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BackgroundThe Canadian government’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic included the implementation of several restrictive measures since March 2020. These actions sought to decrease social contact and increase physical distancing, including that within universities. Such constraints were required to impede the transmission of the virus; however, concerns remain about their impact on the sexual and intimate relationships of university employees and students.AimThis study examined the associations between COVID-19–related stress and sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction, also testing the mediating role of psychological distress.MethodsThe models were tested with Canadian data collected from university employees and students in 2 phases: the first wave in April-May 2020 (T1; n = 2754) and the second wave in November-December 2021 (T2; n = 1430), 18 months afterward. Participants completed self-report questionnaires online. Path analyses were performed to test the associations of the mediation models.OutcomesThe principal outcomes included psychological distress determined via the Patient Health Questionnaire–4, relationship satisfaction measured via the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and sexual satisfaction and sexual frequency ascertained through a single item each.ResultsOverall, COVID-19–related stress was associated with higher psychological distress, which in turn was related to lower sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Similar results were obtained with T1 and T2 data, indicating the mediating effect of psychological distress.Clinical ImplicationsThese findings increase scholarly comprehension of the negative associations between stress/distress and sexual and romantic relationships. Sexuality and close relationships are vital to the quality of human life; thus, targeted interventions should be developed to reduce COVID-19–related stress and its impact on sexual and romantic relationships to mitigate the long-term influences of this unique global challenge.Strengths and LimitationsTo our knowledge, this study is the first to use a large sample size and replicate findings in 2 waves. Nonetheless, it is limited by the use of cross-sectional data. Longitudinal studies with the same participants are mandated to better understand the evolution of these outcomes.ConclusionCOVID-19–related stress and psychological distress were found among participating university students and employees and were associated with lower sexual satisfaction, sexual frequency, and intimate relationship satisfaction. These results were observed at the early onset of the pandemic and 18 months afterward, suggesting that the stress generated by the pandemic were not mere reactions to the onset of the pandemic but persisted over time.

Whereas greater levels of intimacy have been shown to promote couples’ sexual well-being, recent theories suggest that satisfying sex is maintained via the capacity to encourage the partner’s individuality, while remaining intimately connected. Responses to capitalization attempts (i.e., the disclosure of a positive personal event) provide an opportunity to strengthen both the couple’s intimacy and each partner’s autonomy. Although responses to capitalization attempts are linked to couples’ greater relationship adjustment, very little is known about their relation to couples’ sexual well-being. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between self-reported, perceived, and observed responses to capitalization attempts and sexual satisfaction, sexual distress, and sexual function in 151 cohabiting couples who participated in a filmed discussion in the laboratory. They also completed self-report questionnaires pertaining to their responsiveness and to that of the partner during the discussion, as well as their sexual well-being. Results indicated that one’s higher levels of self-reported and partner-perceived active–constructive responses (enthusiasm/elaboration) during the discussion were associated with one’s own greater sexual satisfaction. Higher levels of perceived passive–constructive responses (quiet but interested) from one’s partner were associated with one’s own lower sexual satisfaction, and one’s higher levels of self-reported and perceived passive–destructive responses (lack of interest/self-focus) were associated with one’s own greater sexual distress. Finally, higher levels of observed active–destructive responses (undermines/denies the positive nature of the event) were associated with one’s own lower sexual function, while in women, they were associated with their lower sexual satisfaction. Findings contribute to a growing body of literature underscoring the importance of intimacy for sexual well-being in long-term relationships.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in pornography use has been reported based on cross-sectional findings, raising concerns about associated adverse outcomes, such as problematic pornography use (PPU). The aims of the present study were to document potential changes in adolescents’ pornography use frequency, motivations, and PPU before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of an ongoing study on adolescents’ sexual health, we used a large sample (NTime 1 = 1771; 47.6% girls, Mage = 15.42 years, SD = 0.59) to examine changes from baseline (before the COVID-19 pandemic) to one year later (during the COVID-19 pandemic) in adolescents’ self-reported pornography use frequency, motivations, and PPU, using latent change models and examining potential gender differences. No significant changes were observed in adolescents’ pornography use frequency and pornography use motivations, and no gender differences were present in these trends. Although statistically significant, slight decrease was observed in boys’ PPU levels, and a statistically significant, slight increase was observed in girls’ PPU levels, these changes were very small, providing no practical or clinical relevance. In sum, despite previous propositions, concerns, and cross-sectional findings, longitudinal results suggest that adolescents’ pornography use characteristics were rather stable between November 2019 and June 2021, and the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns might not have led to general increases in adolescents’ pornography use as it was expected. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10508-021-02282-4.

This study examined the associations between childhood maltreatment (CM) and the mean-level of perceived partner responsiveness (PPR; the extent to which individuals feel cared for, understood, and validated by their partner) over 35 days, the day-to-day variability in PPR, and the initial levels and trajectories of PPR over 1 year in community couples. Both members of 228 couples completed a self-reported measure of CM and provided daily reports of PPR over 35 days and retrospective reports of PPR at three time points over 1 year. A person’s greater CM was related to a lower mean level of PPR over 35 days and to a lower initial level of their own PPR. A person’s sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect had an effect over and above other forms of CM in these associations. A person’s greater CM was also related to higher day-to-day variability in their own and their partner’s PPR, and a person’s greater emotional neglect was associated with a sharper decrease over time in their own PPR. These findings provide a more fine-grained understanding of how CM may affect the perceptions of being cared about, accepted, and validated by a partner on a daily basis and over time.

