Sexes

19 pages, 669 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Reversed Orgasm Gap? Gender Differences in Orgasm Frequency During Heterosexual Partner Sex

by Piet Van Tuijl

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010015 - 17 Mar 2026

Viewed by 8246

Large-scale surveys consistently show there is an orgasm gap in heterosexual partner sex of 20% to 36%—with more women not experiencing orgasm during heterosexual partner sex than men. In two Dutch/Flemish general population convenience samples (N = 1028; 756 women (73.5%), 271 men [...] Read more.

Large-scale surveys consistently show there is an orgasm gap in heterosexual partner sex of 20% to 36%—with more women not experiencing orgasm during heterosexual partner sex than men. In two Dutch/Flemish general population convenience samples (N = 1028; 756 women (73.5%), 271 men (26.4%), 1 non-binary (0.1%); M_age = 34.8 years; SD_age = 12.7 years) of exclusively and almost exclusively heterosexual respondents, 140 women (20.4%) and 3 men (1.2%) who had sex in the last six months did not regularly experience orgasm during partner sex—representing an orgasm gap of 19.2% (p < 0.001). Women who did regularly experience orgasm during partner sex did more often than men experience orgasm more than once (24.2% of women versus 11.2% of men, a 13% difference; p < 0.001). MANOVA followed by post hoc ANOVAs were used to investigate group differences. Women who did not experience orgasm showed higher levels of sexual distress and sexual inhibition, and lower levels of sexual satisfaction and self-esteem than women who did experience orgasm. Also, higher levels of depressive symptoms and social anxiety were reported by the women not experiencing orgasm during partner sex. The strongest predictor of the number of orgasms during one sex session was the number of orgasms the partner presumably experienced. The current study confirmed the existence of a heterosexual gap, whilst results of this large-scale study also suggest a “reversed” orgasm gap: more women than men experience orgasm more than once during a heterosexual partner sex session. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual and Reproductive Health, Sexual Medicine, and Psychosocial Remediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 257 KB

Open AccessArticle

Swiping for Support: The Role of Social Networking Applications in Sexual Health Outreach Among Queer and Trans Communities

by Taylor Smith, Adam Davies, Justin Brass and Shoshanah Jacobs

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010014 - 12 Mar 2026

Viewed by 463

Abstract

This study integrates recent literature with qualitative data from sexual-health outreach workers in the Greater Toronto Area to examine how outreach is delivered to gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (GBTQ+) men who have sex with men (MSM) in virtual social settings, including social [...] Read more.

This study integrates recent literature with qualitative data from sexual-health outreach workers in the Greater Toronto Area to examine how outreach is delivered to gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (GBTQ+) men who have sex with men (MSM) in virtual social settings, including social networking applications. Using a symbolic-interactionist framework and reflexive thematic analysis, the study identifies persistent challenges that shape GBTQ+ and MSM users’ engagement with sexual-health services, such as stigma, privacy concerns, and platform-level constraints. Findings highlight mismatches between current outreach practices and community needs in app-based environments and point to opportunities to strengthen the relevance, accessibility, and trustworthiness of digital sexual-health initiatives. The analysis offers practical recommendations for improving service design and delivery in online queer spaces and outlines priorities for future research focused on outreach effectiveness, equity, and user safety. Full article

21 pages, 800 KB

Open AccessArticle

Parental Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Côte d’Ivoire: An Interpretive Description Study in the Haut-Sassandra Region

by Titilayo Tatiana Agbadje, Marlyse Mbakop Nguebou, Loukou Gilbert Konan, Mariame Koné, Abdoulaye Anne, Jean Ramdé, Souleymane Diabaté and Maman Joyce Dogba

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010013 - 6 Mar 2026

Viewed by 383

Abstract

In Côte d’Ivoire, parent–child communication (PCC) about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is often hindered by cultural and social norms. We aimed to explore parental communication on sexual and reproductive health in the Haut-Sassandra region, Côte d’Ivoire. We used an interpretive description approach. [...] Read more.

