European older adults' use of the Internet and social networks for love and sex

What is the prevalence of using the Internet for love and sexual activities among older adults across Europe, and what predicts such use? Data were collected in probability samples among populations aged 60–75 years in Norway (N = 1271), Denmark (N = 1045), Belgium (N = 991), and Portugal (N = 509) using postal questionnaires. A total of 36% of men and 15% of women reported having used the Internet for sex and love purposes, most often to watch pornography. The use of the Internet for various love and sex purposes was higher in participants who had a partner, who had masturbation activity and who were satisfied with their current level of sexual activity. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that use of the Internet to find committed partners, watch pornography, buy sex products or seek information or advice was lower in Portuguese men than men in Norway, Denmark, and Belgium. Tailored websites to promote both sexuality and how to preserve a committed relationship are likely to prove important for the aging population

Silencing the sexual self and relational and individual well-being in later life: a gendered analysis of North versus South of Europe

This study explores the European North-South differences in older partnered individuals’ silencing of the sexual self and its links to relational and individual well-being. A web survey was conducted among partnered individuals aged 65 years or above in Norway and Croatia. There were 368 (women: 37.8%, response rate: 22%) and 359 (women: 34.5%, response rate: 27%) individuals who participated in Norway and Croatia, respectively. A range of relational (sexual satisfaction, relationship quality) and individual well-being (anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction) indicators was considered. Sexual self-silencing had significant impacts across outcomes, gender, and countries. Furthermore, contrary to what might be expected, we observed no differences in self-silencing between the two countries; and in both countries, men were more self-silenced than women. Findings suggest that sexual self-silencing can compromise relationship quality and psychological well-being in later life. Health and clinical practice toward older individuals and couples should thus probe about and aim to improve the expression of sexual desires and needs

Equine Assisted Social Work as a mean for authentic relations between clients and staff

The purpose of this study was to explore, by qualitative methods, the meaning of equine-assisted social work (EASW) both to young women with self-harm problems and their staff in residential treatment. Data were collected by in-depth interviews with eight staff members and nine clients. Human-horse interaction was observed subsequently in three of the staff and four of the clients. Based on the narratives of the staff members and the clients, who agreed, the horse’s ability to read human emotions made the staff and clients aware of their own emotions. In order not to alienate the horse or make the situation dangerous, which intensified their sense of being in the present, both the clients and staff had to regulate their emotions. As a result the resistance for change decreased, made the participants more likely to regulate their emotions and change behavior rather than avoid the situation or the information. The horse seemed to set the framework for the interaction between the staff and young women. The fact that even the staff could fail in the interaction with the horse, affected the interaction between staff and clients making it more informal and dynamic. A relationship based on empathy, trust, respect and negotiation, where clients shared private matters, resulted in the perception of a more authentic relationship. Further research is needed to see which conditions are favourable for achieving an authentic relationship and which conditions possibly fail.

The associations among satisfaction with the division of housework, partner’s perceived attractiveness, emotional intimacy, and sexual satisfaction in a sample of married or cohabiting Norwegian middle-class men

Satisfaction with the division of housework has been shown to affect women’s sexual satisfaction, but this relationship has rarely been studied in men. What are the relationships among men’s satisfaction with the division of housework, their perception of their emotional intimacy with their partner, their perception of their partner’s sexual attractiveness, and their sexual satisfaction? In the autumn of 2011, a selfselected online survey about men’s sexual health was carried out in Norway, Croatia, and Portugal. A total of 657 Norwegian men over 18 years of age completed the entire questionnaire. The results from the present study stemmed from 220 healthy and married/cohabiting men, who had completed the questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 44 years and the majority belonged to the upper middle class. Path analysis showed that the association between men’s sexual satisfaction and their satisfaction with the division of housework was partially mediated by emotional intimacy. The hypothesized mediating effect of partner’s sexual attractiveness on the relationship between sexual satisfaction and satisfaction with housework was not supported. The findings from this study provide new insights into the links between gender roles, intimacy, and male sexual satisfaction

Masturbation and pornography use among coupled heterosexual men with decreased sexual desire : How many roles of masturbation?

