Background:Gender euphoria encompasses positive feelings associated with gender expression, identity, and affirmation, and is important for wellbeing. However, little is known about how gender euphoria is experienced by different subgroups within trans communities. Such knowledge could contribute to a more holistic understanding of trans health and promote more accurate and inclusive care. This study aimed to explore differences in gender euphoria by sociodemographic and gender affirmation factors. Methods:In this cohort study in Australia, participants aged 16 years or older who were enrolled in a longitudinal trans-led project (TRANSform), with a gender other than that presumed for them at birth, were invited to complete surveys between 22nd November 2022 and 12th April 2023. Participants completed the Gender Euphoria Scale (GES) comprising three subscales: social-affirmation, self-affirmation, and community connection, and reported on frequency and strength of gender euphoria. Demographics were collected through the TRANSform study including rurality and socioeconomic deciles. Responses were subsequently categorised into those who had accessed hormones or surgery and those who were contemplating or desiring hormones or surgery. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used to compare differences between groups. Findings:Participants (N = 732) were aged 16-79 years and were women (36·9%), men (36·9%), non-binary and gender diverse (25·8%) or had a culturally specific gender identity (0·4%). Non-binary participants reported higher community connection euphoria but lower self-affirmation euphoria than women and men. Gen X participants (born 1965-1980) reported higher social affirmation euphoria than millennial participants (born 1981-1996). Participants who had accessed gender affirming hormones had higher self-affirmation euphoria than those who had not, as did those who had undergone gender affirming surgery compared to those who had not. Gender euphoria did not significantly differ by birth continent, rurality, or socioeconomic indices. Interpretation:Results highlight the diversity of gender euphoric experiences within trans communities and can be used to inform individualised supports across gender affirming care, mental health, and community settings. Funding:This study was funded by Australian Rotary Health, ASC is supported by a NHMRC Investigator Grant #2008956, SZ is supported by a Fellowship from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne.

INTRODUCTION:While many women experience low levels of sexual desire and arousal, difficulty orgasming, or pain during intercourse, relatively few report distress about their sexual functioning. Distress about low sexual function is necessary for a sexual dysfunction to be diagnosed. However, it is not clear why some women report distress while others do not. OBJECTIVES:The aim of the current study was to review systematically factors associated with distress about low sexual function among premenopausal women. METHODS:Six databases (CINAHL, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycNET, Scopus) were searched on January 1, 2025. The quality of each study was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS:Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most samples consisted of women in a heterosexual relationship, and the majority of articles focused on sexual pain disorders. Factors associated with distress about low sexual function were grouped into four factors: sexual, psychological, relationship, and partner-related. Sexual distress was positively associated with severity of low sexual function, depressive, or anxiety symptoms, sexual dissatisfaction, poor relationship communication, low partner support, and partner's sexual distress and dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION:Sexual satisfaction and relational factors influence whether women experience low sexual function as problematic. However, more research is needed to investigate sexual distress among women who are not in a heterosexual relationship, and those reporting low sexual functioning in domains of sexual arousal, desire, and orgasm.

Narcolepsy and Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH) are chronic sleep disorders that negatively impact the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of those who are diagnosed with the disorders. As such, Narcolepsy and IH may also impact the HRQoL of those close to the patient (e.g. partners, parents).AimThis project explored the experiences of partners of people with Narcolepsy or IH, and examined how living with someone with the diagnosis had impacted their own HRQoL.MethodsIn this in-depth qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from eight people (4 males and 4 females, aged between 21 and 53 years old) whose partners had Narcolepsy T1, T2, or IH. The data was analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) to find common themes emerging from the participants' narratives. Self-reports for psychological distress (K10) and sleep quality (PSQI) were used.ResultsFive themes (and two sub-themes) were identified: 1) changes in dyadic identity; 2) negative impact on intimacy; 3) loneliness; 4) sacrifices to maintain the relationship, and 5) dissatisfaction at the lack of knowledge and information.ConclusionsPartners of patients with Narcolepsy or IH reported being affected by some of the symptoms of their partners' sleep disorder. Partners' social and emotional HRQoL were the features most strongly impacted by the disorders. Future research should focus on developing collaborative care models that involve patients' partners in treatment.