In Côte d’Ivoire, parent–child communication (PCC) about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is often hindered by cultural and social norms. We aimed to explore parental communication on sexual and reproductive health in the Haut-Sassandra region, Côte d’Ivoire. We used an interpretive description approach. Participants were parents (mothers and fathers), recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through individual interviews. We performed a thematic analysis. Overall, 63 parents participated in the study. The mean age of parents was 41.2. Sexuality remains a taboo subject. Sociocultural factors that hinder PCC are tradition, the need for intergenerational respect, and the fear of incitement. Reasons that explain the gap between intention and actual practice are the young age of the child, low parental self-efficacy, child gender, shame and intergenerational respect. Parents who communicate address the following topics: relationships (e.g., stay away from boys); values, rights, culture and sexuality (e.g., don’t date someone else’s husband); skills for health and well-being (e.g., sex has advantages and disadvantages); the human body and development (e.g., menstruation management); sexuality and sexual behaviour (e.g., practice abstinence); and sexual and reproductive health (e.g., protect oneself against disease). This study highlights the need to support parents in their educational role. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual and Reproductive Health, Sexual Medicine, and Psychosocial Remediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 510 KB

Open AccessArticle

Authoritarian Aggression: A Unique Predictor of Attitudes to Sex- and Gender-Based Crime

by Blake A. Kozlowski, Ashlyn S. Olson, Alizay R. Naqvi, Alexis S. Amos and Andrew S. Franks

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010012 - 24 Feb 2026

Viewed by 836

Abstract

A recently developed nonpartisan authoritarian aggression scale (NAAS) has a robust nomological network that includes attitudes toward women and LGBTQ+ individuals. The current research was meant to further validate the scale by demonstrating its ability to predict unique variance in attitudes relating to [...] Read more.

A recently developed nonpartisan authoritarian aggression scale (NAAS) has a robust nomological network that includes attitudes toward women and LGBTQ+ individuals. The current research was meant to further validate the scale by demonstrating its ability to predict unique variance in attitudes relating to sex crimes (i.e., rape myth acceptance) and anti-transgender hate crimes when controlling for potentially relevant cognitive (i.e., need for cognition, intolerance of uncertainty) and cultural (i.e., Christian nationalism) variables. A sample of 100 U.S. participants was recruited from Prolific and completed an online survey via Qualtrics. A series of correlation analyses showed that the NAAS was significantly related to all of the other predictor variables as well as both the sex and hate crime outcomes at the bivariate level, adding to the nomological network of the NAAS. Multiple regression analyses showed that the combination of predictors explained significant variance in both outcomes and that the NAAS was the only predictor to explain unique variance in both sex crime and anti-transgender hate crime attitudes. The results imply that authoritarian aggression poses a danger for women, transgender individuals, and victims of sex crimes and hate crimes more broadly. Future research should examine ways of attenuating authoritarian aggression in individuals and communities to protect those who are vulnerable due to their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual Behavior and Attitudes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 260 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sexuality, Intimacy, and Loneliness in Later Life: How Older Single and Widowed Black Women Seek Support Beyond Family

by Margaret Salisu

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010011 - 15 Feb 2026

Viewed by 811

Abstract

Loneliness poses a significant risk to the physical and mental well-being of older individuals, making it a pressing public health concern. Particularly for minority groups like elderly single and widowed Black women, the consequences of loneliness can be even more pronounced. To gain [...] Read more.

Loneliness poses a significant risk to the physical and mental well-being of older individuals, making it a pressing public health concern. Particularly for minority groups like elderly single and widowed Black women, the consequences of loneliness can be even more pronounced. To gain deeper insights into the experiences of loneliness and coping strategies used by these women, a qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted, involving interviews with fourteen such individuals. The study revealed four main themes: lonelier with age; looking beyond the family for intimacy; family responses to loneliness; and coping with loneliness. Irrespective of living arrangements, all participants acknowledged experiencing varying degrees of loneliness. Despite having extensive social networks, many struggled with feelings of loneliness, alienation, and a lack of emotional closeness and connection. Consequently, these findings emphasize the importance of addressing loneliness in elderly single and widowed Black women, considering the intersectionality of race, gender, and mental health when assessing the risk of loneliness. Practical and policy implications suggest that professionals and physicians working with this group actively screen for loneliness and develop interventions and psychological support to help these women navigate their feelings of isolation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

