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Numerous studies have established the importance of body image self-consciousness in predicting sexual distress and dissatisfaction in women. However, there is a dearth of information analyzing whether the same relation applies to men. Sexual perfectionism is a sexual correlate that has shown diverse links with sexual-related outcomes. The aim of the present study was to determine the degree to which certain sexuality-related factors, such as body image self consciousness and sexual perfectionism, and certain personality traits, namely grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits, may be associated with sexual discomfort in men. An online survey including self-report measures of sexual correlates variables and narcissistic personality traits was administered to a sample of 212 men, who provided the data used to investigate these associations. We performed a stepwise regression analysis, including the sexual-specific variables in the first step and vulnerable and grandiose narcissism in the second step. Sexual distress was linked to vulnerable narcissistic features and body image self-consciousness, according to our research. The clinical implications of our findings emphasize the need of evaluating body image concerns and taking personality characteristics into account when addressing sexual difficulties in men. Sexuality is affected by variables that are related to sex, such as the discomfort with one's body in sexual contexts, or the expectations toward the sexual performance of the partner. We investigate the role these variables play in men's sex life, and we also consider the impact of narcissistic personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual imagery and fantasy are key aspects of human sexuality. They are associated with sexual arousal and response and are reflective of societal influences on sexuality. A limitation of the existing literature on sexual fantasies is the pervasive focus on cisgender heterosexual individuals, whose behavior is considered normative in a cis-heteronormative society. This research has established the strong influence of gendered sexual scripts on the functioning and content of (presumably) cisgender individuals' sexual fantasies. How these gendered scripts might apply to individuals whose gender identity falls outside the binary is an under-researched area of study. The present work is aimed at providing a better understanding of non-binary individuals' sexuality through a qualitative investigation of sexual fantasies in a matched sample of Italian non-binary and cisgender individuals. Participants included 44 adults, 22 of whom identified as non-binary, 13 as cisgender women, and 9 as cisgender men. Results indicated that the sexual fantasies of non-binary individuals were generally comparable to cisgender individuals but were significantly more likely to contain references to non-normative genitals, and less likely to refer to themselves as the object of desire. Discussion focuses on how the differences in non-binary individuals' sexual fantasies affirmed, or were the result of, their gender identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the study of transgender and non-binary (TGNB) individuals' romantic and sexual relationships. The present study explored, from TGNB people's partners' perspective, how the couple experiences sexuality and intimacy, the effects from gender dysphoria in these relational domains, and how dysphoria is managed. For this purpose, 99 partners of TGNB individuals were recruited for an online study. Participants were asked to answer the following open-ended questions: "In the intimacy and sexuality with your partner, are there any parts of your or your partner's body that are/were off-limits?" "How did you manage this before, during, and after transition?" The data were analyzed through thematic analysis, and four overarching themes emerged: 1) Positive Aspects of the Relationship; (2) Challenges; (3) Strategies to Manage Dysphoria; and (4) Expected Improvement through Access to Medical Affirmation. The results suggest that gender dysphoria is one of the main challenges in experiencing intimacy and sexuality, but TGNB individuals and their partners can rely on several relational and practical resources to navigate it and enjoy positive experiences with intimacy and sexuality. The findings provide valuable information about how TGNB individuals and their partners build healthy and fulfilling relationships, and they can help clinicians better understand both members' perspectives in these romantic couples in the context of couples' therapy and sexual counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing interest in the experiences of transgender individuals, the phenomenon of fetishization of transgender bodies and identities has been overlooked. The present study was aimed at investigating the experiences of fetishization of transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) people. Participants in the current study represent a sample of 142 TGNB volunteers from the community who answered the prompt: "If you feel comfortable, could you describe your experience of being fetishized?" Using thematic analysis, we developed three overarching themes relevant to the experiences of fetishization of TGNB participants: (1) context of fetishization; (2) negative experiences of fetishization; and (3) positive or ambiguous experiences of fetishization. The results demonstrated that, in most cases, fetishization was understood by TGNB people as a negative experience of sexual objectification, although some individuals experienced fetishization as a positive experience, perceiving the sexual desire of the other person or living it as a kink. Consistent with the integrated theory of dehumanization, the results demonstrated that both sexual objectification and minority stress contributed to participants' understanding of fetishization for TGNB individuals. Implications for clinical work with TGNB individuals are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although there is growing interest in trans-negative attitudes and behaviors, few studies have investigated the psychological variables associated with them. The present study aims to assess the relationship between psychopathological symptoms, defensive style, personality traits and negative attitudes toward transgender people. Methods: Participants (N = 165) were asked to complete several questionnaires assessing their psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90-R), defensive style (REM-71), maladaptive personality traits (PID-5-BF), antitransgender attitudes (ATTI), and sociodemographic characteristics. A four-step hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to investigate the predictive role of such variables on antitransgender attitudes. Results: We found a significant negative effect of mature defenses and a positive effect of antagonistic traits on trans-negative attitudes. Political and religious beliefs predicted trans-negative attitudes, whereas no effect was found for the other predictors. We also found a significant effect of age and an interaction effect between sexual orientation and gender, with heterosexual men showing higher levels of trans-negativity than non-heterosexual men. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of both personality and social constructs in predisposing to negative attitudes toward transgender people. Future research should therefore take into account both personality and social variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]