Much published work has pointed to the need for the development of a sound operational definition of sexual orientation in order to enable the research in this area to progress. To contribute to this process the current research set out to develop two measures of sexual orientation and examine their psychometric properties. In order to develop relevant tools historical, conceptual and operational definitions of sexual orientation were critically examined and standard questionnaire development techniques applied. The first scale consisted of 32 items and was administered to a total of 835 adolescents, comprising three sub-groups (189 Grade 11 Scholars, 547 First Year and 99 Third Year Psychology Students). A Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.85 was calculated indicating that this instrument had very good internal consistency reliability. Similar factors emerged in each of the sample sub-groups when factor analyses were performed suggesting that this instrument has good external and construct validities. These factors each had respectable Cronbach alpha coefficients indicating their own internal consistency. The four factors which consistently emerged were Same Sex Responsiveness, Opposite Sex Responsiveness, Previous Month’s Same Sex Responsiveness and Previous Month’s Opposite Sex Responsiveness. The second scale consisted of 16 items and was administered to 646 adolescents, comprising the latter two sub-groups referred to above. A Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.82 was calculated indicating that this instrument also had very good internal consistency reliability. Once again similar factors with generally good internal consistency emerged in factor analysis suggesting that this too was a valid instrument. The factors that emerged from the second scale were Same Sex Responsiveness, Unattractive Opposite Sex Responsiveness, Attractive Opposite Sex Responsiveness and Attraction. Future developments, adjustments and applications of the instruments as well as implications for the arena of sexual orientation research are discussed. In the light of the dearth of information with regard to the sexual orientations of South African adolescents the current study also briefly explored and presented the sample’s responses in terms of the dimensions of each questionnaire as well as how each emerging factor related to the demographics (education level, gender, sexual orientation self-label and age) of the sample.

Selective inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine by parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) is able to restore sexual receptivity in female rhesus monkeys made unreceptive by bilateral adrenalectomy. PCPA in the doses used reduces the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid to 40 per cent of the normal oestradioltreated condition. Both the increased sexual receptivity and the lowered 5HIAA levels "in the CSF are in turn reversed by 5-hydroxytryptophal (5HTP), the irrmediate precursor of 5HT and the substance whose synthesis is inhibited by PCPA. 5HTP on its own reduces sexual receptivity and increases 5HIAA levels in the CSF of ovariectomised, oestradiol-treated (but otherwise intact) female rhesus monkeys. A substance other than an adrenal androgen has therefore been shown to restore sexual receptivity in adrenalectomised female monkeys . Testosterone propionate and oestradiol benzoate both lower the turnover rates of 5HT in the brains of ovariectomised female monkeys, as measured by the 2 hour probenecid test. Taken together, these findings suggest that adrenal androgens could act on specific sites in the female monkey brain via 5HT-containing neural systems, to control (or at least influence) sexual receptivity. All the results of administering oestradiol to ovariectomised monkeys in these experiments are consistent with the established roles of this hormone in female sexual attractiveness and in the gonadotrophin- controlling systems of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis. In contrast to these findings on 5HT and sexual receptivity in female monkeys, no clear role for 5HT- containing neural systems could be demonstrated in the grooming, aggressive or social behaviours of female monkeys. No clear role for 5HT could be demonstrated in the refractory period following ejaculation in male monkeys , or when testosterone replacement is given to castrated male monkeys.

M.Phil. / AIDS is regarded as the most disastrous health threat in the world. The impact of HIV/AIDS goes beyond the physical well being of the individual: it affects the world's economic, social and political functioning. The greatest number of people living in sub-Saharan Africa, are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.HIV/AIDS related issues amongst adolescents were neglected due to the visible impact of this pandemic on babies and adults. Adolescents' behaviour is regarded as high-risk because of their involvement in sexual activities at a young age. Presently there is no cure or vaccine for AIDS. The only effective way to prevent or reduce HIV transmission is through changing the behaviour that leads to HIV infection. The National and Provincial Departments of Health, Education and Welfare implemented various AIDS prevention programmes, focussing on promoting the practice of safer sex amongst adolescents. Unfortunately, these AIDS prevention programmes did not result in the behavioural changes of adolescents. The dissatisfying outcome questions the efficacy of the development and implementation of these programmes, although they have adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Most AIDS prevention programmes do not ·focus, nor accommodate the specific needs of adolescents, especially adolescent boys. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe adolescent boys' views about sexual activities and their specific needs in terms of an AIDS prevention programme. Guidelines would then be presented to developers of AIDS prevention programmes, based on the identified views and needs. The research design was based on qualitative research because of its exploratory, descriptive and contextual nature. The collection of the data was done by means of focus group interviews and field notes reflecting the observation done during the interviews. The analysis of the data was done according to Tesch's approach of data reduction. Literature was used to compare and complement the results. Applying Guba' s model on trustworthiness ensured the trustworthiness ofthe research. The results of the fieldwork indicated the following themes: • Most adolescents are sexually active. • Different roles and motives exist for adolescent boys and girls in terms of sex. • Adolescents externalise the risks HIV presents. • Three categories of views exist toward the acceptability of involvement in sexual activity, ranging from unacceptable to acceptable. • Adolescents' experience underlying feelings of fear in terms of issues related to sex. • Adolescents' needs in terms of AIDS prevention programmes mainly focus on the functionality of the information that is provided as well as the presentation of these programmes. • The importance of ongoing sex education, including HIV/ AIDS related 1ssues, were stressed by adolescents and confirmed by literature. Based on these findings, guidelines were presented to inform developers of HIV/AIDS programmes, of the specific needs adolescent boys need to be addressed.