Provoked vestibulodynia is a vulvar pain condition causing sexual dysfunction, affecting 8% to 10% of women. Our recently published randomized clinical trial (N = 108 couples) found that cognitive behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) and topical lidocaine reduced women's pain and associated sexual symptoms, with CBCT showing more benefits. Little is known about pretreatment predictors of treatment outcomes in couples sex therapy. In the current study, we examined women and their partners' pretreatment demographic (age, relationship length), clinical (pain duration, anxiety) and interpersonal (partner responses to pain, sexual goals) predictors/moderators of women's pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and sexual function at posttreatment and 6-month follow-up. Longer relationship duration, lower anxiety in women, partner higher solicitousness and partner higher approach sexual goals predicted better pain outcomes for women with PVD irrespective of treatment condition. CBCT was more effective than lidocaine for improving women's sexual function at posttreatment when, at pretreatment, women had partners with higher anxiety and women reported lower approach sexual goals, whereas lidocaine was more effective for improving women's sexual function at follow-up when partners had higher approach sexual goals. Findings can assist clinicians in determining what treatment will be most beneficial for whom.

The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between interpersonal violence (IV) experienced in the context of sport by teenagers and three mental health outcomes: self-esteem, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. A convenience sample of 1055 French-Canadian athletes between the ages of 14 and 17 who were participating in an organized sport was recruited to participate in an online survey. Results showed that psychological violence and neglect as well as sexual violence were independently related to lower self-esteem while physical, psychological/neglect, and sexual violence were all independently related to higher psychological distress and PTSD symptoms. Early intervention programs for athletes that experience IV is critical as it may help prevent the development of subsequent mental health issues.

Emotion dysregulation and intimacy problems are theoretically underpinned correlates of hypersexuality (i.e., uncontrollable sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviors resulting in distress and impairment in different areas of functioning), but the directionality of these associations has not been established, as work in this area has relied on cross-sectional designs. Moreover, although hypersexuality may have significant adverse effects on romantic relationships and approximately half of treatment-seeking individuals are in a relationship, prior studies almost exclusively involved samples of men, regardless of their relationship status. The aim of the present study was to examine the directionality of associations between both partners’ emotion dysregulation, physical (i.e., partnered sexual frequency) and relationship intimacy, and hypersexuality using a longitudinal, dyadic framework. Self-reported data of 267 mixed-sex couples (Mage_men = 29.9 years, SD = 8.2; Mage_women = 27.7 years, SD = 6.7) at baseline (T1) and six-month follow-up (T2) were analyzed using a crossed-lagged model within an actor–partner interdependence framework. Prior greater emotion dysregulation (T1) in both men and women was associated with their own later greater hypersexuality (T2). Women’s prior greater hypersexuality (T1) was associated with their later lower relationship intimacy (T2). Lower levels of intimacy were not significantly associated with later hypersexuality. No partner effects were found in relation to hypersexuality. Findings suggest that men and women may use sexual behaviors to cope with negative emotions, which could, in turn, lead to hypersexuality. Intimacy problems did not precede hypersexuality, although women’s hypersexuality may reduce their own relationship intimacy over time.

We conducted latent profile analyses on community (n = 1663) and clinical (n = 575) samples to determine whether continuous scores of attachment anxiety and avoidance would lead to the identification of theoretically consistent and clinically useful profiles. We then compared these profiles according to gender, relationship status, psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction. Analysis on the community sample yielded four profiles: secure, preoccupied, dismissive, and fearful individuals; whereas, the clinical sample yielded three profiles: secure, preoccupied, and fearful individuals. In the community sample, there was a higher proportion of women under the preoccupied profile and a higher proportion of men under the dismissive profile compared with the other profiles. Overall, insecure individuals reported higher levels of relationship dissatisfaction and psychological distress, and a relationship status reflecting lower commitment. Our findings suggest that the Experiences in Close Relationships scale could be useful in assisting therapists in conceptualizing their cases according to their patients' attachment profile.

A growing number of large-scale studies suggest that people with disabilities are at greater risk of sexual victimization than nondisabled individuals. However, certain results are inconsistent and whether potential moderators explain this variability in previous findings remain to be considered. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the magnitude of the difference in risk of being sexually victimized based on the presence of a disability. An additional objective was to evaluate the relative influence of gender, age, type of disability, type of sexual violence, and relationship with the perpetrator on the association between the presence of a disability and sexual victimization. Studies were searched using pertinent databases and retained if they included a group with a disability, provided data that quantify the occurrence of abuse, indicated the type of sexual violence, and was published between 1970 and 2018 in French or English. A total of 68 studies, allowing 84 independent samples and 12,427 participants, were included. Individuals with disabilities were at significantly higher risk of sexual victimization than persons without disabilities (odds ratio = 2.27). The risk of sexual victimization among individuals with a disability was significantly higher in adult participants compared with the risk in minor participants. Sensory impairment was the type of disability associated with the highest risk of sexual victimization. Odds of sexual victimization among individuals with a disability were significantly higher in African countries compared with all others, and odds in Western Europe were significantly lower than in the United States. No significant differences emerged across eras.