11 pages, 219 KB

Open AccessReview

Male Hormonal Contraceptives in Comprehensive Family Planning: Policy and Implementation Pathways to Advance Equity in Reproductive Rights

by Piedad Gómez-Torres, Amber Mallery, Sergio Galarreta-Aperte, Germano Vera Cruz and Ana Carmen Lucha-López

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010010 - 13 Feb 2026

Viewed by 669

Abstract

Male contraceptive options remain largely limited to condoms and vasectomy, while family planning services and monitoring indicators often prioritize women, contributing to inequities in contraceptive responsibility. This review examines how future male hormonal contraceptives (MHCs) could support more equitable, rights-based family planning, and [...] Read more.

Male contraceptive options remain largely limited to condoms and vasectomy, while family planning services and monitoring indicators often prioritize women, contributing to inequities in contraceptive responsibility. This review examines how future male hormonal contraceptives (MHCs) could support more equitable, rights-based family planning, and what policy and implementation pathways are needed for responsible integration. We conducted a narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed studies and policy/advocacy guidance on male engagement in family planning and on MHC development (searches in PubMed/Scopus/Google Scholar and key organizational sources; 2000–May 2025), focusing on acceptability, service-delivery readiness, governance, and potential system impacts. Evidence indicates substantial interest in MHCs among men and women in hypothetical studies and trials, but highlights persistent barriers: gender norms, limited routine sex-disaggregated data on men’s participation, provider and service constraints, and insufficient public/private investment. Model-based analyses suggest that novel, reversible male methods could avert unintended pregnancies (with larger effects in settings with lower baseline contraceptive uptake) and that preventing unintended pregnancies can yield cost savings to health systems. Ethical discussions increasingly emphasize a dyadic perspective on risk and decision-making, alongside safeguards for autonomy and rights. We conclude that coordinated policy action—linking regulation, financing, service delivery, communication, and monitoring—is needed to expand couple-focused counselling, reduce stereotyping in care, strengthen indicators, and accelerate implementation pathways for MHCs while safeguarding women’s options and agency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual and Reproductive Health, Sexual Medicine, and Psychosocial Remediation)

13 pages, 215 KB

Open AccessArticle

Body Image, Sexuality and Coping in Women Surviving Breast Cancer: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study

by Jose Juarez-Gómez and Pablo A. Cantero-Garlito

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010009 - 12 Feb 2026

Viewed by 869

Abstract

Breast cancer entails profound physical, emotional, and relational changes that persist beyond biomedical treatment and may substantially affect women’s body image, sexuality, and engagement in daily occupations. This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study examined the lived experiences of eight Spanish breast cancer survivors through [...] Read more.

Breast cancer entails profound physical, emotional, and relational changes that persist beyond biomedical treatment and may substantially affect women’s body image, sexuality, and engagement in daily occupations. This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study examined the lived experiences of eight Spanish breast cancer survivors through in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted after completion of oncological treatment. Transcripts were analyzed using discourse analysis with iterative interpretation. Three interrelated findings were identified: (1) bodily changes linked to mastectomy and adjuvant therapies disrupted continuity with the previously known body, eliciting estrangement, vulnerability, and grief for the former bodily self; (2) sexuality emerged as a particularly vulnerable domain, shaped by diminished desire, vaginal dryness and pain, shame, altered self-perception, and the need to renegotiate intimacy within the couple; and (3) coping and meaning-making were strengthened by psychological support, efforts to emotionally protect family members, and, notably, peer support and helping other women as key sources of resilience. These findings highlight the need for integrated, culturally sensitive, person-centered survivorship care that explicitly addresses sexuality, body image, and emotional well-being. Occupational therapy may contribute by supporting embodied identity reconstruction, participation in meaningful occupations, and the reconfiguration of intimacy after breast cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual Behavior and Attitudes)

19 pages, 265 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sex Education and Sexual Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Among Florida College Students: Exploring the Impact of Curriculum Theme

by Amber Whitmer, Tiffany Chenneville, Joseph Marshall, Elham Azamian Jazi and Ananda Myers

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010008 - 5 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1796

Abstract

Despite widespread support for comprehensive sex education (CSE), abstinence-focused education is the legally mandated standard in Florida public schools. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study examined the relationship between sex education content and sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among 117 college students [...] Read more.

