Sexual orientation and drive: a comparative pilot study on sexual desire

Many studies addressing sexual drive and hypersexuality stated that homosexuals are used to report higher levels of sexual desire and compulsive sexual behaviors. Literature showed a lack of comparisons between perceived level of desire in hetero and gay population. This study aims to analyze some variables which could predict levels of sexual desire in both heterosexual and homosexual men such as sexual satisfaction, distress, sexism and dysfunctional sexual beliefs

Exploring the psychosocial predictors of male sexual desire. Testing an integrated model

Objectives: The literature lacks studies of male sexual desire under the umbrella of the Biopsychosocial approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate and test in a general conceptual model the role of selected psychological and social variables affecting male sexual desire such as sexual function, sexism, and cognitive-emotional factors. Material and Method(s): Psychosocial variables were selected from a previous study on the best predictors of male sexual desire in a group of 450 heterosexual Italian men (age 31.36±10.73). According to the Biopsychosocial approach, a Path Diagram was built including “Orgasmic Function”, “Lack of Erotic Thoughts (LET)”, “Erection Concerns Thoughts (ECT)”, “Hostile Sexism”, and “Positive Affect” as predictors of sexual desire. The model was designed as a “partial mediation model” from automatic thoughts to desire. ECT and LET were put as main predictors, with direct paths going from ECT to Positive Affect and Sexual Desire, and from LET to Positive Affect, Orgasmic Function and Sexual Desire. Direct paths were also drawn from emotions and orgasm to Sexual Desire. In this model, part of ECT and LET effect is mediated by emotions and orgasm, and part directly influences Sexual Desire. Hostile Sexism and Socio-demographic variables were considered outside (exogenously), as external variables influencing Sexual Desire. Path Analysis was performed through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. Result(s): Results showed a satisfactory fit to the data (χ2=35.312, df=34, p=.406; GFI=.987; NFI=.945; CFI=.998; RMSEA=.009 [95% CI: .000 - .036]). All the endogenous paths and Hostile Sexism were found to be significant. None of the Socio-demographic variables was significant, even if it was important to have them included in this model in order to control their possible confounding effects highlighted by previous studies. Conclusion(s): Our findings suggest that cognitive, emotive, sexual functioning and cultural variables play a very important role on men’s sexual interest. Clinical implications of the model are addressed: it explains the need to operate under an integrated approach, considering cognitive, emotional and sexual aspect all together in order to elicit an effective arise of sexual desire

Psycho-relational well-being in women with sexual pain: a preliminary study

Female sexual pain is a complex multi-factorial condition. Most of the research has focused on underlying biomedical factors. Although psychological and relational factors have been studied as possible correlates, data are still controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate psychological and relational well-being in women who complain of sexual pain. The hypothesis was that sexual pain is associated with worse scores

Extraversion and neuroticism in sexually dysfunctional men suffering from erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation: a cross-sectional study

The role of personality traits in sexual complaints and dysfunctions is ever more evident. However, the literature is very scarce as to the possible relationships between such personality traits and specific sexual dysfunctions like ED, PE or both, their subtypes as to time of onset and severity levels. The main aim of the present study was to investigate if Neuroticism and Extraversion have different roles and trends in men suffering from PE and/or ED, both lifelong and acquired. Moreover, we verified if, by adopting DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing PE, some differences emerged in percentages of diagnosed cases. The sample consisted of 222 patients aged 18-70. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) was used to assess erectile function, and the Premature Ejaculation Severity Index (PESI) was used to assess the severity of PE dysfunction. Neuroticism and Extraversion were measured with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R). In our results, Neuroticism and Extraversion were dependent on the kind of sexual dysfunction and its severity. These results suggest that type, time of onset and severity of sexual dysfunctions should be considered as related to specific personality characteristics and vice versa

Editorial: psychological dimensions in human sexual health and behavior

Human sexuality is still an underexplored world, subjected to great taboos and controversies over the decades, representing one of the most challenging areas of research and facing countless political and social demands. In this sense, leading organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) and the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS, 2014) have established sexual health and well-being as human rights and key goals to be achieved worldwide to improve the health-related quality of life. The newmessage that is being carried out by these entities, is that sexual health not only concerns reproductive issues, sexual problems, sexual violence, and sexually transmitted infections, but also positive aspects related to intimate relationships, pleasure, consenting sexual relationships, gender and sexual orientation variety, and sexual functioning among other aspects

NIMBI F.M. (2021). Sexuality in breast cancer survivors: sexual experiences, emotions, and cognitions in a group of women under hormonal therapy. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology 9(S2):26 https://doi.org/10.13129/2282-1619/mjcp-3224

