Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the development and evaluation of Huespring, an LGBTQ+ leadership development program. Design/methodology/approach We describe the development of Huespring, including the value-base and programmatic elements of the intervention, and the evaluation of three pilot cohorts. Implementation evaluation included participant demographics, curriculum fidelity, dosage and reach. Outcome evaluation assessed participants' perceived personal and professional growth, leadership skills, self-efficacy and satisfaction with the overall program. Findings Participant feedback indicated significant personal and professional growth via Huespring. When asked if participants had a better understanding of their role in leadership, the most common responses were Agree (47%) and Strongly Agree (38.7%). Participants also Strongly Agreed (65.6%) they had an increased comprehension of the importance of inclusive leadership. Practical implications Huespring is a promising intervention to increase LGBTQIA+ community capacity, power building and resiliency through leadership development programming. The Huespring approach and model can be adapted to other local contexts to meet local LGBTQIA+ needs. Originality/value Huespring is a unique leadership development program created by and for LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals. It was developed as a direct response to combat hostile conditions among the LGBTQIA+ communities in the Midlands. We created Huespring to promote community capacity and power building among LGBTQIA+ professionals.

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between dimensions of positive identity (Intimacy and Authenticity) and sexual/relationship satisfaction among plurisexual parents, a population that is understudied despite its prevalence within the LGBTQ+ parenting community. Participants were 605 plurisexual parents (aged 18-64) who were partnered. Multilevel regression models predicting sexual and relationship satisfaction were conducted. Results indicated that identity-related intimacy was positively associated with both sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. Identity-related authenticity was positively associated only with sexual satisfaction. Results highlight the importance of researching plurisexual parents and suggest that interventions enhancing identity-based intimacy and authenticity may be beneficial for sexual and relational health in this population.

Plurisexual (a person with more than one gender attraction) people represent the majority of parents under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and embody a unique group of parents with distinctive experiences and outcomes. Past research on plurisexual individuals suggests that there are differences in mental health and relational outcomes depending on the gender and/or sexual orientation of a plurisexual person's romantic partner. However, this research has not been focused on parents who are an important subset of individuals with unique outcomes that may impact well-being. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine differences in resilience, positive identity, parenting self-efficacy, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction among plurisexual parents in different-gender partnerships and those in same-gender partnerships. The present study included a sample of 605 plurisexual parents in a relationship with at least one partner. Data were collected via online social media and Qualtrics Panels. Results indicated that after controlling for age, number of children, and relationship length, partner gender composition (same-gender partnership or different-gender partnership) predicted lower parenting self-efficacy for plurisexual women. There were no differences based on gender of partners for plurisexual men. Findings provide insight into the lived experiences of plurisexual parents and have implications for clinicians working with plurisexual parents and their partners.

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the maternal sex during pregnancy (MSP) score in a sample of Iranian pregnant women, while also evaluating the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the Persian version of the MSP. Methods A total of 400 pregnant women participated in the study. Of these, 30 were examined for their test-retest reliability and 370 for their construct validity. The participants completed a questionnaire on demographic characteristics as well as the MSP, the sexual function short form inventory (SFSI-6), global measure of sexual satisfaction (GMSEX) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Test-retest reliability was determined using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess internal consistency. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal axis factorization (PAF) with varimax rotation followed by confirmatory factor analysis. ResultsThe Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure demonstrated high sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.88), and Bartlett's test of sphericity confirmed the appropriateness of the correlation matrix for EFA (P < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated an excellent fit of the unifactorial model for the MSP, (chi 2/df = 1.79) (P = 0.084), comparative fit index (CFI = 0.999), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI = 0.979), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA = 0.065), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR = 0.078). MSP scale demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = 0.86 and Omega coefficients = 0.88). Conclusion The Persian version of the MSP scale and its scoring system demonstrated strong validity and reliability in evaluating pregnant women's attitudes toward sex during pregnancy in the Iranian context.

Plurisexual parents (who are attracted to more than one gender) represent a unique group of parents, yet there are no current studies that examine associations between relationship structures and sexual well-being, parenting self-efficacy, resilience, and positive plurisexual identity-related outcomes. This is the purpose of the current study in addition to understanding how branches (or differences) in relationship configurations preferences (e.g., CNM) versus current lived experiences (e.g., monogamous) are associated with sexual well-being, parenting self-efficacy, resilience and positive plurisexual identity-related outcomes. The current mixed methods study included 548 plurisexual parents, of which 85 reported branches between their preferred relationship configuration and their current relationship structure. Results indicated unique differences between plurisexual parents engaged in CNM relationships (higher levels of positive plurisexual identity-related intimacy) and monogamous relationships (higher levels of positive plurisexual identity-related authenticity and parenting self-efficacy). Branches in preferred and current relationship structures predicted lower levels of sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction and positive plurisexual identity-related intimacy. Qualitative analyses of comparisons between ideal and current sexual lives among 85 participants with branches in preferred and current relationship structures indicated that participants experience typical sexual difficulties that parents have reported in previous research, some participants were happy with their current sexual life, others wished for more sex and sexploration with their current partner and some participants were not satisfied with their current relationship structure. Findings have implications for future research and clinical practice with plurisexual parents.