Despite widespread support for comprehensive sex education (CSE), abstinence-focused education is the legally mandated standard in Florida public schools. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study examined the relationship between sex education content and sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among 117 college students aged 18 to 25 attending predominantly one large Florida public university. Participants completed an anonymous online survey assessing demographics, sex education history, HIV/STI knowledge, sexual attitudes, and condom use. Contrary to expectations and some prior findings, there were no significant differences in HIV/STI knowledge, sexual attitudes, or condom use between students who reported receiving predominantly abstinence-only education (AOE) and those who reported receiving predominantly CSE. While challenging assumptions about the long-term effectiveness of CSE compared to AOE, the data suggest, in part, that the CSE label may be secondary to local implementation, personal experiences, and broader sociopolitical context, in influencing outcomes. Given Florida’s restrictive sex education and reproductive health policies, findings highlight the urgent need for more nuanced, context-sensitive research. Findings also emphasize the importance of evaluating not only the stated content but also the delivery, quality, and accessibility of sex education programs to better support youth sexual health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual and Reproductive Health, Sexual Medicine, and Psychosocial Remediation)

22 pages, 257 KB

Open AccessArticle

Disclosure as an Unsafe Practice: A Qualitative Exploration of How Stigma and Discrimination Shape Healthcare Engagement and Receipt of Quality Care for Sex Workers in Victoria, Australia

by P. G. Macioti, Jennifer Power, Ryan DeVeau, Miranda Millen, Casey McGlasson, Bee Charika and Adam Bourne

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010007 - 5 Feb 2026

Viewed by 936

Abstract

Based on a qualitative health needs assessment with 31 diverse sex workers and 17 key stakeholders (including two mental health practitioners) in Victoria, Australia, this article adds to the emerging literature on stigma, sex work, and mental health. It does so by focusing [...] Read more.

Based on a qualitative health needs assessment with 31 diverse sex workers and 17 key stakeholders (including two mental health practitioners) in Victoria, Australia, this article adds to the emerging literature on stigma, sex work, and mental health. It does so by focusing on one element that plays a key role in determining sex workers’ experience of mental health support: whether they would disclose their sex work to a practitioner, why so, and what happens as a result. Our study finds that experiences and fears of being stigmatised by health practitioners when disclosing may prevent some sex workers from seeking professional mental health support in the first place and lead others to silence it or obfuscate; thus, potentially complicating access to safe and affirming mental healthcare. The value and role of disclosure is analysed in context by acknowledging the agency and ability of sex workers to understand, or take action in response to, their own mental health needs. Peer-to-peer support and solidarity are identified as key to sex workers’ mental well-being. Criminal restrictions on sex work are found to negatively impact sex workers’ access to mental healthcare. The findings from this study support ongoing efforts aimed at the full decriminalisation of sex work in order to improve sex workers’ access to high-quality mental health support, should they seek it, as well as the implementation of sensitivity training for mainstream mental health providers and the creation of reliable and accessible referral lists of sex worker-friendly mental healthcare providers. Full article

31 pages, 1122 KB

Open AccessArticle

Intimate Economics: Power, Gender, Sexuality, and Heteropatriarchy, in Delhi, India, 2011–2015

by Emme Edmunds

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010006 - 2 Feb 2026

Viewed by 909

Abstract

Taboos differentially reinforce socially constructed gender and sexual hierarchies that affect the experiences of all people—women, men, queer, heterosexual, and transgender people. In Delhi, India, institutions of heteropatriarchy, buttressed by colonial history, reproduce and naturalize limits to the agency and economic autonomy of [...] Read more.