Sexual objectification of women is common and may expose them to events (e.g., interpersonal violence) that confer high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or lead to self-objectification. This systematic review examines the relationships between self-objectification and trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and PTSD, identifying the measures used to assess self-objectification. Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, OVID Medline, and CINAHL were searched through 23 January 2025. Peer-reviewed articles that measured self-objectification and assessed relationships between self-objectification and trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and/or PTSD were included. Thirteen articles with 5,035 participants met inclusion criteria; most recruited women exclusively. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Evidence was synthesized narratively. No articles evaluated interventions. Five measures were used to assess two conceptualizations of self-objectification: bodily self-objectification (e.g., body shame, body surveillance) and self-dehumanization. Associations varied with the conceptualization and measurement of self-objectification. Body shame was positively associated with trauma exposure and symptoms, including dissociation, while associations between body surveillance, trauma exposure, and trauma symptoms were inconsistent. Self-dehumanization was positively associated with trauma exposure. Overall, findings suggest a relationship between exposure to traumatic events and self-objectification. Further research is needed to clarify the influence of self-objectification on trauma symptomatology. Given the impact of violence, self-objectification, and PTSD on women, research that informs clinical practice is needed, along with policy-based actions that enhance women's safety and wellbeing, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence.

This paper presents findings on early childhood educators' perceptions, training, and practices regarding consent education. Responses revealed widespread agreement that consent education is appropriate and necessary for children aged 3-5 years. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three major themes: (a) conceptualisations of consent; (b) barriers to consent education; and (c) effective delivery considerations for consent education in early childhood settings. Findings highlight the necessity for further research into overcoming barriers to consent education to enable its effective delivery in early childhood settings. This initial analysis of early childhood consent education highlights its importance and suitability for early childhood while stressing the need for greater support for childhood educators.

Background:Gender euphoria is a concept that arose from within the trans and gender diverse (hereafter trans) community to describe positive feelings associated with gender identity, expression, and affirmation. Despite its importance within the trans population, there is currently no consistent, valid or reliable way of measuring gender euphoria. Accordingly, this article describes the development and validation of a tool to measure gender euphoria in trans individuals. Method:An initial 121-item pool for the scale was developed based on qualitative research and a review of existing tools measuring related psychological constructs in trans adults. Trans researchers and experts in trans health reviewed and revised the items, enabling development of a preliminary scale which was pilot tested with a trans community advisory group before being further refined and administered to a larger cohort of trans individuals. A subgroup of individuals within the cohort repeated the scale two weeks following the initial completion to assess for test-retest reliability. Results:The preliminary scale was undertaken by 664 trans participants aged 16-79 years (median = 32 years, IQR = 25, 43). Exploratory factor analysis produced a final 26-item Gender Euphoria Scale (GES) comprising three subscales: social affirmation, self-affirmation, and community connection. The GES was found to have excellent internal consistency (α = .97), strong test-retest reliability (r = .88), and some evidence of discriminant and convergent validity. Conclusion:The GES is a reliable and consistent tool to measure gender euphoria in trans individuals and is likely to be of value in both research and clinical settings.

Despite a significant decline in HIV transmission in Australia, many people living with HIV continue to face stigma and discrimination. For gay men, historically at high risk for HIV, peer support programs are essential to improve psychosocial outcomes. Peer support is known to reduce stigma demonstrably, improve well-being, increase medication adherence, and connect participants to broader HIV services. While peer support is known to be important within the HIV care continuum, there is little research on factors associated with engagement with peer support and no Australian study has examined determinants of involvement. This study focused on Australian gay men living with HIV for at least five years to understand the factors impacting engagement, retention, and attrition. Twenty participants with 5–36 years of lived experience participated in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four key themes: (1) shared experiences, (2) confidentiality and trust, (3) changing needs with aging, and (4) inclusion and collaboration. The themes highlight the importance of fostering connection, trust, program adaptability, and agency. Barriers to engagement included problems with online support access due to cost, limited technological proficiency, and concerns about program relevance for aging men who have extensive HIV lived experience. The findings underscore the need for consistent funding to support well-defined program scopes that cater to diverse and changing needs. Such enhanced program support is crucial to address the specific requirements of men with long-term experience of living with HIV as they age through the HIV care continuum.

Much of the research on same-sex families focuses on the children's adjustment by comparing their psychological functioning to children raised in heterosexual families. What is lacking is research that gives voice to same-sex parented families, in particular, their experiences of stigma and how they process and negotiate these experiences. The current study utilised a qualitative phenomenological approach with semi-structured interviews to explore processes that lead to resilience after encountering stigma among three adults raised in same-sex parented families, together with seven same-sex parents raising children. Guided by the FAAR model (Family Adaptation and Response), participants recalled stigmatising situations and how they constructed meaning from the experiences. Analysis of interview data revealed seven themes (1) Managing Stigma in the school environment (2) Hiding family structure (3) So Who is the Mother? (4) Loving Bonds (5) Practicing Open Communication (6) Having a Sense of Pride (7) The impact of Location and Community. The findings illustrate the capabilities that same-sex parented families have to prevent stigma being disruptive to family life, and how to use the events as opportunities to strengthen family bonds and foster a positive family identity.