This study examined the mediating role of emotions related to sexual violence in adulthood in the associations between social reactions to sexual violence disclosure and sexual outcomes. Self-reported data were collected from 324 women reporting sexual violence and path analyses were conducted among the 264 women (81.5%) who disclosed their most recent sexual violence experience. Results showed that emotional support was associated with higher sexual satisfaction. Victim blame was associated with greater guilt related to the sexual violence, which, in turn, was associated with higher sexual compulsivity. Stigmatization was associated with greater shame related to the sexual violence, which, in turn, was associated with higher sexual distress and avoidance, and lower sexual satisfaction and function. Our findings highlight the importance of social reactions to sexual violence disclosure in women's sexuality.

Recent studies demonstrate that interpersonal violence toward athletes (VTA) is a significant problem in some countries. However, in Canada, little scientific evidence on the prevalence of this issue exists. The objective of this study was to describe the magnitude of interpersonal violence toward young Canadian athletes in the context of sport and to explore associated risk factors. A total of 1,055 athletes, aged between 14 and 17 years, anonymously completed an online survey about their experiences of various types of interpersonal violence in sport. The sample consisted of 763 girls and 292 boys, with a mean age of 15.3 ± 1.1 years. Results showed that 79.2% of athletes reported at least one experience of psychological violence followed by 39.9% reporting physical violence, 35.7% reporting neglect, and 28.2% sexual violence. Being older, being a girl, having specialized in a sport early on, and a high number of hours of weekly practice were related to higher odds of reporting psychological violence or neglect. Being older, being a boy, reporting a nonheterosexual sexual preference, greater number of hours of weekly practice, being in an interregional or provincial sport level, and practicing only team sports were related to higher odds of reporting physical violence. Reporting a nonheterosexual sexual preference and being in an interregional or international sport level were associated with higher odds of reporting sexual violence. In conclusion, this study shows that VTA, particularly psychological violence and neglect, is a serious problem in youth sport in Canada. These results may help to influence public decision makers to intervene and develop and implement strategies to prevent VTA.

OBJECTIVE The postpartum period is a vulnerable time for sexual health, yet the relationship between biopsychosocial factors and sexual function over time remains unclear. Our aim was to identify trajectories of postpartum sexual function in first-time mothers (N = 646) and examine associations with biopsychosocial factors. METHODS Biopsychosocial factors were assessed at delivery and 3 months postpartum. Sexual function was assessed during pregnancy, 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum using the Female Sexual Function Index. Latent class growth analysis was conducted to identify distinct sexual function trajectories. Multinomial logistic regressions examined associations between biopsychosocial factors and membership in the trajectories. RESULTS Three trajectories were identified: 52% of women reported minimal sexual function problems at 3 months postpartum and improved the least over time, 35% of women reported moderate sexual function problems at 3 months and improved the most over time, and 13% of women reported marked sexual function problems at 3 months and improved somewhat over time. Biomedical factors were not significantly related to trajectory membership. Higher sexual distress at 3 months postpartum was associated with increased odds of being in the moderate and marked sexual function problems subgroups, whereas higher sexual function in pregnancy was associated with decreased odds of being in these subgroups. Lower depressive symptoms and higher relationship satisfaction was associated with reduced odds of being in the marked problems subgroup. CONCLUSIONS Improvement in sexual function postpartum is heterogeneous. Psychosocial, but not biomedical factors were significantly associated with the trajectories. This information may be integrated into psychoeducation, and for informing earlier assessment and intervention practices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

This study examined the contribution of child maltreatment (CM) to trajectories of couples' sexual well-being, and whether relationship satisfaction moderates these associations. Using a sample of 269 mixed-sex couples followed over one year, dyadic latent growth curve models showed both actor and partner effects. In terms of actor effects, women's emotional neglect was associated with lower initial levels of sexual satisfaction, and most types of women's CM were related to a sharper decrease over time in sexual satisfaction. Men and women's emotional abuse and neglect, and women's sexual abuse, were associated with lower initial levels of sexual function. Men and women's emotional neglect and women's emotional abuse were related to higher initial levels of sexual distress. Women's sexual abuse was associated with a steeper increase in sexual distress. In terms of partner effects, women's emotional neglect was associated with lower initial levels of partner sexual satisfaction, and women's emotional abuse and neglect, with lower initial levels of partner sexual function. Greater relationship satisfaction buffered some of these negative effects. Given that sexual well-being requires a context in which the individual feels safe, all forms of CM may affect sexual well-being, although a satisfying relationship may buffer some of these effects.