Taboos differentially reinforce socially constructed gender and sexual hierarchies that affect the experiences of all people—women, men, queer, heterosexual, and transgender people. In Delhi, India, institutions of heteropatriarchy, buttressed by colonial history, reproduce and naturalize limits to the agency and economic autonomy of women and queer people. These intimate economics influence and are influenced by people making decisions regarding relationships and have broad repercussions in society. How do individuals and groups simultaneously question, remake, and enlarge gendered categories and experiences? Interviews with middle-class people are discussed in the context of scholarship that considers the social, political, and historical contexts of the region. Interview responses are triangulated with ethnographic participation in Delhi-based events that examine and confront aspects of heteropatriarchal regulation of people regarding categories of gender and sexual expression. Themes emerge regarding how people create and access knowledge, economic autonomy, relationships, and family formation. The conclusion discusses ways in which the erosion of taboos reveals changing roles and identities and how these changes affect the hierarchal gender binary, producing social tensions and paradoxes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

14 pages, 557 KB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes of Secondary School Students Towards Homosexuality and HIV/AIDS in Slovenia

by Tina Kogovšek, Roman Kuhar and Alenka Švab

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010005 - 30 Jan 2026

Viewed by 764

Abstract

This study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing attitudes towards homosexuality and people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Slovenian high school students. The analysis identifies gender, school type, and religious affiliation as significant predictors of these attitudes. Consistent with previous [...] Read more.

This study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing attitudes towards homosexuality and people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Slovenian high school students. The analysis identifies gender, school type, and religious affiliation as significant predictors of these attitudes. Consistent with previous research, gender differences emerge, with male students displaying more negative attitudes towards homosexuality compared to their female counterparts. This discrepancy is particularly pronounced among students attending vocational schools, aligning with existing data on attitudes towards sexuality. Sociological theories predicting social changes in intimacy, with women at the forefront, contribute to understanding this gender disparity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual Behavior and Attitudes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 612 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sexuality in the Elderly in Chile

by Jhonny Acevedo Ayala, Constanza Bartolucci Konga, Francisca Molero Rodríguez, Marcelo Vásquez León and Eliana Espinoza Alarcón

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010004 - 29 Jan 2026

Viewed by 933

Abstract

Population aging is a reality in Chile that affects the course of life, quality of life, and sexuality of older adults. The objective of this study is to identify the dimensions, characteristics, and underlying contents of sexuality in older adults participating in community-based [...] Read more.

Population aging is a reality in Chile that affects the course of life, quality of life, and sexuality of older adults. The objective of this study is to identify the dimensions, characteristics, and underlying contents of sexuality in older adults participating in community-based organizations in Chile. A qualitative study was conducted using grounded theory, based on ten focus groups with N of 85 participants aged 60 and over. Groups of women, men, and mixed groups were organized in the northern, central, and south-central zones of the country. The data were entered and analyzed using MAXQDA 2023 software. The results identified 10 dimensions and 42 sub-dimensions related to the sexuality of older adults. A structural educational deficit in the subject was identified, characterized by a lack of training for health care personnel and care gaps at the primary health care level, among other issues. It is concluded that sexuality in older adults is an emerging issue and a human right subject to social discrimination, with limitations to its full experience which must be studied and addressed to improve sexuality as part of changes in quality of life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual Behavior and Attitudes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 343 KB

Open AccessArticle

Childhood Sexual Trauma Severity Measurement: Redundancy in the Effects of Trauma Duration and Developmental Timing on Adverse Adult Outcomes

by Ashley C. Schuyler, Joseph A. Catania, Jesse A. Canchola and M. Margaret Dolcini

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010003 - 22 Jan 2026

Viewed by 706

Abstract

Research suggests that the impact of childhood sexual trauma (CST) on adult well-being varies in relation to characteristics of CST experiences (e.g., age of onset and duration/frequency) that influence the degree of trauma severity. Yet there remains a need for a CST severity [...] Read more.