Introduction: Earlier diagnosis and improved treatments have led to better outcomes and prolonged survivals in breast cancer, making quality of life a key issue. Sexuality represents a pillar of quality of life, although it is often neglected in cancer. The aim of the current study was to explore differences in mental health, sexual experience and related cognitive-emotional outcomes between breast cancer survivors under hormonal treatment and a matched control group. Method: Seventy-nine women (ranged between 24-69 years) in hormonal therapy for breast cancer and 103 women extracted from a general population database completed a self-reported protocol exploring sexual functioning (FSFI) and distress (FSDS), psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90-R), emotions (PANAS, TAS-20), and cognition over sexuality (SMQ, SBDQ, and QCSASC). Results: The current study showed an impaired sexuality in breast cancer patients compared to controls. Patients under hormonal treatment were characterized by diminished or absent sexual activity (chi2=36.16; p<.001), lower level of sexual functioning in all areas except for pain (F(1,180)=8.1; p<.01), higher sexual (F(1,180)=10.08; p<.001) and psychological distress (F(1,180)=6.23; p<.05), higher scores in Difficulties in Identifying Feelings (F(1,180)=7.31; p<.01) and Externally Oriented Thinking (F(1,180)=6.64; p<.05), higher level of negative emotions related to sexuality (F(1,180)=11.13; p<.001), and more rigid cognitions towards peculiar aspects of sexuality such as Failure Disengagement Thoughts (F(1,180)=22.01; p<.001) and Age related Beliefs (F(1,180)=5.7; p<.05). Conclusion: Anticancer treatments often imply a tremendous toll on women, including early menopause induced by antioestrogens therapies. Healthcare providers should consider the sexual needs of their patients in their routine practice, striving to improve tailored treatments for breast cancer considering general and sexual health and being able to improve the quality of life

NIMBI F.M. (2018). Youth sexual health in Europe: results from the EFS Youth Committee study. 14th Congress of the European Federation of Sexology

The main aim of this study was to explore the sexual health situation across different countries of Europe (Italy, Malta, Turkey, Romania, and Norway) in a sample of university students (aged between 18-25). In addition to a quantitative study of sexual dysfunction in young people, we would like to investigate the role played by some variables like distress, Quality of Life (QoL) and alexithymia in this age group. We reached over 1000 subjects who are attending their university studies in 5 different countries of Europe (Belgium, Italy, Malta, Romania, Turkey) using a mother-language web-survey for each country. The survey included questions on demographics, health, relationships, sexual behaviour, sexual difficulties and distress, Quality of Life and emotions. In line with scientific literature, we found higher levels of QoL in people with low distress and alexithymia rates, independently from having or not a sexual dysfunction. Major details and clinical implications will be addressed during the symposium

SEXUAL EDUCATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES: INNOVATIONS AND LIMITS

Introduction: The main international guidelines on sex education agree on the need to increase the number of interventions in schools and on the community, in formal and non-formal contexts. The suggestion is to start as soon as possible, with objectives and methods appropriate for the age, promoting the development of critical thinking with participatory and personalized tools. Methods: This report will discuss limits and innovations based on a review of the literature. Results: There are effective sexual education projects and programs, but they are rarely put into practice because of the prohibitive costs, long implementation times, limited number of people reachable (class group) and the need for highly specialized educators. In this sense, Tech-based interventions are a possible resource to face the limits. Social Media is the language with which children express themselves among themselves and above-mentioned limits. Regarding sexual health, digital natives are less used to talk face-to-face (among themselves and with adults) and are used to gather the information they need on the Net. In the literature, Interactive Digital Interventions (IDIs) define those "digital elements that provide information on sexual health, support decision making, elicit behavioural changes and provide emotional support". These include interactive video games, smartphone & mHealth applications, Social Medias, educational videos, online discussion groups (forums, chats), technology-driven peer-leader recruitment and education. Conclusions: A good IDI should consider the users reached, evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, be adaptable to various contexts, be accessible to educators and significant adults and be sustainable over time. Digital and Social Medias can be effective tools for sexual education, especially if matched with interventions on emotions

NIMBI F.M. (2019). Chemsex: sexualised drug taking among men who have sex with men (MSM). Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology 7(S2), pp60 https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/2019.7.2267

Chemsex is a novel phenomenon referred to drug consumption during sexual events to facilitate, enhance and prolong the experience. Drugs associated with chemsex are usually (but not exclusively) methamphetamine, GHB/GBL and mephedrone. This phenomenon is alarming among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), who are about three times more prone to illicit substances use than other men. Chemsex represents a specific pattern of use of drugs with peculiar characteristics from other addictions, although some studies highlighted an association with polyaddictions (alcohol, internet, sex, pornography, etc.). Since 2012, chemsex quickly became identified in big cities and sex-on-premise venues with a substantial incidence (prevalence of 3.6–93.7% among cohort and cross-sectional studies). Chemsex has given rise to a rapid increase in transdisciplinary attention due to the related public health risks (addiction, overdose, sexually transmitted infections, mental health problems and sexual assaults). To date, in Italy there are no specific services for people who engage in chemsex and regular addiction services are not able to face the emergency due to a lack of knowledge, effective strategies, and negative social attitudes towards the LGBTQI+ population. Given the lack of data at a regional level (Italy), the present study aims to investigate the incidence and extent of chemsex (with particular regard to diffusion, contexts and patterns of use) and the role of associated psycho-sexological factors (psychological and emotional status, sexual functioning, HIV stigma, religious stigma, and internalized/societal homophobia). Pilot results of a web-survey and some in-depth qualitative interviews will be presented, discussing the implication for effective harm reduction programmes