Pornography use is now considered a normative sexual activity, including for partnered individuals. Although there are documented positive and negative effects of pornography use on romantic relationships, studies to date suffer from key limitations, narrowing their clinical relevance. Most rely on vague recall measurement that may inadequately capture actual pornography use, and all are exclusively based on mixed-sex couples. This study used a 35-day dyadic daily diary design to examine the associations between an individual’s daily pornography use and their own and their partner’s relationship satisfaction, partnered sexual desire, and probability of partnered sexual activity in mixed-sex and same-sex couples ( N = 217 couples). For women, regardless of partner’s sex, using pornography was associated with their own and their partner’s higher sexual desire and with higher odds of partnered sexual activity. For men, regardless of partner’s sex, using pornography was associated with their partner’s lower sexual desire; for men coupled with women, with lower odds of partnered sexual activity, and for men coupled with men, with higher odds of partnered sexual activity. For all participants, pornography use was unrelated to relationship satisfaction. The current study demonstrated that an individual’s pornography use is associated with same-day couple’s sexual dynamics, with different associations according to users’ and their partners’ sex.

Although facilitative and negative partner responses are known to impact couples' adaptation to provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), a chronic genito-pelvic pain condition, it is still unknown what leads individuals to adopt or perceive such adaptative or detrimental behaviors. Attachment influences sexual and relationship adjustment, emotional reactivity and perceived support in romantic relationships, and as such could be associated with partner responses. This study aimed at examining the mediating role of facilitative and negative partner responses in the associations between attachment and relationship and sexual adjustment in 125 couples coping with PVD. Couples completed self-report questionnaires on attachment, partner responses, sexual satisfaction and distress, and relationship satisfaction. Results indicated that partners' attachment avoidance was negatively associated with facilitative partner-reported responses, which in turn was associated with partners' sexual and relationship satisfaction. Attachment anxiety in women and partners was associated with greater women-perceived negative partner responses, which in turn was associated with women's and partners' greater sexual distress and lower sexual satisfaction, and women's lower relationship satisfaction. Partners' greater attachment anxiety was also associated with greater partner-reported facilitative responses, which was associated with partners' lower and women's greater relationship satisfaction. Assessing attachment orientations may help clinicians better understand couples' dyadic coping.

Achieving healthy and satisfying sexual relationships is a major developmental task in adolescence, but factors promoting sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic relationships remain underexplored. Since sexuality is shaped by relational experiences, strategies mobilized to negotiate conflicts in romantic relationships could be related to sexual satisfaction through comfort in negotiating sexual experiences. Sexual comfort refers to the ease of discussing sexuality, and feeling comfortable with one's own sexual life and with others' sexual behaviors. This cross-sectional dyadic study examined the mediating role of sexual comfort in the associations between perceived conflict negotiation strategies and sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic dyads. The actor-partner interdependence model guided the analyses of self-reported questionnaires from 104 mixed- and same-sex dyads (M

Although several studies have shown that childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with a host of negative consequences including romantic relationship difficulties for victims in adulthood, most overlooked the potential effects on the romantic partner. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to comprehensively synthesize the literature on the association between a person’s CM and their partner’s individual and couple outcomes. We searched PubMed, PsycNET, Medline, CINAHL, and Eric using search strings related to CM and partner. We identified 3,238 articles after removal of duplicates; 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and relied on independent sample. The studies reported associations between a person’s CM and a wide breadth of partner’s negative couple outcomes (e.g., communication, sexuality) as well as intra-individual psychological difficulties (e.g., psychological distress, emotion, and stress reactivity). Meta-analytic results showed significant, but trivial to small associations between a person’s CM and their partner’s lower relationship satisfaction ( r = −.09, 95% CI [−.14, −.04]), higher intimate partner violence ( r = .08, [.05, .12]), and higher psychological distress ( r = .11, [.06, .16]). These associations were similar for women and men and did not differ as a function of sample’s mean age, proportion of cultural diversity, and publication year. These findings suggest that a person’s CM is related to their partner’s outcomes including to the partner’s intra-individual outcomes. Prevention and intervention strategies should acknowledge that a person’s CM may also affect their romantic partner, considering the couple as a reciprocal system, and offer victims’ romantic partners specific services.

Introduction Childhood maltreatment (CM) is an interpersonal trauma reported by 35% to 40% of individuals in population-based studies in North America. It refers to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect. Although there is a growing body of cross-sectional work focusing on associations between CM and sexual health, most studies have ignored the broader relationship context in which sexuality is experienced. Objectives The current review sought to systematically and critically appraise all studies that reported on the association between CM and couples’ sexual health, to inform clinical care and recommendations for research. Methods The electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycNET (PsycINFO, PsychArticles), Medline, CINAHL, and Eric for peer-reviewed journal articles published before September 2021. Eligible studies had to report on the association between any form of CM and any dimension of sexual health in couples or individuals in a romantic relationship. Results In total, 13 studies (18 articles) were included in this systematic review: 4 studies pertained to clinical couples and 9, to community couples; 2 studies used a longitudinal design and 11, a cross-sectional design; 3 studies examined CM as a whole, 2 studies examined multiple subtypes of CM separately, 1 study examined both CM as a whole and its subtypes separately, whereas the other 7 studies focused on childhood sexual abuse. Results indicated that studies using valid measures of sexual health outcomes found significant associations between CM and worse outcomes – including declines over time – in both clinical and community samples. Mediators and moderators of these associations were also identified. Conclusions Findings provide preliminary support for the role of CM in couples’ sexual health. There is a need for future longitudinal studies involving both members of the couple, valid and multidimensional measures of sexual health, and potential mediators and moderators.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a chronic vulvovaginal pain condition affecting 8%-10% of women and is associated with negative sexual sequalae. Our randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) to a medical intervention (lidocaine) found that both treatments improved affected women's pain and both affected women's and partners' sexual outcomes, with CBCT demonstrating more benefits (Bergeron et al., 2021). The goal of this study was to examine two putative mediators of CBCT's treatment effects: collaborative and negative sexual communication patterns (SCPs). Women with PVD and their partners were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of CBCT (