Research suggests that the impact of childhood sexual trauma (CST) on adult well-being varies in relation to characteristics of CST experiences (e.g., age of onset and duration/frequency) that influence the degree of trauma severity. Yet there remains a need for a CST severity measure that consistently delineates survivors with an elevated risk of adverse adult outcomes (AAOs) and accounts for correlations between severity characteristics. We compared two theory-based, categorical proxy measures of CST severity (duration and developmental timing) in their relationship with three AAOs, among a national probability sample of U.S. adult CST survivors (N = 568). We found a strong relationship between CST duration and developmental timing (p < 0.001), and redundancy in their impact on AAOs (i.e., no meaningful difference in how well they predicted AAOs). Participants with more chronic CST (≥4 years duration or occurring across childhood and adolescence) were twice as likely to report AAOs as other participants. Findings support the importance of assessing trauma chronicity in research and practice, to focus prevention and intervention strategies on CST survivors with the greatest long-term health risk. A categorical CST duration measure offers a theory-based assessment strategy that accounts for both the temporal and developmental effects of trauma severity on health outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual and Reproductive Health, Sexual Medicine, and Psychosocial Remediation)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 265 KB

Open AccessReview

A Clinical Update on 2S LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Following Implementation of Primary HPV Testing in Cervical Cancer Screening

by Roya Haghiri-Vijeh, Judith A. MacDonnell, Parmis Mirzadeh, Leslie Po, Heba Botros and Catriona J. Buick

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010002 - 16 Jan 2026

Viewed by 991

Abstract

The 2S LGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and additional sexually and gender-diverse self-identities) population often faces barriers to care in the context of cervical cancer screening. With the shift from primary cervical cytology (Papanicolaou test) to primary [...] Read more.

The 2S LGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and additional sexually and gender-diverse self-identities) population often faces barriers to care in the context of cervical cancer screening. With the shift from primary cervical cytology (Papanicolaou test) to primary human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA testing, it is crucial to examine these populations’ healthcare needs. An intersectionality framework with an anti-oppressive lens is needed to restructure a healthcare system whose systems have traditionally erased the care needs of diverse populations through colonial, racialized, and cis-heteronormative practices. Barriers to cervical screening in 2S LGBTQIA+ populations include stigma, discrimination, limited provider guidance and understanding, and high rates of physical, sexual, and medical trauma. Self-sampling for HPV is a less invasive alternative to traditional Pap tests with a high rate of acceptability. The option to self-sample may increase participation in cervical screening based on improved privacy, comfort, and feelings of empowerment. Organizational, psychosocial, and physical recommendations for practice are shared to create a welcoming environment that reflects the diversity of populations in all aspects of healthcare. Affirmative care aims to make clients feel safe and accommodated by prioritizing dignity and respect as essential elements of eliminating cervical cancer in 2S LGBTQIA+ populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sexual and Reproductive Health, Sexual Medicine, and Psychosocial Remediation)

14 pages, 495 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sexual Pleasure’s Associations with Self-Esteem and Body Appreciation

by Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld, Sira ter Steege, Piet van Tuijl and Andrea Grauvogl

Sexes 2026, 7(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010001 - 20 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1384

Abstract

Sexual pleasure has attracted increasing scientific attention in recent years. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated self-esteem and body appreciation as potential determinants of sexual pleasure. We examined data from a community sample of young adult women and men. Specifically, we tested the [...] Read more.

Sexual pleasure has attracted increasing scientific attention in recent years. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated self-esteem and body appreciation as potential determinants of sexual pleasure. We examined data from a community sample of young adult women and men. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that self-esteem and body appreciation positively predict sexual pleasure, and that body appreciation moderates the association between self-esteem and sexual pleasure. We exploratively investigated the moderation of these effects by gender. Sexual pleasure was measured using seven items from the trait scales of the Amsterdam Sexual Pleasure Index 1.0. Self-esteem was measured with the Dutch translation of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Body appreciation was measured using the Dutch translation of the Body Appreciation Scale 2. The results showed that self-esteem positively predicted a substantial proportion (19%) of the variance of sexual pleasure, whereas body appreciation did not directly predict sexual pleasure. Body appreciation did not moderate the association between self-esteem and sexual pleasure in the full sample and in women, but it was found to moderate this association in men; however, in the opposite direction of what was predicted in the hypothesis. The findings were discussed, and suggestions were made for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biological and Psychosocial Basis Underlying Sexual Response and Differences)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Sexes, Volume 7, Issue 1 (March 2026) – 15 articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI