The role of ethnic group and gender on beliefs about sexual problems : an experimental study with South Asians in the UK.

Abstract

South Asians have been neglected from studies exploring help-seeking related to sexual problems. This experimental case vignette study aimed to explore the role of ethnic group and gender on the beliefs held about the causes, consequences and possible solutions to sexual problems. The study examined the impact of ethnic group (South Asian versus White British), gender of the person in a fictitious case vignette (male versus female), and participant gender (male versus female) on beliefs about sexual problems and coherence between beliefs. 291 participants randomly received a single sentence case vignette depicting either a male or female with a sexual problem and completed measures online concerning their beliefs about causes, consequences and solutions to sexual problems. South Asian and White British participants equally endorsed a psychological causal model, however South Asians showed greater endorsement for biological and social factors for the causes, consequences and solutions to sexual problems. Participants considering the male case vignette perceived greater psychological consequences and biological solutions compared to those who received the female case vignette. Female participants showed greater endorsement for biological, psychological and social causes, and biological and social consequences. Both ethnic groups showed a coherent model between beliefs about the causes and the solutions to sexual problems. The findings provide theoretical support to cognitive models of help-seeking and offer clinical implications to improve help-seeking behaviour and management of sexual problems