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Sexual Health and Sexual Behavior in the 21st Century

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 5196

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Dear Colleagues,

During the 21st century, there has been an evolution concerning mainly sexual health and well-being.

The second half of the 20th century provided man a tremendous opportunity by overcoming stereotypes and taboos, such as that of homosexuality, and to this day sexual activity is complementary to other daily activities.

The concept of sexual health no longer refers only to the absence of pathology or dysfunction, but to the presence of a good attitude on a psychological and relational level toward sex.

Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free from coercion, discrimination, and violence. To achieve and maintain sexual health, the sexual rights of every human being must be respected, protected, and fulfilled.

Unfortunately, however, sexual rights are not always respected, and while there has been a broader openness with respect to sexuality in recent years in many parts of Europe, one key part is missing: sex education.

"Sex education" means learning relative to the cognitive, emotional, social, relational, and physical aspects of sexuality. It begins early in childhood and continues throughout adolescence and adult life with children and adolescents, sex education aims to support and protect sexual development.

Gradually, sex education increases the empowerment of children and youth by providing them with positive information, skills, and values to understand their own sexuality and enjoy it, have relationships that are safe and rewarding, and behaving responsibly with respect to their own and others' sexual health and well-being.

Modern society lacks the necessary knowledge, especially when there is a need for complex and technical information (such as that concerning contraception or how sexually transmitted infections are transmitted).

Moreover, it is the young people themselves who often, once they enter puberty, prefer to turn to sources other than their parents, who are perceived as too close. In fact, the thing to consider is that in the 21st century there has been a leap forward in terms of information regarding sexuality, but the advent of technology has led young people to seek information in the wrong way, receiving information from social sources instead of having proper education from a ”real figure”.

Dr. Stefano Eleuteri
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • sexual health
  • well-being
  • sexual rights
  • sex education
  • sexual development

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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18 pages, 1048 KiB  
Article
Changes in Sexual Behavior and Satisfaction and Violent Behavior during COVID-19 Lockdown: Explorative Results from the Italian Cross-Sectional Study of the I-SHARE Multi-Country Project
by Filippo Maria Nimbi, Sara Cavagnis and Stefano Eleuteri
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010096 - 15 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1919
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had effects on sexual and reproductive health and intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aims to describe changes in sexual health and IPV in the Italian population both during and after the lockdowns. Methods: This cross-sectional online study [...] Read more.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had effects on sexual and reproductive health and intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aims to describe changes in sexual health and IPV in the Italian population both during and after the lockdowns. Methods: This cross-sectional online study was conducted, as part of the I-SHARE multicountry project, between June 2020 and January 2021. Recruitment was carried out through convenience sampling; a total of 329 participants were included in the analysis. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the difference in sexual health and IPV variables before, during, and after the lockdown. Results: Fifty-three percent of the participants reported having sexual problems during the first wave of the pandemic. Sexual satisfaction decreased during the first wave, and then, returned to the pre-lockdown level. While during the lockdown, some activities were reduced (such as kissing, cuddling, and sexual activities with a steady partner), for other activities, no difference was reported (such as masturbation, sexual activities with casual partners, or sexting). Few participants reported having issues accessing HIV testing and contraception. There was no difference in terms of physical and sexual violence, while there was a significant decrease in feeling vulnerable to sexual or physical assault during the first wave. Conclusions: The first wave of the pandemic has had significant effects on sexual health. This should be taken into consideration when preparing for future epidemics and health emergencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Health and Sexual Behavior in the 21st Century)
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14 pages, 761 KiB  
Review
The Concept of “Hypersexuality” in the Boundary between Physiological and Pathological Sexuality
by Giulio Perrotta
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(10), 5844; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105844 - 17 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2529
Abstract
Introduction: The concept of hypersexuality belongs to modern parlance, according to a predominantly clinical meaning, and is understood as a psychological and behavioural alteration as a result of which sexually motivated stimuli are sought in inappropriate ways and often experienced in a way [...] Read more.
Introduction: The concept of hypersexuality belongs to modern parlance, according to a predominantly clinical meaning, and is understood as a psychological and behavioural alteration as a result of which sexually motivated stimuli are sought in inappropriate ways and often experienced in a way that is not completely satisfactory. Methods: Literature up to February 2023 was reviewed, with 25 searches selected. Results: Forty-two articles were included in the review. Conclusion: Hypersexuality is a potentially clinically relevant condition consisting of one or more dysfunctional and pathological behaviours of one’s sexual sphere and graded according to the severity of impairment of subjective acting out; for this reason, the Perrotta Hypersexuality Global Spectrum of Gradation (PH-GSS) is suggested, which distinguishes high-functioning forms (pro-active and dynamic hypersexuality) from those of attenuated and corrupted functioning (dysfunctional and pathological hypersexuality of grades I and II). Future research is hoped to address the practical needs of this condition, such as the exact etiopathology, the role of oxytocin in dopaminergic hypotheses (and its ability to attenuate the symptomatology suffered by the patient in terms of manic drive), the best structural and functional personality framing of the subject, and the appropriate therapy to pursue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Health and Sexual Behavior in the 21st Century)
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