In most adult animals, stress is generally thought to be detrimental to reproductive (sexual) function. However, in humans, there is a limited body of literature that indicates some stress can potentially be beneficial for sexual function. One theory is that there is an inverted U relationship between stress and sexual function with low and high levels of stress (or anxiety) causing an impairment of sexual response, while a moderate level of stress facilitates sexual arousal. This aim of this dissertation is to identify the mechanisms through which both acute and chronic stress may facilitate or impair sexual arousal in women. In particular, I examined the role of adrenal hormones, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and psychological factors. To test these mechanisms, I measured cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), heart rate, distraction, and misattribution of arousal during stressful and sexual laboratory situations. Two of the studies examined the effects of acute stress, and the final study focused on chronic stress. Results indicated that acute stress is beneficial for genital arousal in women, and that the sympathetic branch of the ANS is the key mechanism involved in that relationship. High levels of chronic stress were found to significantly impair genital arousal compared to average levels of chronic stress. Increased levels of cortisol and distractions contributed to this effect. DHEAS did not appear to play a role in the relationship between stress and sexual arousal, and there was no evidence for misattribution of arousal. Neither acute nor chronic stress affected women’s subjective (psychological) arousal. Acute and chronic stressors affect sexual arousal in different ways and through separate mechanisms. The findings from these studies can inform treatment approaches for women with sexual arousal difficulties. / text

The purposes of this study were to determine whether there were significant differences in knowledge and attitudes among fifth-, ninth- and twelfth-grade students after having been taught a unit on Human Growth, Development and Sexuality and to determine whether there were significant differences between these students and students not receiving the unit. The study attempted to determine at which of the three levels the human sexuality unit was most effective in transmitting knowledge and changing attitude in the area of human sexuality. An attempt was made to determine if there were significant differences between males and females in the knowledge obtained or attitude changes.

The constant evolution of ICT changes the habits and way of life of today´s generation. At the same time, it affects their sexuality and the associated sexual life. Generation Y represents the generation of young people who come into contact with ICT from the young age and excel in high-level information literacy. This diploma thesis is offering a comprehensive view of the impact of ICT on Generation Y in terms of human sexual-ity and pornography. The social research brings findings on ICT usage issues in differ-ent places (at work, at university, etc.), security and privacy protection in the virtual world, and ICT pornography. The research of studies from foreign countries passes to the author´s own research. It also reflects new trends in ICT; the 3D virtual reality. In the final part of the diploma thesis the author discusses and compares the results ob-tained by his own research with foreign studies. At the same time, author´s own find-ings are formulated. Author is also proposing questions that could form the basis of research at the organisational level.

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Large number of researches proven sexual differences in frequency and content of sexual fantasies (SF) in men and women. Results of the recent studies consent on fact that male SF are more frequent, and there are more types of SF compared to female SF. Study that we propose is one of the first to investigate repertoire gaining in both sexes based on different presumptions for each. Among mechanisms we will test are: higher frequency of masturbation among man which gives more space to form larger repertoire, selective attention to external erotic stimuli related to different evolutionary-biological relevance in men and women and gaining the content of SF trough realization of activity that SF later represents. Also we present factor analysis of SF content. Significant difference was found in number of SF in man and woman in absolute number of different types of SF related to objects (F=10,06, p= 0,002) but not activities. Largest impact on amount of SF related to objects was found in age when person had most orgasms - negatively (r = -0,347, p = 0,003), amount of orgasms in that age per week(r = 0,930, p = 0,011), frequency of masturbation (r = 0,776, p = 0,030) and erotica exposure (r = 0,353,p = 0,001). When GLM was aplicated on previously tested affects sex of participant was not significant...