Pornography use is highly prevalent among adolescents, yet lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adolescents remain an understudied population and knowledge about their pornography use is limited. Therefore, we aimed to provide an overview of LGBTQ adolescents’ pornography use patterns and compare them with those of heterosexual adolescents. Despite the fact that there is limited data to draw conclusions, pornography may be viewed at a younger age for LGBTQ girls, be more prevalent, and be more frequent among LGBTQ adolescents than among their heterosexual counterparts. Despite this higher use pattern, LGBTQ adolescents may not be more prone to developing problematic pornography use based on their reported primary motivations for use. LGBTQ adolescents may not only use pornography to experience sexual pleasure, but they can also use it to learn about sexuality and develop their sexual identity. However, LGBTQ adolescents’ pornography use does not appear to be related to more negative outcomes compared with heterosexual adolescents; thus, LGBTQ adolescents do not seem more vulnerable to pornographic materials than heterosexual adolescents. Although problematic or compulsive pornography use may seem an obvious explanation, LGBTQ adolescents’ more frequent pornography use may derive from their unmet needs regarding information on LGBTQ sexual activities and may be considered a part of their sexual identity development process.

Introduction: Some Facebook users have difficulty regulating the amount of time they spend online, and some Facebook features, such as likes, promote habitual use. Theoretically, attachment insecur...

Introduction Attachment influences the way individuals anticipate, react, and seek support when faced with chronic pain. Although cross-sectional research indicates that attachment insecurity and pain self-efficacy are associated with pain intensity in chronic pain populations, little is known about their long-term effects on pain, and about the directionality of associations between these constructs. Furthermore, whereas attachment is a relational concept, few studies on genito-pelvic pain have espoused a couples’ perspective. Aim Using a prospective dyadic design, the present study aimed to examine the directionality of the associations among attachment dimensions, pain self-efficacy, and pain intensity in couples coping with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). A second aim was to test whether pain self-efficacy mediated the attachment-pain association. Methods 213 couples coping with PVD completed self-report questionnaires at baseline (T1) and at a 2-year follow-up (T2). Main Outcome Measure (1) Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised; (2) Painful Intercourse Self-Efficacy Scale; and (3) 10-point Numerical Rating Scale for pain intensity. Results Autoregressive cross-lagged models revealed that women’s greater attachment anxiety and avoidance at T1 predicted their greater pain intensity at T2. Women’s greater attachment anxiety at T1 predicted their poorer pain self-efficacy at T2, and poorer pain self-efficacy in women at T1 predicted their higher pain intensity at T2. A mediation model showed that women’s lower pain self-efficacy at T2 fully mediated the association between women’s higher attachment anxiety at T1 and their higher pain intensity at T2. Partners’ attachment dimensions did not predict their own or women’s pain self-efficacy nor pain intensity. Clinical Implications Results suggest that greater attachment anxiety may contribute to women with PVD’s lower confidence that they can manage their pain, which leads to long-term persistent pain. This study highlights the importance of assessing attachment and pain self-efficacy in women with genito-pelvic pain and to consider interventions targeting these variables, as they have far-reaching consequences. Strength & Limitations The use of longitudinal and dyadic data inform interpersonal processes and the long-term implications of attachment and pain self-efficacy in PVD. The use of self-report measures may introduce a social desirability and recall bias. Conclusion This prospective dyadic study adds to a body of literature on PVD and chronic pain by empirically supporting theoretical models on attachment, pain self-efficacy, and persistent pain, and supports the role of psychosocial factors in the adjustment to PVD.

La présente étude porte sur les profils de répercussions sexuelles observés chez des femmes victimes d’une agression sexuelle à l’âge adulte (ASA). Ces profils sont comparés selon diverses caractéristiques sociodémographiques et la sécurité d’attachement des participantes. L’échantillon est formé de 150 femmes victimes d’ASA qui ont répondu à des questionnaires en ligne. L’analyse de profils latents fait ressortir quatre profils distincts de répercussions sexuelles : détresse, compulsion, dysfonction et bien-être. Les résultats d’ANOVAs et d’un khicarré suggèrent que le statut relationnel, l’anxiété d’abandon et l’évitement de l’intimité sont associés à des profils spécifiques de séquelles sexuelles de l’ASA. Les résultats obtenus permettent de mieux cibler les principaux symptômes sexuels à examiner et à traiter chez des femmes victimes d’ASA. Ils appuient l’intérêt de considérer ces variables associées lors d’interventions offertes aux victimes d’ASA.