The co-occurrence of HIV and substance use disorders (SUDs) presents significant challenges for engagement in HIV care, with an estimated 48% of people living with HIV (PLWH) also having an SUD. This qualitative substudy of the BASE clinical trial employed constructivist grounded theory methodology to understand factors influencing engagement in HIV care among PLWH with ongoing SUDs. Fifteen participants who completed the BASE study participated in semistructured interviews about their experiences with HIV care engagement. Median age was 40 (range 21-61), 80% male sex, 27% Black, and 27% Hispanic. The analysis resulted in a model centered on three intrapersonal factors: motivation for care, capacity to remember care behaviors, and ability to engage in care. These factors existed within a broader context of stigma, ongoing substance use, and financial insecurity, which created significant barriers to care engagement. However, participants identified interpersonal relationships and clinic interventions as important facilitators that helped them maintain engagement in care. The study provides novel insights by developing a model directly from patient perspectives, conceptualizing engagement as existing on a spectrum, and identifying varied ways participants accessed motivation through relationships. These findings could inform the development of more effective interventions that account for the specific needs of people living with both HIV and SUDs.

Healthcare providers are involved in helping people who have just given birth understand their postpartum experiences. However, when it comes to sexuality, these discussions are often limited to the resumption of penetrative sex. As such, there may be a “missing discourse” of sexual desire (as coined by Michelle Fine) in education about postpartum sexual desire. From February to September 2021, we asked people who had recently given birth (N = 202) questions about their postpartum experiences with healthcare providers in relation to sexual desire in an online survey, and we conducted subsequent descriptive analyses. Healthcare providers rarely discussed sexual desire or postpartum sex outside the resumption of penetrative sex and were unlikely to suggest additional resources about postpartum sexual desire. More than half of participants sought out additional information about postpartum desire from other sources, such as online forums. Participants’ responses indicated that they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the information they received, which may reflect low expectations for receiving information regarding desire. Our results are in line with research on youth sex education and provide insight on the current state of adult postpartum sex education. Policy Implications This study has implications for birthing people and those who provide healthcare for them, as well as the fields of obstetrics, public health, and sexuality research. They contribute to a more inclusive discourse of sexual desire that expands beyond heteronormative approaches.

A number of studies have examined women’s and couples’ sexual experiences during pregnancy; few studies, however, have explored how pregnant couples expect their sex lives to change despite the possible relationship between sexual expectations and sexual function and satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of two scales: the Maternal Pregnancy Impact Expectations Scale (PIES-M) and the Partner Pregnancy Impact Expectations Scale (PIES-P), which measure newly pregnant couples’ sexual expectations later in the pregnancy. The current project was split into three distinct phases across two data collection points: 1. language elicitation, 2. item development and revision, and 3. empirical validation. A total of 242 participants were included in Phase 1, and a total of 241 data points in 124 dyads for Phase 3 were obtained via a cross-sectional, web-based survey administered in 2011 and 2012. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the PIES-M and PIES-P. Multilevel modeling was used to understand the variability of PIES-M and PIES-P scores. Measures on sexual motivation, sexual interest, sexual anxiety, attitudes to sex, and somatic pregnancy symptoms were used to further assess the test scales. Findings demonstrated a two-factor structure for the PIES-M with sexual expectations and pain expectations loading on separate factors. For PIES-P, all items loaded onto one factor as no pain expectation items were included for partners. Both the maternal and partner versions of the scales demonstrated acceptable construct validity and internal consistency, providing evidence for the validity of these measures of sexual expectations during pregnancy. A greater understanding of sexual expectations during pregnancy has social, clinical, and research implications. Policy makers and practitioners should assess and incorporate sexual expectations into their practice, especially with marginalized and minoritized populations.

Current research on parents embraces a positive, nuanced approach to understanding sexuality in the context of parenthood, however, LGBTQ+ parents are largely excluded from this research. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the current research on LGBTQ+ parents and sexuality. We conducted a comprehensive search that yielded seven studies meeting criteria for including LGBTQ+ parents and focusing on sexuality. Of the seven studies included in this review, two were qualitative and five were quantitative. Studies varied widely in focus and sample make-up. Most studies included gay and/or lesbian parents with two studies that focused on plurisexual (bisexual or pansexual) women partnered to men. Three sexuality measures were identified including sexual frequency, sexual functioning, and sexual satisfaction. The following themes were identified across studies: (1) sexual function, (2) sexual frequency, (3) sexual well-being, (4) sexual relationship maintenance, and (5) consensual non-monogamy. This research has several implications for future research and clinical practice with LGBTQ+ individuals regarding sexuality. We offer a summary of the research identified and several considerations for future research examining sexuality among LGBTQ+ parents.