Sexuality education in public schools in the United States excludes a large population of students. These exclusions are due to a long history of legal and economic battles, as well as the politicized nature of adolescent sexuality. This critical interpretive inquiry explored the long history of sexuality education through the lens of economics, law, and psychological paradigms and examined the way in which each of these lenses furthered the exclusion of nonheterosexual males in curricula. Using a framework comprised of critical feminist theory, critical pedagogy, and queer theory, this manuscript provides an understanding of the social structures of sexuality education and how they continue to marginalize students labeled as “other.” Using critical discourse analysis, this study reviewed legal and political documents, state and private curricula, and works in the sociology and psychology fields. The outcomes of interpretive research do not lend themselves to specific answers, but to a greater understanding of the experience of marginalized individuals and the structures in place that keep this experience intact. Through a critical review of current programming initiatives, recommendations are made to continue moving toward a more gender- and identity-inclusive sexuality education curriculum. These recommendations, which are grounded in current legal and economic requirements, include teacher certification requirements, implementation of the Advocates for Youth 3Rs curriculum, utilization of a rights-based approach to program design, and adoption of national sexuality education by the Department of Health and Human Services, rather than by the Department of Education.

Master of Science / Family Studies and Human Services / Karen S. Myers-Bowman / This study investigates the domains and boundaries of sexuality education between two educational fields: sexuality education and family life education. The goal was to understand how scholars and practitioners in these fields conceptualize sexuality education. The journalistic questions of Who, What, When, For whom, and Why were identified within each field by using the constant comparative method to complete a content analysis of publications by scholars and by interviewing certified professionals in each field. Through the lens of Social Constructionism Theory and a Phenomenological Approach, this study helped clarify the similarities and differences of two professional fields, in turn, advancing each field. Results indicated that sexuality education and family life education are similar in many ways; it is the approach that each takes that makes them different. Sexuality education takes a holistic approach while family life education takes a contextual approach when teaching sexuality education. This approach, in turn, affects the rest of the education, including the domains that were identified.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as Representações Sociais dos profissionais enfermeiros, expressas nas situações em que a sexualidade do doente mental constitui um fato evidente, nas instituições prestadoras de assistência psiquiátrica. O recurso técnico-metodológico foi construído a partir das contribuições dos procedimentos projetivos, denominado Técnica de Investigação em Situações Cotidianas - T.S.C. O instrumento foi composto de dezesseis pranchas contendo reproduções gráficas da atuação cotidiana desse profissional, das quais utilizou-se somente seis, para a análise da sexualidade do doente mental. Dezessete enfermeiros que trabalham em hospital psiquiátrico de Ribeirão Preto fazem parte da amostra. Através de sua manifestação discursiva, verificou-se que o profissional enfermeiro nega a sexualidade do doente mental, circunscrevendo-a ao rol dos desvios, transgressões e doença (entre outros), na medida que para ele constituem de fato atos ilegítimos. Ao negar, adota uma posição de afastamento, em atitude ora repressiva, ora não repressiva e/ou defensiva. Tal posicionamento revela a estratégia adotada sobre esse saber e poder, na qual cumpre as determinações do seu estatuto profissional e vai de encontro às expectativas institucionais e sociais. / The objective of this research was to identify the Social Representations of Nursing professionals expressed in situations in which the sexuality of mental sick person makes up a visible fact, in psychiatric assistance institutions. The technical-methodological resourage was built up from contributions of projective procedures, called Investigation Technique in Daily Situations - I.T.D.S.. The instrument was composed by sixteen boards containing graphic reproductions of aily action of this professional from which it was selected only six boards to analyze the mental sick person?s sexuality. Seventeen nurses who work in psychiatric hospital in Ribeirão Preto composed the sample. Through their discursive manifestation we can know their Social Representations showring that they denies the mental sick person?s sexuality, restraining it as a deviation, misbehavior and a disease (among others), while it constitutes, in fact, a real illicit act. Doing this, they assume a position of distance, either reprehensive or non-reprehensive and/or defensive. This position reveals an adopted strategy about this knowledge and power, in which it fulfills the determinations of this professional code and then, meets the institucional and social expectations.