BackgroundGender euphoria (i.e., a positive feeling associated with one’s gender identity, expression, or affirmation) is widely discussed among transgender and gender diverse (hereafter referred to as trans) individuals. However, as a construct, gender euphoria has never been formally measured and has rarely been empirically studied. Hence, this protocol paper illustrates our process for developing and validating a new tool to measure gender euphoria, known as the Gender Euphoria Scale (GES), for use with trans populations.MethodsDeductive methods including findings from previous research and a review of existing measures, together with inductive methods such as expert feedback and focus groups with trans individuals, were used to generate a preliminary item pool for the GES. Pilot testing with trans community members and mental health clinicians was then used to refine items and develop a preliminary scale. Trans participants involved in an ongoing longitudinal study (TRANSform) were invited to complete the scale alongside measures of personality and gender factors to assess validity. Participants were then invited to complete the scale two weeks after initial completion to assess the test–retest reliability of the scale. The next stage in the scale development process will be to examine the dimensionality of the GES using exploratory factor analytic techniques. The scale will then be assessed for internal consistency, temporal stability, discriminant validity, and convergent validity.ConclusionThis paper outlines the development and characterization of a novel tool to measure gender euphoria for the first time. The GES will facilitate research opportunities to better understand the nature of gender euphoria and its influences, and may be used clinically to examine relationships between gender euphoria and gender affirming interventions. Hence, we expect the GES to make a significant contribution to both research and clinical practice with trans communities.

The primary defence against COVID-19 has been the implementation of public health measures that rely on voluntary compliance with behavioural directives. Compliance is often conceptualised as a single dimension, but there may be distinct patterns of compliance with COVID-19 preventative behaviours. This study examined behavioural profiles in response to preventative behaviour directives during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. A representative sample of Australian residents (n = 978) responded to a survey measuring self-reported compliance with a range of preventative measures, trust in various institutions and a range of psychological and demographic variables. The latent class analysis identified five distinct behavioural profiles characterised by different degrees of compliance with different health behaviours. In addition to those who complied with most measures and those who complied with none, there were profiles that complied with most measures except specific ones, including limiting interactions with others and visitations. These profiles were associated with a number of demographic and psychological characteristics, including trust. Implications for public health interventions are discussed.

HIV-positive gay men continue to experience stigma related to sexual orientation and HIV status. Although resilience toward such stressors can be achieved, limited Australian research exists that examines how resilience is strengthened toward these dual stigmas. A total of 20 men from Melbourne, Australia, participated in semi-structured interviews between March and October 2019 to explore ways in which they manage such stigmas. Reflexive thematic analysis identified two primary themes: (1) “intrapersonal control,” which relates to individual mind set and lifestyle changes that participants utilized to strengthen resilience; (2) “systemic change,” which includes participants’ needs for better public health messaging. Findings show resilience was enhanced when proactive approaches to sexual orientation, HIV health appraisal, lifestyle changes, and social support were made. Further, outdated HIV awareness campaigns and a lack of current messaging regarding HIV transmission in the wider community were identified as inhibiting resilience development and promoting stigma among gay men. The results from this study show ways that Australian gay men strengthen their resilience through both intrapersonal (e.g., self-awareness, reappraisal, and self-efficacy) and external resources (e.g., education and public awareness) and how health care providers and social policy makers could better support the men to achieve this. Findings suggest that targeted public health responses are required to compliment the advances made in biomedicine and viral suppression.

Previous investigations into Female Sexual Desire (FSD) have been focused on women's biological, cognitive, and emotional processes, despite evidence that FSD is also responsive to relational contexts. Past research consistently demonstrates a general association between relationship satisfaction and FSD. There remains, however, a need to expound this connection. In response, this study explored the role of relationship equity in relationship satisfaction and FSD. For this cross-sectional study, 299 Australian women aged 18 to 39 years responded to an online questionnaire measuring relationship factors and dimensions of sexual desire. Two mediation models were tested to examine how relationship equity was associated with solitary and dyadic sexual desire, via a connection with relationship satisfaction. As expected, equality in relationships predicted relationship satisfaction, which, subsequently, was related to higher levels of dyadic sexual desire. No significant mediation was found for solitary desire, indicating that relationship factors may not play a critical role in this domain. This result also demonstrates a distinct divergence between the two domains of desire that requires further examination. These results solidify the notion of FSD as a multifaceted construct and present meaningful implications for theory, research, and clinical practice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate nonconsensual condom removal (NCCR), also termed "stealthing," which involves a male partner removing a condom during sex without knowledge or consent. Young women (N = 364) provided self-report data on sociodemographic characteristics, NCCR experiences, and sexual self-perceptions. Almost 10% of the participants reported experiencing NCCR, with increased risk linked to nonheterosexuality, nonexclusive relationship status, and more sexual partners. Women with NCCR histories reported less confidence to refuse unwanted sexual advances and felt less in control of themselves as sexual beings. Together, the findings suggested NCCR is a somewhat common sexual risk behavior which may pose acute and sustained psychosexual harm to victims.