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The ways in which the discrepancy between one's own interest in sex and that of one's partner may affect personal sexual satisfaction has rarely been systematically studied, especially among older adults. Previous research among younger adults indicates that a discrepancy in sexual desire can be detrimental in terms of several relationship outcomes, including sexual satisfaction. This study aimed to investigate a conceptual model of sexual satisfaction among coupled older adults which posits that the association between perceived discrepancy in sexual interest and sexual satisfaction is mediated by the frequency of sexual activity and emotional closeness during sex. Data from a probability-based postal survey that included 2695 partnered heterosexual adults aged 60–75 years from four European countries (Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal) were used to test the mediation model. Due to expected gender differences in the two mediators, all analyses were carried out separately for men and women. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that as an individual's perception of a discrepancy in sexual interest increases, his or her levels of sexual frequency and perceived closeness during sex decrease—which in turn diminishes sexual satisfaction. The results of this study provide insights into links among sexual interest, sexual frequency, emotional closeness, and sexual satisfaction in older adults, and point to substantial similarities in the sexuality of aging men and women in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual well-being is an important part of life for many people aged 60 and older. However, older adults often face barriers to seeking and receiving help for sexual difficulties. This study used data from a probability survey (n = 3820) on sexuality and ageing to examine help-seeking in 60–75-year-olds in Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal. More men (12.2%) than women (6.8%) had sought professional help for a sexual difficulty in the past 5 years. The main reason for help-seeking was that sex was important to the participant and/or their relationship. The main source of professional help was the primary care physician. Of those who had sought professional help, 48% were satisfied or very satisfied with the help received, 31.6% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 20.4% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Others had sought help from informal sources, particularly partners, friends, or websites. The main reasons for not seeking professional help included not being distressed by the symptoms, and thinking that the difficulty would clear up on its own. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that significant correlates of seeking professional help for women and men were level of distress about the sexual difficulty. With regard to women, those who were married, and/or from Portugal were more likely to have sought help. And regarding men, those who attended religious services were more likely to have sought professional help. These results have important implications for healthcare and can be used to inform the development and delivery of services for older adults who experience sexual difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students' attitudes towards learning and their school engagement play important roles on the success of educational programs. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to examine the roles of attitude towards learning and attitude towards the opposite sex as a predictor of school engagement and to determine the correlation between mixed gender education vs. single gender education and school engagement. Eight hundred and forty-three students (525 females and 318 males) who were studying in single gender or mixed gender schools were included in the research. Data were collected through School Engagement Scale, Attitude Scale towards Learning and Opposite Sex Attitude Scale. The Pearson moment correlation coefficient, multiple regression and stepwise regression were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that attitudes towards learning scores are the most predictive for school engagement. Results also showed that school engagement was higher in single gender schools for girls than in single gender schools for boys and mixed gender schools. The success of the student and the attitude towards the opposite sex were also variables that predict school engagement. The democratic attitude and education levels of parents also had important effects on students' school engagement. The findings have important implications for educational policy making and curriculum designs. Some general recommendations were made based on the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the importance of sexuality and physical intimacy for well-being of older adults has been recognized, the role of sexuality in successful aging (SA) has been largely neglected. Building on our previous work, here we further validated a three-dimensional model of SA and examined its associations with sexual satisfaction and change in sexual interest among older heterosexual couples (aged 60–75 years). Participants were recruited in a probability-based survey, which was carried out in 2016–2017 in four European countries. Using structural equation modeling of the Actor–Partner Interdependence, we observed significant relationships between SA and sexual satisfaction for both male and female partners across countries. Among women, their retrospectively assessed change in sexual interest over the past 10 years was consistently associated with sexual satisfaction. Partner effects were gender-specific: male partners' SA was significantly related to their female partners' change in sexual interest, which in turn was linked to male partners' sexual satisfaction. The findings point to substantial ties between successful aging and sexuality in older European couples. Taking into account the prevalent stereotypes about old age and sexuality, this study's findings can assist professionals working with aging couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about sexual behaviour, attitudes, and associated factors among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using a multistage sampling technique was conducted among 453 male adolescents selected from high schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. About 54.1% of the adolescents practiced masturbation daily and 38% had experienced sexual contact, while 67% had friends who had experienced sexual contact. The majority of adolescents (72.2%) believed men engage in sexual experience before marriage, and only 11.5% discussed sexual health issues with their parents. Most adolescents believed in the effectiveness of sex education (92.3%) and the need for school-based sex education (85.6%). The logistic regression analyses showed adolescent sexual activity was independently associated with age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–1.8, p < 0.001), daily masturbation (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.2, p < 0.004), friends who engaged in sexual activity (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4–4.6, p < 0.001), and belief that men experience sexual contact before marriage (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI: 2.8–9.3, p < 0.001). The findings indicated that male adolescents had negative attitudes toward sexual activity and were involved in risky sexual behaviour. To mitigate these issues, schools and community networks should be involved in the delivery of a culturally sensitive sexual health-promoting programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contributions of Lindon Eaves to the development of the subject of behavior genetics are reviewed, with a focus on the 1970s, the first astonishing decade of his career when he made major theoretical advances in the design and power of human quantitative genetic studies, including treatment of assortative mating, cultural transmission, sex limitation, sibling effects, gene-environment interaction and covariation, and multivariate genetic analysis. He also made important substantive contributions to our understanding of the causes of individual differences in cognition, personality, social and sexual attitudes, and smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that religion reduces adolescents' risk of substance use, while having little impact on sexual risk-taking. However, few studies have examined how religion might mitigate adolescents' involvement with both drugs and sex. Using the Child Development Supplement (CDS) in combination with the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we fill this gap by determining how adolescents' involvement with both drugs and sex is related to religiosity. We find the statistically significant relationship between religiosity and adolescents' involvement in both risk behaviors is accounted for by school attachment, but the relationship between religiosity and drugs is robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since religious messages on life style have a strong impact in South Africa, it is important to assess how they relate to the situation for young people at risk of HIV infection. Nine focus group discussions were conducted with youth ( n = 62), aged 13-20 years, from the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Assemblies of God. Young people were ambivalent toward sexual contacts since these generally were expected to be part of a relationship even though the church condemns premarital sex. Girls perceived the moral norms to concern them more than the boys for whom sexual needs were more accepted. These moral barriers lead to lack of information about protection and may increase the risk of HIV. The realities young people facing should be a major concern for the faith communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, is a Christian faith with a large presence across the globe. Although Mormon doctrine suggests that faith in Jesus allows people to overcome weakness and heal from pain, Mormon people are not immune from experiencing periods of mental and emotional suffering. The deeply held religious beliefs of Mormons can influence the nature of the psychological difficulties a Mormon individual is prone to experiencing, how and when they choose to seek treatment, as well as the types of treatment that may be most beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript examines the HIV/AIDS health disparity among African-American (AA) men who have sex with men (MSM) as compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) MSM, and proposes faith-based intervention strategies as a means of reducing the disparity. Effective faith-based HIV/AIDS intervention programs to encompass AA MSM must include community-based participatory research; engage the faith community through data sharing; specifically target and equip church leaders in addition to laity; involve effective collaboration and compromise between public health practitioners and faith leaders; emphasize spirituality and compassion; utilize popular opinion leaders; and be intergenerational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black/African American and Latino communities are disproportionately affected by the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic. Blacks/African Americans and Latinos are also more likely to report a formal, religious, or faith affiliation when compared with non-Hispanic whites. As such, faith leaders and their institutions have been identified in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy as having a vital role to serve in reducing: (1) HIV-related health disparities and (2) the number of new HIV infections by promoting non-judgmental support for persons living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS and by serving as trusted information resources for their congregants and communities. We describe faith doctrines and faith-science partnerships that are increasing in support of faith-based HIV prevention and service delivery activities and discuss the vital role of these faith-based efforts in highly affected black/African American and Latino communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study sought to understand the perceptions and experiences of abstinence among young Christians in a University in South Africa. Willingness to adhere to Christian teachings of sexual chastity is the primary motivation for sexual abstinence while spiritual, mental and physical health benefits of abstinence as well as enforcement of Christian teachings by members and peers are secondary motivations that help sustain sexual abstinence. Sexual pressures come from desire to satisfy sexual urge, subtle coercion, peer pressure, momentary loss of self-control. There is need for multi-pronged interventions aimed at empowering Christian youth to deal with sources of sexual pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine whether religiosity, spirituality, and sexual attitudes accounted for differences in sexual behaviors among college students. The sample included 960 college students enrolled at four northeastern colleges. Results indicated differences in sexual attitudes, religiosity, and spirituality by gender. Moreover, sexual attitudes, religiosity, and spirituality were associated with sexual behaviors among college students. Sexual behaviors among males were influenced by their sexual attitudes, religiosity, and spirituality, while for females, their sexual behaviors were mostly influenced by their sexual attitudes. College health professionals can use these findings when discussing sexual practices with students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much of the Christian evangelical movement fosters judgmental attitudes surrounding sexuality, disapproving of other individuals who exhibit behaviors deemed morally reprehensible, other evangelical denominations embrace different viewpoints about human sexuality. In spite of the existence of ecumenical evangelical groups, the majority defines sexual morality through a narrow and prescriptive outlook and pathologizes certain sexual behaviors. Solutions to identified sexual problems are often provided through restrictive viewpoints despite the existence of largely opposing positions within this movement. Reaction formation and authoritarian personality theory are theorized as the primary explanations for individuals failing to conform to stringent religious sexual expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]