Background Although distal developmental factors, such as attachment and childhood maltreatment (CM), are associated with the occurrence, severity, and adjustment to provoked vestibulodynia (PVD)—the most prevalent form of vulvodynia—no studies to date have examined whether these variables are related to treatment efficacy in the context of PVD. Attachment and CM may act as moderating variables when examining different treatment modalities, whereby individuals with more insecure attachment orientations (anxiety/avoidance) or a history of CM may benefit less from treatments with higher interpersonal contexts, such as sex and couple therapy—a recommended treatment for PVD. Aim The present randomized clinical trial (RCT) examined attachment and CM as predictors and moderators of sexual satisfaction, distress, and function at post-treatment and 6-month follow-up while comparing 2 treatments for PVD: Topical lidocaine, and a novel cognitive behavioral couple therapy focused on women’s pain and partners’ sexuality. Methods One hundred eight women with PVD were randomized to a 12-week treatment of either lidocaine or couple therapy. Women completed questionnaires at pretreatment, post-treatment, and at a 6-month follow-up. Outcomes (1) Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction; (2) Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised; (3) Female Sexual Function Index. Results Both attachment and CM were significant moderators of treatment outcomes. At either post-treatment or 6-month follow-up, in the couple therapy condition, women with greater attachment avoidance had poorer outcomes on sexual distress, satisfaction and function, whereas women with higher levels of CM had poorer outcomes on sexual satisfaction and sexual function, compared to women in the lidocaine condition. Clinical Implications Although these novel findings need further replication, they highlight the importance for clinicians to take into account distal factors, for instance, attachment and CM, when treating sexual difficulties such as PVD, as these variables may affect more interpersonal dimensions of treatment (eg, trust, compliance, etc.) and ultimately, treatment progress. Strengths & Limitations Using a rigorous RCT study design and statistical approach, this study is the first to examine attachment and CM as moderators in the treatment of sexual difficulties. It is however limited by the use of self-report measures, and further studies are necessary to validate the generalizability of current results to other sexual difficulties. Conclusion Findings support the role of interpersonal factors in the treatment of PVD and indicate that short-term psychological interventions, such as couple therapy, may be less beneficial for women with antecedents of CM and attachment insecurity.

Objective This randomized clinical trial compared a novel cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) and topical lidocaine for provoked vestibulodynia. Method Participants were 108 women (M age = 27.06) and their partners randomized to one of two treatments and assessed at pre- and post-treatment and 6-month follow-up via questionnaires pertaining to the primary outcomes of women's pain (numerical rating scales of pain intensity and unpleasantness), and secondary outcomes of pain anxiety (Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale), both partners' sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index; International Index of Erectile Function), sexual distress (Female Sexual Distress Scale Revised), pain-related psychological distress (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), treatment satisfaction, and global ratings of improvements in pain and sexuality. Results Intent-to-treat multilevel analyses showed that for women, CBCT yielded significantly more improvements than lidocaine in pain unpleasantness at 6-month follow-up, pain anxiety and pain catastrophizing at post-treatment and 6-month follow-up, and sexual distress at post-treatment, and resulted in better treatment satisfaction and global sexuality improvements at both time points. Partners significantly improved in their sexual function, sexual distress, and pain catastrophizing from pre- to post-treatment and pre-treatment to 6-month follow-up, with no significant group differences. Partners in the CBCT condition reported significantly greater treatment satisfaction at both time points, and greater sexuality improvements at post-treatment. Conclusions CBCT yielded better outcomes on more dimensions of provoked vestibulodynia than lidocaine. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Pornography use is prevalent, even among partnered individuals. Although pornography use motivations represent key predictors of sexual behaviors, prior studies only assessed the associations between pornography use frequency and sexual wellbeing, with mixed results. This cross-sectional dyadic study examined the associations between partners' individual and partnered pornography use frequency, motivations, and sexual wellbeing. Self-report data from 265 couples (Mage_men = 31.49 years, SD = 8.26; Mage_women = 29.36 years, SD = 6.74) were analyzed using an actor-partner interdependence model. Men's greater emotional avoidance motivation was related to their own lower sexual function (β = -.24, p = .004) and greater sexual distress (β = .19, p = .012), while their higher sexual curiosity motivation was related to higher partnered sexual frequency (β = .15, p = .031), their own greater sexual satisfaction (β = .13, p = .022), sexual function (β = .16, p = .009), and lower sexual distress (β = -.13, p = .043). Women's higher partnered pornography use frequency was associated with their own greater sexual function (β = .15, p = .034) and lower sexual distress (β = -.14, p = .012). Additionally, women's higher individual pornography use frequency (β = .33, p < .001) and lower sexual pleasure motivation (β = -.35, p = .002) were associated with higher partnered sexual frequency. No partner effects were observed. Findings highlight that women's pornography use frequency and each partner's motivations might play crucial roles in couples' sexual wellbeing.

Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-tva-10.1177_1524838021995975 for Sexual Violence Against Persons With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis by Amylee Mailhot Amborski, Eve-Line Bussières, Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel and Christian C. Joyal in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

Child sexual abuse (CSA) tends to occur in close relationships and involves sexual acts and betrayal. Thus, it is thought to affect sexual well-being in adulthood more so than any other form of childhood trauma. Research conducted over the last decade resulted in an impressive diversity of evidence reporting that CSA may be related to greater sexual dysfunction and lower sexual satisfaction as an adult, but also to higher levels of sexual compulsivity and sexual risk behaviors. Some studies also found no significant association between CSA and adult sexual well-being. Faced with these mixed results, understanding how CSA may affect sexual well-being in adulthood remains challenging for clinicians and researchers. The aim of this comprehensive literature review was to synthesize the empirical studies published in the last five years documenting the associations between CSA and several indicators of sexual well-being in adults excluding risky sexual behaviors. The literature search yielded 18 eligible studies which mainly examined five domains of sexual outcomes of CSA: sexual function, sexual satisfaction, sex-related cognitions, sexual behaviors and affective components of sexuality. Findings suggest that CSA is not unanimously related to all domains of sexual well-being, but rather, that associations are largely a function of the presence of other comorbidities or nature of the sample. Moreover, men are still significantly underrepresented in reviewed studies. Implications of the findings will be discussed in light of their relevance for clinicians and for researchers about gaps in current literature need to be filled.

Pornography use is a common sexual activity for men and women engaged in a romantic relationship. The objective of this literature review was to highlight the current state of research on the associations between pornography use and relational and sexual well-being in mixed-sex couples, with a particular focus on the context of use. Overall, findings are mixed, and studies are plagued by methodological shortcomings precluding causal assertions. Nevertheless, research indicates that men’s pornography use is negatively associated with relational well-being and sexual satisfaction, whereas women’s use is unrelated to relational indicators and unrelated to, or positively associated with, sexual satisfaction. The context in which pornography is used (e.g., alone or with the partner) moderates these associations. This review suggests that pornography use may be positively related, negatively related, or unrelated to couples’ well-being. The sex of the user and the context of use may in part explain this variability in correlates of pornography use.

Background The ease of access to pornography has made its use common among adolescents. Although sexual and gender minority (SGM) (eg, gay, transgender) adolescents may be more prone to use pornography owing to sexual orientation–related information seeking and/or scarcity of potential romantic or sexual partners, relatively little attention has been paid to their pornography use and to the quantitative examination of the similarities and differences between heterosexual, cisgender (HC) and SGM adolescents’ pornography use characteristics. Aim The aim of the present study was to compare SGM and HC adolescents’ pornography use considering potential sex differences. Methods We used a sample of 2,846 adolescents (52.5% girls; M age = 14.5 years, SD = 0.6), which was collected as part of an ongoing longitudinal study on adolescents’ sexual health. Data were analyzed with 5 groups: HC boys; HC girls; SGM boys; SGM girls; and SGM non-binary individuals. Outcomes Adolescents completed a self-report questionnaire about sexual and gender minority status and pornography use (ie, lifetime use, age at first exposure, and frequency of use in the past 3 months.) Results Results indicated significant differences between all groups: 88.2% of HC boys, 78.2% of SGM boys, 54.2% of SGM girls, 39.4% of HC girls, and 29.4% of SGM non-binary individuals reported having ever viewed pornography by the age of 14 years. SGM girls indicated a significantly younger age at first pornography use than HC girls, but this difference was not significant among boys. SGM boys reported the highest (median: many times per week), whereas HC girls reported the lowest (median: less than once a month) frequency of pornography use. Clinical Translation Results suggest that SGM and HC boys' pornography use characteristics are rather similar, whereas SGM and HC girls’ pornography use patterns may be considered different presumably because of the varying underlying motivations (eg, using pornography to confirm sexual orientation). Strengths & Limitations Self-report measures and cross-sectional designs have potential biases that should be considered. However, the present study involved a large sample of adolescents including SGM adolescents, a population group that is understudied. Conclusion Approximately two-thirds of teenagers had gained their first experience with pornography in the present sample, and 52.2% reported using it once a week or more often in the past 3 months, indicating that pornography use may play an important role in both HC and SGM adolescents’ sexual development. Gender-based differences concerning pornography use seem to be robust regardless of SGM status.

Trauma theories suggest that childhood maltreatment (CM) may partly explain intimacy problems in romantic relationships. However, empirical studies have yielded conflicting findings, likely due to the varying conceptualizations of intimacy. Findings that support long-term negative effects of CM on sexual and relationship satisfaction are almost exclusively based on cross-sectional intra-individual data, precluding the examination of mediating pathways and of dyadic interactions between individuals reporting CM and their partners. This study used a dyadic perspective to examine the associations between CM and the different components of intimacy based on the interpersonal process model of intimacy: self-disclosure, perceived partner disclosure, and perceived partner responsiveness. We also tested the mediating role of these intimacy components at Time 1 in the relations between CM and sexual and relationship satisfaction 6 months later. A sample of 365 heterosexual couples completed self-report questionnaires. Results of path analyses within an actor-partner interdependence framework showed that women and men's higher levels of CM did not affect self-disclosure, but was negatively associated with their own perception of partner disclosure and responsiveness. In turn, women and men's perception of partner responsiveness at Time 1 was positively associated with their own sexual satisfaction, as well as their own and their partner's relationship satisfaction at Time 2. Thus, perception of partner responsiveness mediated the associations between CM and poorer sexual and relationship satisfaction. The overall findings may inform the development of couple intervention that targets the enhancement of intimacy to promote sexual and relationship well-being in couples where one partner experienced CM.