A experiência sexual humana teve momentos distintos em seu desenvolvimento biopsicossocial e histórico, tendo sido submetida a normativas sociais, favorecendo evolutivamente a vida comunitária e social. O comportamento de corte tem um componente biológico/evolutivo e os comportamentos não verbais são os de maior importância num primeiro momento dessa aproximação para seleção sexual. Objetivamos construir um instrumento clínico de faces, identificando imagens de face masculina e feminina, com expressões percebidas como sexualmente receptivas, de modo a contribuir com o conhecimento na área e fornecer subsídio para o trabalho clínico com queixas relacionadas a funções cognitivas e sexualidade. Iniciamos com 107 fotografias realizadas de um modelo do sexo masculino e uma modelo do sexo feminino. Para testar Validade de Conteúdo, utilizamos da avaliação de um grupo de 12 juízes (psicólogos clínicos; heterossexuais; 06 homens e 06 mulheres), que apresentaram concordância de justa a moderada segundo Índice do Coeficiente Kappa de Cohen, uma medida de concordância, quanto à receptividade sexual nas imagens. Em pré-teste com 67 voluntários (26 homens e 41 mulheres; heterossexuais; 20 a 52 anos, M=26,01; ± DP 8,29), universitários da cidade de São Paulo, encontramos 17 imagens femininas e 16 imagens masculinas, indicadas como receptivas sexualmente, por frequência maior que 70% de concordância em escala de 7 pontos que vão de Discordo Totalmente a Concordo Totalmente. As demais imagens foram avaliadas qualitativamente para compor o instrumento final, sendo excluídas imagens com mais de 70% de frequência em Discordância de Receptividade Sexual e menos de 10% de Concordância. Foram selecionadas 50 imagens (25 femininas e 25 masculinas) para avaliação por grupo de estudo. Em 16 aplicações grupais, em diferentes instituições, obtivemos 289 homens (54,8%, 18 a 63 anos, DP ± 25,49) e 238 mulheres (45,2%, 18 a 65 anos, DP ± 28,92). A análise de critério não apresentou diferenças na percepção dos observadores em relação a faixa etária, estado civil e escolaridade. Houve diferença na percepção entre os sexos, sendo mais significativa para os itens de imagem masculina, dado observado na literatura específica. O cálculo de Alfa de Chronbach para o GrT, GrH e GrM apresentou bons índices de consistência interna para todos os 50 itens (<0,79 e 0,90). A análise fatorial para as 50 imagens não se sustentou, com itens apresentando comunalidades menores que 0,50 (0,32). A análise de conteúdo demonstrou que os itens selecionados expressam o construto em estudo, ou seja, receptividade sexual por imagem de expressão de face. O instrumento construído apresenta limitações, sobretudo, quanto à sensibilidade e especificidade para amostra clínica e grupos específicos, aspectos estes, que pretendemos considerar na continuidade futura do estudo. Contudo, o instrumento é capaz de avaliar a receptividade sexual por expressão de face. Acreditamos que diante da possibilidade de viés cultural na percepção de expressões em face humana, sejam válidas tentativas inovadoras de avaliação / The human sexual experience had distinct moments in its biopsychosocial and historical development. It has been submitted to social normatives, evolutionarily favoring the community and social life. The Flirtation behavior has a biological/ evolutionary component and the nonverbal behaviors are of bigger importance at a first moment of this approach for sexual election. We aim to construct a clinical instrument of faces, identifying images of masculine and feminine face, with expressions perceived as sexually receptive, in order to contribute with the knowledge in the area and provide subsidy for the clinical work related to cognitive functions and sexuality complaints. The research had its start with the use of 107 photographs from two models, one male and one female. To test Validity of Content, it was used the evaluation of a group of 12 judges (clinical psychologists, heterosexuals, 06 men and 06 women), who presented agreement from fair to moderate, according to Cohen\'s Kappa Coefficient Index, a measurement of agreement, regarding sexual receptivity in the images. During a pre-test developed with 67 volunteers (26 men and 41 women, heterosexuals, 20-52 years old, M = 26.01, ± SD 8.29), university students from São Paulo city, it was found 17 feminine images and 16 masculine images, indicated as sexually receptive, by a frequency greater than 70% of agreement on a 7-point scale that goes from I totally disagree to I totally agree. The remaining images were qualitatively evaluated to compose the final instrument, excluding the images with more than 70% of frequency in Sexual Receptivity Discordance and less than 10% of Concordance. Fifty images (25 feminine and 25 masculine), was selected to be used for study group evaluations. In 16 group applications, done in different institutions, we obtained 289 men (54.8%, 18 to 63 years, SD ± 25.49) and 238 women (45.2%, 18 to 65 years, SD ± 28.92). The criterion analysis did not present differences in the observers perception in relation to age, marital status and scholarity. There was a difference in perception between the genders, being more significant for the masculine image items, as observed in the specific literature. The Chronbach Alpha calculation for GrT, GrH and GrM presented good indices of internal consistency for all 50 items (<0.79 and 0.90). The factorial analysis for the 50 images did not support itself, with its items showing commonalities lower than 0.50 (0.32). The content analysis demonstrated that the selected items express the construct under study, that is, sexual receptivity by face expression image. The developed instrument presents limitations, especially regarding sensitivity and specificity for clinical samples and specific groups, aspects these, that we intend to consider in the future continuity of the study. However, the instrument is capable to evaluate the sexual receptivity by face expression. We believe that ahead of the possibility of cultural bias in the perception of expressions in human face, it is a valid innovative attempt of evaluation