The relation between masturbation and sexual desire has not been systematically studied. The present study assessed the association between masturbation and pornography use and the predictors and correlates of frequent masturbation (several times a week or more often) among coupled heterosexual men who reported decreased sexual desire. Analyses were carried out on a subset of 596 men with decreased sexual desire (mean age = 40.2 years) who were recruited as part of a large online study on male sexual health in 3 European countries. A majority of the participants (67%) reported masturbating at least once a week. Among men who masturbated frequently, 70% used pornography at least once a week. A multivariate assessment showed that sexual boredom, frequent pornography use, and low relationship intimacy significantly increased the odds of reporting frequent masturbation among coupled men with decreased sexual desire. These findings point to a pattern of pornographyrelated masturbation that can be dissociated from partnered sexual desire and can fulfill diverse purposes. Clinical implications include the importance of exploring specific patterns of masturbation and pornography use in the evaluation of coupled men with decreased sexual desire

Correlates of men’s sexual interest: A cross-cultural study

Introduction. Low sexual desire has been studied more extensively in women than in men. Aim. The study aims to analyze the correlates of distressing lack of sexual interest and the self-assessed reasons for the lack of sexual interest among heterosexual men from three countries. Methods. A web-based survey was completed by 5,255 men aged 18–75 years from Portugal, Croatia, and Norway. Main Outcome Measures. We used an item that assesses lack of sexual interest from the British NATSAL 2000. Anxiety and depression were measured with the SCL-ANX4 and SCL-DEP6. Relationship intimacy was measured using a five-item version of the Emotional Intimacy Scale. A shortened version of the Sexual Boredom Scale was used to assess proneness to sexual boredom in relation to the duration of relationship, and personal distress was evaluated using an item created for this study. Results. Distressing lack of sexual interest lasting at least 2 months in the previous year was reported by 14.4% of the participants. The most prevalent comorbidity among these men was erectile difficulty (48.7%). Men with low confidence levels in erectile function, not feeling attracted to the partner, and those in long-term relationships were more likely to have experienced lack of sexual interest than were men with high confidence levels and those who felt attracted to their partner and those in shorter-term relationships. Professional stress was the most frequently reported reason for lack of sexual interest. Sexual boredom as a result of a long-term relationship was significantly and negatively correlated with the level of intimacy (r = −0.351, P < 0.001) and sexual satisfaction (r = −0.497, P < 0.001). Conclusions. Distressing lack of sexual interest in heterosexual men was associated with a number of intrapersonal (self-confidence in erectile function, stress), interpersonal (relationship duration, partner attractiveness), and sociocultural variables

Equine assisted social work as a mean for authentic relations between clients and staff

The purpose of this study was to explore, by qualitative methods, the meaning of equine-assisted social work (EASW) both to young women with self-harm problems and their staff in residential treatment. Data were collected by in-depth interviews with eight staff members and nine clients. Human-horse interaction was observed subsequentlyin three of the staff and four of the clients. Based on the narratives of the staff members and the clients, who agreed, the horse's ability to read human emotions made the staff and clients aware of their own emotions. In order not to alienate the horse or make the situation dangerous, which intensified their sense of being in the present, both the clients and staff had to regulate their emotions. As a result the resistance for change decreased, made the participants more likely to regulate their emotionsand change behavior rather than avoid the situation or the information. The horse seemed to set the framework for the interaction between the staff and young women. The fact that even the staff could fail in the interaction with the horse, affected the interaction between staff and clients making it more informal and dynamic. A relationship based on empathy, trust, respect and negotiation, where clients shared private matters, resulted in the perception of a more authentic relationship.Further research isneeded to see which conditions are favourable for achieving an authentic relationship and which conditions possibly fail

Job-related strain and sexual health difficulties among heterosexual men from three european countries: The role of culture and emotional support