There is an understudied, meaningful distinction between high frequency of pornography use and the subjective feeling that this behavior is out of control. We examined whether the quality of a couple's relationship and sex life can strengthen or weaken the association between frequency of Internet pornography use and perceived lack of control over this behavior. In a sample of 1,036 participants, results showed that frequency of pornography use was more strongly associated with feeling out of control when relationship and sexual satisfaction were lower. Findings suggest that couple dissatisfaction puts the individual at risk of reporting out-of-control pornography use.

A large number of partnered individuals regularly use or are in a relationship with someone who uses pornography. However, knowledge concerning the association between pornography use and partnered sexual health— sexual satisfaction, distress, and function—is fragmentary. The current study used an event- level dyadic design to examine the associations between pornography use and sexual satisfaction, distress, and function on days when partnered sexual activity occurred. A convenience sample of 217 couples (Mage = 30.2 ; SD = 8.3 ; 72 same-sex couples) completed a short survey on days of sexual activity with their partner, over a 35-day period. Self- report measures included questions about daily pornography use and masturbation as well as daily sexual satisfaction, distress, and function. Using pornography on days of partnered sexual activity was reported by half of the couples. An individual’s solitary pornography use on days of partnered sexual activity was related to their partner’s higher sexual distress and, for women’s use only, to their own higher quality of lubrication, compared to sex days without solitary pornography use. There was no evidence of an association between pornography use on sex days, whether alone or with the partner, and all other aspects of sexual health including sexual satisfaction. Our findings capture the complexity of the associations between pornography and sexual health. Men and women’s pornography use may create idealized fantasies around appearance and performance, which may lead the partner to feel distressed about their sex life. Women’s pornography use might facilitate their sexual responsiveness during partnered sexual activity.

Introduction Although findings concerning sexual outcomes associated with cyberpornography use are mixed, viewing explicit sexual content online is becoming a common activity for an increasing number of individuals. Aim To investigate heterogeneity in cyberpornography-related sexual outcomes by examining a theoretically and clinically based model suggesting that individuals who spend time viewing online pornography form three distinct profiles (recreational, at-risk, and compulsive) and to examine whether these profiles were associated with sexual well-being, sex, and interpersonal context of pornography use. Methods The present cluster-analytic study was conducted using a convenience sample of 830 adults who completed online self-reported measurements of cyberpornography use and sexual well-being, which included sexual satisfaction, compulsivity, avoidance, and dysfunction. Main Outcomes Measures Dimensions of cyberpornography use were assessed using the Cyber Pornography Use Inventory. Sexual well-being measurements included the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction, the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, the Sexual Avoidance Subscale, and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale. Results Cluster analyses indicated three distinct profiles: recreational (75.5%), highly distressed non-compulsive (12.7%), and compulsive (11.8%). Recreational users reported higher sexual satisfaction and lower sexual compulsivity, avoidance, and dysfunction, whereas users with a compulsive profile presented lower sexual satisfaction and dysfunction and higher sexual compulsivity and avoidance. Highly distressed less active users were sexually less satisfied and reported less sexual compulsivity and more sexual dysfunction and avoidance. A larger proportion of women and of dyadic users was found among recreational users, whereas solitary users were more likely to be in the highly distressed less active profile and men were more likely to be in the compulsive profile. Conclusion This pattern of results confirms the existence of recreational and compulsive profiles but also demonstrates the existence of an important subgroup of not particularly active, yet highly distressed consumers. Cyberpornography users represent a heterogeneous population, in which each subgroup is associated with specific sexual outcomes.

Among individuals defined as having been sexually abused based on legal criteria, some will self-report having been abused and some will not. Yet, the empirical correlates of self-definition status are not well studied. Different definitions of abuse may lead to varying prevalence rates and contradictory findings regarding psychological outcomes. The present study examined whether, among legally defined sexual abuse survivors, identifying oneself as having experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was associated with more severe abuse, negative emotional reactions toward the abuse, and current sexual reactions. A convenience sample of 1,021 French-speaking Canadians completed self-report questionnaires online. The prevalence of legally defined CSA was 21.3% in women and 19.6% in men, as compared to 7.1% in women and 3.8% in men for self-defined CSA. Among legally defined sexual abuse survivors, those who identified themselves as CSA survivors had been abused more frequently, were more likely to report a male aggressor, and more often described abuse by a parental figure than those who did not self-identify as abused. Further, self-defined CSA was associated with more negative postabuse reactions and sexual avoidance, whereas those not identifying as sexually abused were more likely to report sexual compulsion.