Este estudo visa investigar a formação dos estudantes do curso de Licenciatura em Enfermagem para a temática Sexualidade Humana, que é uma dimensão essencialmente humana e de interesse social cujas significações e vivências, são determinadas pela subjetividade, pela natureza e pelos diferentes momentos históricos, religiosos, econômicos, políticos, sociais e afetivos, expressando-se de forma ímpar em cada sujeito. A abordagem metodológica de investigação desenvolveu-se por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa, de cunho humanista, apropriando-se de um estudo descritivo-exploratório, mediatizada pela metodologia da pesquisa-ação. Para a coleta dos dados foi utilizado como instrumento, um questionário semi-estruturado e um diário de campo, servindo como forma de registro da observação participante. A análise e interpretação dos dados foram feitos através da análise temática, preconizada por Paulo Freire, buscando os temas geradores que favoreceram a elaboração de categorias. Para que ações educativas em saúde, com foco na sexualidade humana possam ter bons resultados, é imprescindível que os profissionais da saúde estejam preparados, instrumentalizados e que tenham habilidades comportamentais éticas para lidarem com esse tema, de maneira natural e não somente focado na técnica, na informação ou na tríade saúde-doença-prevenção. Assim, a temática em apreço, instituída em nosso meio social, educacional e da saúde, pode propiciar um ambiente oportuno para o diálogo, de forma aberta e horizontalizada, livre de preconceito, tabu, mito, crendice e sobremaneira de discriminação enfim, contribuindo para uma melhor qualidade de vida das pessoas. / This searching aims the search of formation of the students from the Licentiate Course on Nursing for human sexuality thematic, that is an essentially human dimension and of social interest, which meanings and experiences, are determined by subjectivity, by nature and by different historic, religion, economic, politic, social and affective moments, expressed by a particular way on every one. The methodology approach of the search was developed by qualitative research, of humanist view, getting a descriptive-exploratory study, worked by the research-action methodology. For the data collecting, a semi-structured quiz and a field diary, serving as a participant observation register, were used as instruments. The analysis and interpretation of the data were done through thematic analysis, advocated by Paulo Freire, searching for generator themes that headed the categories developing. In order to provide educational actions in health area, focusing on human sexuality with good results, it\'s extremely important that the health professionals get prepared, instrumentally and have ethic behavior abilities to handle this theme, in a natural way and, besides concerning on the technique, also concern on the information or on the triad health-disease-prevention. Due to the thematic respect, inserted in our social, educational and health environment, it can provide a environment of opportune dialog, in an open and horizontal way, free of prejudice, myth, beliefs, and discrimination, contributing to people\'s better life quality.