Introduction. Epidemiological evidence for the association between job-related stress and sexual difficulties in men is largely lacking. Little is known about the factors that may mediate or moderate this relationship. Aim. This study analyzes the association between job-related difficulties and men’s sexual difficulties. Main Outcome Measures. Job-related difficulties were measured by 10 yes/no questions that addressed a range of adverse workplace situations. The experience of sexual difficulties in the past 12 months was assessed by using seven dichotomous indicators developed in the National Study of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL) 2000. Method. Analyses were carried out using data from a 2011 online study of Portuguese, Croatian, and Norwegian men (N = 2,112). Multivariate logistic regression and mediation analysis were used to test the hypothesized association. Results. Men with job-related concerns reported lower sexual satisfaction than men without such concerns did (F = 7.53, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between job-related and sexual health concerns. The odds of experiencing one or more sexual health difficulties in the past 12 months were about 1.8 times higher among men who reported the highest levels of workplace difficulties than among men who experienced no such difficulties. The odds of reporting sexual health difficulties were significantly reduced by a higher income (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.87, P < 0.01), emotional intimacy with one’s partner (AOR = 0.93, P < 0.001), having children (AOR = 0.62–0.66, P < 0.01), and country-specific effects (AOR = 1.98–2.22, P < 0.001). In all three countries, the relationship between job-related and sexual health difficulties was mediated by anxiety and depression. Conclusions. The findings suggest that negative mood is the mechanism behind the association between workplace strain and sexual difficulties. Emotional support, such as couple intimacy and fatherhood, can reduce—independently from sociocultural and socioeconomic factors—the risk of sexual health concerns

Equine assisted social work as a mean for authentic relations between clients and staff

The purpose of this study was to explore, by qualitative methods, the meaning of equine-assisted social work (EASW) both to young women with self-harm problems and their staff in residential treatment. Data were collected by in-depth interviews with eight staff members and nine clients. Human-horse interaction was observed subsequentlyin three of the staff and four of the clients. Based on the narratives of the staff members and the clients, who agreed, the horse's ability to read human emotions made the staff and clients aware of their own emotions. In order not to alienate the horse or make the situation dangerous, which intensified their sense of being in the present, both the clients and staff had to regulate their emotions. As a result the resistance for change decreased, made the participants more likely to regulate their emotionsand change behavior rather than avoid the situation or the information. The horse seemed to set the framework for the interaction between the staff and young women. The fact that even the staff could fail in the interaction with the horse, affected the interaction between staff and clients making it more informal and dynamic. A relationship based on empathy, trust, respect and negotiation, where clients shared private matters, resulted in the perception of a more authentic relationship.Further research isneeded to see which conditions are favourable for achieving an authentic relationship and which conditions possibly fail

Is responsive sexual desire for partnered sex problematic among men? Insights from a two-country study

In contrast to the body of research focusing on female sexual desire, there has been very little research into patterns of male sexual desire. This study addresses this deficiency in the literature by providing empirical answers to the following three questions: (1) is there a pattern of responsive sexual desire – defined as being predominantly receptive to a partner’s initiation of sexual activity without initially desiring it – among men? (2) Is this pattern associated with lower levels of sexual health than a more spontaneous pattern of male desire? (3) Are existing clinical observations regarding possible causes of reduced interest in partnered sex useful for understanding the more responsive men’s sexual desire? A large online survey about men’s sexual interest was conducted in 2011 among 2215 Norwegian and Portuguese men aged 18–75 years (the average age in the sample was 36.5 years). Sociodemographic, health-related, sociosexual and relationship-related information was collected. Three distinct patterns of male sexual desire were observed: decreased (23.6%), responsive (2.5%) and spontaneous (73.9%) desire patterns. Men in the more responsive and spontaneous desire groups significantly differed from participants in the decreased desire group, as they reported significantly higher levels of sexual interest, sexual satisfaction and frequency of sexual intercourse and were less likely to have experienced sexual health difficulties in the past 12 months. Interestingly, participants with more responsive and spontaneous desire patterns were indistinguishable in terms of a number of sociodemographic, health-related, sociosexual and relationship-related variables. The sole predictor of the responsive sexual desire pattern was proneness to relationship-related sexual boredom. Clinical observations about the roles of negative emotions, relationship strain and specific sexual arousal patterns (homoerotic, autoerotic and/or paraphilic) in the etiology of hypoactive sexual desire did not seem relevant for men with responsive desire