Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThis study examined the process of sexual recovery after surgical treatment for prostate cancer in a sample of 527 men in relationships, both in the context of their broadly measured Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) sexual functioning summary scores (Aim 1) and in frequencies of sexual activity (Aim 2). Across a period of 5 years, men submitted data up to 10 times about a variety of factors related to sexual quality of life (e.g., levels of sexual desire). Hierarchical linear growth modeling was used to estimate individual growth trajectories for each outcome, allowing for simultaneous examination of intraindividual and interindividual variability. Although everyone experienced a decrement to both outcomes immediately after surgery, results suggested that younger age, higher pretreatment sexual functioning and frequencies of sexual activity, and receiving nerve-sparing procedures were associated with better sexual functioning and higher frequency of sexual activity several months after surgery. Most men's levels of sexual functioning improved over time, though those with higher pretreatment sexual functioning increased at a faster rate. Although on average there was a slight, steady improvement over time in frequencies of sexual activity, individual men also varied from month-to-month around their own average levels of sexual activity depending on changes in sexual desire, confidence in satisfying a partner, perceived erectile ability, perceived orgasm ability, and whether or not they used sexual aids that month. These findings are discussed in the context of methodological and clinical implications in order to guide future research targets and improve clinical interventions

Master of Science

thesisThis study examined how people define having sex as a function of the specific behaviors (e.g., penetrative vs. nonpenetrative acts; whether or not orgasm occurs) and the context in which the behaviors occur (i.e., engaged in by self vs. other). Utilizing a more complex and sensitive research design than in previous studies in this area, 267 men and 367 women rated their degree of confidence that each of 21 physically intimate behaviors (e.g., penile-vaginal intercourse) counted as sex. Separate ratings were made for each behavior when engaged in by (1) the respondent and (2) his/her partner with someone else.Results showed that, for both sexes, some behaviors (e.g., penile vaginal intercourse) were far more confidently rated as having sex than were others (e.g., oralgenital stimulation). Further, both men and women were significantly more certain that a behavior counted as "having sex" when engaged in by their partner (with someone else) than when they engaged in the behavior. Finally, the order in which the two scenarios (i.e., self vs. partner) was presented significantly affected participants' ratings (e.g., partner's behaviors were more confidently rated as "having sex" when these rating were made before rather than after rating one's own behaviors). These findings are discussed in the context of participants' qualitative explanations for their ratings. The methodological and sexual health implications of the results are explored

Navigating Open Access Initiatives in a Sea of Mixed Support

CC-BY-NCSince 2008, OA support has grown into a three-pronged approach that includes working with faculty to deposit the appropriate, publisher-permitted version of their article in our IR; providing funding for open access articles through an Open Access Publishing Support Fund (OAPSF); and offering recurring classes to faculty and graduate students on selecting and evaluating journals, with a focus on OA publishing. The three efforts were created to address the informational, financial, and infrastructural and procedural barriers to OA publishing identified through local conversations and in the literature