The disproportionate representation of African American adolescents engaging in sexual risk behaviors (SRB) compared to their other racial counterparts is stark. This SRB disparity can be eliminated by addressing ethnic group-specific populations, such as Nigerian American adolescents (NAAs), and requiring an intentional effort and sensitivity regarding the methodology. Protection Motivation Theory and selected Roach's Cs guided this study in a virtual setting, and the uniqueness of NAAs surfaced. Twenty-five male and female participants were recruited through Nigerian American Foundation. Each participant met the inclusion criteria of self-identification as Nigerian American, male, and female adolescents aged 13 –17 years old, being able to read and provide written assent in English, South Florida residence, Nigerian parentage, or Nigerian birth living in the US within five years. An exploratory, descriptive design employed a mixed-methods study to identify SRB knowledge and attitudes among NAAs. Quantitatively, SRB knowledge and attitudes were assessed using the West Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Inventory, acculturation measure for Afro-Caribbean youths was adapted for the NAAs, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. For the qualitative component, a developed guide was used in focus group discussions. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / College students demonstrate a persistent lack of knowledge about safe sexual practices and engage in sexual behavior that puts them at risk for preventable health issues, specifically, sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy. Fortunately, physicians have an opportunity to provide accurate and timely information about safe sexual behavior to individuals in their care. However, many young people, and in particular young women, are reticent to talk to their physicians about sexual behavior because they typically consider the information to be private. They draw thick privacy boundaries around this information, leading to a missed opportunity to communicate about sexual behavior with their healthcare provider. Exacerbating this issue is the fact that many physicians are also uncomfortable discussing sexual topics with their patients. In this dissertation, Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory is used to investigate the criteria that female college students employ to negotiate the disclosure and concealment of information about sexual behavior to physicians. Qualitative analysis of open-ended interviews with female college students were used to describe and explain the way college students perceive issues concerning disclosure of sexual behaviors to their physician. These findings have the potential to improve communication interventions both for female college students and healthcare professionals. / 2021-10-03

Background: The inexorable spread of HIV infection across all continents is attributable to many factors, including male sexual behaviour. Such behaviour is often considered recalcitrant to change. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine if sexual behaviour does or does not change after the diagnosis of HIV infection and to elucidate some of the psychosocial factors that may be operant in this context. Materials and Methods: The research consisted of a structured selfadministered questionnaire designed to measure ten psychosexual and sociosexual parameters in a group of HIV positive men. The questionnaire evaluated parameters at three different time points i.e. before HIV diagnosis, one year after HIV diagnosis and the present (2002). Participants were recruited from patients attending a private HIV treatment centre, in Pretoria, South Africa. Results: 53 participants completed the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to elucidate trends. Statistically significant changes were seen in most studied domains, suggesting that beneficial change in sexual behaviour is possible after a diagnosis of HIV infection. These changes were seen, over time, in all the measured parameters, thus, change appears both possible and sustainable. This change was often detrimental to participants as it impacted negatively on some aspects of their personal and social functioning. Safer sex knowledge was weak in the studied group. Conclusion: The data indicate that change in behaviour is possible after a diagnosis of HIV infection and occurred in the studied population. Some changes were good for public health initiatives; many were detrimental to the psychosexual functioning of participants. Public health officials and other medical practitioners should include interventions aimed at reducing the negative psychosocial impact of HIV diagnosis at every patient encounter, as these changes do not resolve by themselves over time and are detrimental to the quality of life of patients.

No description available.

Early exposure to abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction is linked to long-term detrimental effects on mental and physical health. In the mid-1990s, Kaiser Permanente and the CDC surveyed adults in the community and found a strong and cumulative relationship between the degree of exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and risk factors for leading causes of death in adulthood. At present, most research using ACE survey methodology examines community-based adult samples, and populations who experience the greatest number of adversities are largely ignored. An additional factor indicative of household dysfunction that has not been thoroughly explored in the context of ACE survey methodology is foster care placement. Further, little is understood regarding the impact of out-of-home placement on persons with disproportionately high ACE scores and subsequent difficulties with sexual and aggressive behavior. Studies investigating differential risk factors and outcomes could inform prevention, policy, and treatment. As such, the current study seeks to investigate the impact of childhood adversity and out-ofhome placement on the onset of aggression and problem sexual behavior using ACE survey methodology in a sample of juveniles receiving residential treatment for sexual misconduct. Data for this study were collected from archival records of children and adolescents who have received sexual offender treatment at a treatment center for male youth (N=120; 88% Caucasian) for periods ranging from one month to more than four years (M=13.68 months, SD=10.96). These participants have a mean age of 14.63 years (SD=1.56; Range: 11 to 17 years) at the time of first admission into the facility. As expected, the adolescents in this study have experienced higher rates of adverse childhood experiences than the general adult population and male adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system previously reported in the literature. Only 2.5% of the current sample experienced no ACEs and 74.2% faced four or more adversities, which is considered to be high risk in the literature. Participants had a mean age at first out-of-home placement of 9 years (SD=5.21) and had an average of 3.7 out-of-home placements at time of admission to the facility. The association of childhood adversities, the number of non-psychiatric out-of-home placements, and age at first out-of-home placement with earlier onset of aggressive and sexual offending behaviors will be investigated using Cox proportional hazard analyses. Behavioral outcomes (e.g., onset of sexual and aggressive behavior problems; substance use; arrest history; and, treatment length) between individuals who were placed in family members’ homes versus those placed in non-familial foster care will also be explored. Implications for prevention and environmental responsiveness will be addressed.

No description available.

No description available.