Specifically, men tended to imagine sexual infidelity more explicitly or easily than women, whereas women tended to envision emotional infidelity more vividly or effortlessly than men. Therefore, this sexual imagination hypothesis was tested. Participants (190 females and 112 males) completed questionnaires to measure responses to their partner's infidelity, sexual and romantic imagination, masculinity, and femininity. Multiple regression analyses revealed that sexual and romantic imaginations were associated with gender differences in jealousy. Specifically, higher sexual and romantic imaginations were associated with greater distress over partners' sexual and emotional infidelity, respectively, even when controlling for the effects of gender, masculinity, and femininity. Furthermore, gender differences in jealousy disappeared when sexual and romantic imaginations were entered into the regression equations. Our results support this hypothesis. Our findings are discussed in relation to the associations between gender roles and gender differences in jealousy.
This article is a theoretical essay based on clinical practice. The term "homonormativity" refers to society's cultural "rules" of "normal" imposed on LGBTQ+ people as the "correct way" to be so that they can be acknowledged by the majority group. In turns, these rules can be internalised by LGBTQ+ people to feel acceptable. This article will focus on the influence of homonormativity on young gay men's lives, and how it affects their sexual and relational development and their self-concept. There is a growing body of literature on the negative impact of heteronormativity on LGBTQ+ people but the influence of homonormativity is less discussed, particularly in a psychosexual context. In my clinical experience working with gay men in London (UK), young gay men are vulnerable to homonormativity, which, I argue, has its roots in shame induced by the pervasive heterosexism and homophobia in UK society (and other countries in the Global North). However, discussing homonormativity does not mean that LGBTQ+ people are deprived of "norms" within their queer culture. Indeed, when LGBTQ+ populations create their own "homo-norms" - not based on heteronormativity but based on their authentic selves - it can enhance their sense of belonging and wellbeing.