Introduction With new diagnostic technologies and treatment modalities available, more people than ever are living as cancer survivors in the USA, a large percentage of whom are breast cancer survivors. These new technologies and treatments have side effects that impact women’s sexual health during treatment and throughout long-term survivorship from the disease. The purpose of this research was to understand the intersection of breast cancer survivorship and sexuality, including expressions and performance of gender, relationships, and sexual behavior in women in the Midwestern region of the USA. Methods This study used semi-structured interviews, conducted in 2015 and 2016 with 21 Midwestern women at least 6 months post-treatment. Following traditions of narrative and phenomenological qualitative research, the women’s own stories were used to explore the impact that survivorship, diagnosis, and treatment may have on a woman’s sexual self. Results Overarching themes included the role of care-giving, impact of the loss of breast tissue, and survival from breast cancer. These themes represent sexual scripts used specifically by women breast cancer survivors to understand and navigate their sexuality, including gender perceptions and performances, experiences of sexual pleasure and satisfaction, and their romantic and sexual relationships. Conclusions New scripts need to be encouraged with survivors and introduced into the social worlds that surround these individuals. Such scripts would include the importance of self-care throughout life and the importance of an individual’s quality of life beyond mere survival. Policy Implications More and better education needs to be provided to both healthcare providers and patients with regard to sexual side effects. Policies around standard of care must be adapted to go beyond survival.

While Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) has a rate of injury similar to other combat sports, there is little information on the types of injuries sustained by BJJ athletes. The purpose of this study was to assess demographic information, participation rates, injuries, and medical care in BJJ athletes over a 12-month period. Seventy-eight athletes (75.0%) reported 136 injuries in the past year; however, medical attention was only sought for 59 (43.4%) of those injuries. No significant association was found between each demographic variable and injury prevalence. Despite the fact that a majority of BJJ athletes reported suffering an injury within the past year, slightly less than half of these injured athletes sought medical care. There was no difference in injury prevalence between belt ranks.

The sexual satisfaction of couples during pregnancy is an under-researched area of study. Several limitations exist within the current literature, including a lack of inquiry into attitudes about sex during pregnancy, analysis of the relationship between sexual satisfaction and sexual behaviors, and analysis of dyadic interactions within the couple. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationships between attitudes toward having sex during pregnancy, various sexual behaviors, and sexual satisfaction among expectant couples via multilevel structural equation modeling. Recruitment focused on mixed-gender monogamous couples where the pregnant individual was between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation, and both partners were soon-to-be first time parents. Touching, hugging, or holding, kissing, vaginal and oral sex, and rubbing each other’s genitals were all common behaviors among the 116 couples in the current investigation. Anal sex and sex toy use were less common, but far from absent. According to our model, attitudes toward having sex during pregnancy significantly predicted sexual satisfaction by operating through specific sexual behaviors: kissing, vaginal fingering, and vaginal intercourse, while use of a toy alone and use of a toy with partner were independent predictors of sexual satisfaction. Gender had a direct relationship with satisfaction (men were more satisfied), as well as indirect relationship with satisfaction through an interaction with vaginal fingering and use of a sex toy alone. While multiple past month sexual behaviors were likely to increase satisfaction among pregnant and non-expectant couples alike, this improvement might depend on which behaviors are included and the gender of the individual.

The purpose of this review was to examine and synthesize the available quality evidence to provide researchers, educators, and clinicians an overview of what is known about sexual behaviors during pregnancy and the year after childbirth. Search engines were used to identify peer-reviewed, English-language articles that met the inclusion criteria. A total of 56 prospective, retrospective, and qualitative studies published after 1996 were reviewed. A gradual decline in vaginal intercourse from prepregnancy to first trimester to third trimester was found. Most couples resume vaginal intercourse by eight weeks after childbirth, but this behavior does not occur at prepregnancy frequencies until closer to 12 months postchildbirth. Future studies should consider assessing sexual behaviors beyond vaginal intercourse and increase efforts in recruitment of diverse samples including non-White, nonheterosexual pregnant individuals, and partners of pregnant individuals.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the extent to which perceived changes in weight, body satisfaction, body-image self-consciousness, and genital self-image could be used to predict sexual function scores. A total of 168 primiparous women completed the cross-sectional, web-based survey. Significant correlations were found between body satisfaction, body-image self-consciousness, and female genital self-image and sexual function. Multivariate regression analysis suggests body image and genital self-image combined account for 14.1% of the variance in overall sexual function. Women should have opportunities to discuss body changes throughout pregnancy.