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Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 L385 / Master of Science

Despite the rapid increase of HIV infections among South Africa's adolescent population, many teenagers continue to partake in sexually risky behaviours. The theory of planned action accounts for the low correlation between information and behaviour by identifying the strong influence of behavioural intentions, attitudes towards the behaviour, subjective norms, and perceived control in determining behaviour change. This research primarily aimed to assess the levels of sexual risk-taking behaviours, HIV-related knowledge, beliefs, and religiosity of private school adolescents, as well as to determine the nature of the relationships between these variables.

Forty-one women filled out surveys about their heterosexual sexual behavior over the course of 30 days. These surveys tracked their menstrual cycles, sexual behavior, sexual desires, and orgasm frequency. Although the sample size was small, a number of borderline statistically significant (p < .10) trends emerged from the analysis: women experienced more copulatory orgasms on average when fertile and women who were not in relationships tended to have more frequent non-copulatory orgasms. Naturally cycling women also experienced significantly more non-copulatory orgasms when fertile. Although no strong conclusions can be drawn from the current sample, the results suggest many avenues for future research. / by Jesse B. Marczyk. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

本研究旨在探索香港夫婦根據他們的社會文化背景對自己在婚姻中所遇到性功能障礙的經驗詮釋和主觀視角。當生理性觀點支配我們理解整全的性行為或性經驗時，這種看法甚至於遮蔽我們在個人、關係和社會心理的向度上所表達與「性」方面有關的活動，亦逐漸令性治療的專業範疇顯得不能完善地對應需要而失效，或許更相信有效的治療方法在於去除生理醫學上的病徵，回復正常的性功能；但是，這樣未必有助於改善性生活的質素和箇中關係。因此，本研究嘗試透過被評估有性功能障礙的夫婦，去檢視他們對有關婚姻經驗的詮釋，就此探討性功能障礙在婚姻境況中的意義和重要性。本專題論文會特別考究臨床社會工作在更闊的社會文化脈絡中，要怎樣理解配偶在婚姻經驗中的詮釋，藉以拓展擴大我們對性功能障礙的現象及其呈現的選擇和可能性的理解與考察，從中由病原學的探究轉向去理解性功能障礙在具體境域中所呈現的意義和重要性。 / 本研究採用了解釋主義研究範式的取向，並著重描述性現象學和哲學詮釋學的原則，致力於人與人關係方面的知識和解構配偶在社會文化中所生成的文本。解釋主義者相信人類行為的多樣性、差異性和複雜性；而描述性現象學和哲學詮釋學的原則便提供了知識建構上的策略和理解經驗意義的四個探索向度：理解的脈絡、時間性、自我或身體的理解及與他人的關係。這亦引申到是次質性研究所涉及的概念框架預設。在研究的設計中，應用了深入面談的方式進行：八位被評估有性功能障礙的配偶及他們在異性戀婚姻中的伴侶，同意參與是次研究，詳細描述了他們在婚姻中的有關經驗和性功能障礙在婚姻中的意義及重要性。 / 研究顯示，夫婦們所描述的故事內容包括具體的婚姻生活、在婚姻中所經驗的性功能障礙和有關性功能障礙的意義及重要性的詮釋。綜合概觀八個故事，有七個重要的主題呈現出來：第一、同樣有性功能障礙的夫婦卻在婚姻關係及滿足感上各有差異；第二、夫婦都以互為主觀的看法和透過關係中的互動去描述性功能障礙的獨特意義及其重要性；第三、配偶們沒有在詮釋性功能障礙的病徵上採取生理學的看法，他們反而按社會經濟方面的理解脈絡 (例如：工作壓力、長工時、家庭財政負擔或樓房按揭)、關係上的脈絡 (例如：婚姻關係、配偶間之互動和親友的關係)、時間性的脈絡 (例如：生育的計劃、過往沮喪的經驗和有關的聯想) 去描述自身性生活的困難，較只以純粹生理性的假設更多、更複雜；第四、他們在詮釋性功能障礙的經驗中，都埋下了結構性的時間觀念，或在時間的境域上同時伸展就過去、現在和未來的意識，從而由性交生活的範圍越出到非性交生活的範圍作一連繫，這可與直線的時間觀作一比對；第五、配偶們通常會以他們的生育計劃去解釋性功能障礙在婚姻中的意義和重要性；第六、忙碌的生活或絶少空閒的生活境況往往是夫婦在家庭和社會經濟範疇上的顯著特徵；第七、除性交以外，配偶們經歷和探索了其他可以令夫婦關係和性生活滿足的選擇，例如自慰、愛撫、擁抱、親吻或甜言蜜語。 / 有關本研究的主要成果，它採取了描述性現象學和哲學詮釋學的原則作為質性研究的取向，並以此為基礎邁向一種集合生理、心理及社會性的理解樣式，有助探索關於性功能障礙在婚姻中所呈現的經驗意義，越過並擴展純粹生理學及病原學的觀點，協助建立社會工作就這方面的明確介入方向，為綜合完備的臨床實務作一基礎。此外，更對單一地了解性功能障礙在婚姻中的意義，而忽略它的多樣性現象，作一意識形態上的批判。 / This research aimed at exploring the insiders’ perspectives of the couples towards sexual dysfunctions in marriage according to their own interpretation in the socio-cultural context of Hong Kong. While the biological aspects comprise an integral part of our understanding of sexuality, it has been developing to conceal our views of the individual, relational and psychosocial dimensions of sexual expression that may eventually prove stultifying to the professional field of sex therapy. It may be increasingly effective at removing biomedical symptoms to normal sexual functioning albeit contributing little else to the improvement of sexual life quality and relations. Thus, this research attempted to investigate the marital experience of spouses, who had been assessed with sexual dysfunctions, through their interpretation, whereas the significance of sexual dysfunctions was investigated at dyadic level in marital context. Interpretation of experience in marriage for the spouses of the present study was specific to clinical social work in a wider socio-cultural context. It drove us to expand the horizon of understanding and investigation towards the phenomenon of sexual dysfunction with the concern of human alternatives or possibilities, veering round from etiology to understanding of human significance of sexual dysfunctions in contexts. / This study adopted the interpretive research paradigm with emphasis of the principles of descriptive phenomenology and philosophical hermeneutics for attention to the relational aspects of knowledge and the deconstruction of socio-cultural texts of the spouses. Interpretivists believed in multiplicity, diversity and complexity of human behavior, whereas the principles of descriptive phenomenology and philosophical hermeneutics furnished epistemological strategies for searching of meanings of the experiences in the dimensions of space (perceived context), time, self (body) and relations (others) that articulated a conceptual framework for pre-understanding of this qualitative inquiry. In this qualitative study employed with in-depth interviews, eight spouses assessed with sexual dysfunctions and their partners in heterosexual marriage had been recruited to provide personal accounts of their marital experience and perceived significance of sexual dysfunctions in marriage. / As results of the study, the stories of the couples showed through their marital life, experience of sexual dysfunctions and perceived significance of sexual dysfunction in marriage. Having examined across the eight cases, seven major themes arose from their interpretations: (a) there were diversified marital relationship and satisfaction for the spouses who had the experience of sexual dysfunctions in marriage; (b) the unique meaning and importance of sexual dysfunction in marriage was described upon the inter-subjective views of the couples through interactive perceptions; (c) the spouses did not adopt a physiological view towards the symptoms of the sexual dysfunctions or rather they interpreted their experience of sexual difficulties in light of socio-economic context (e.g., work stress, long work hour, burden of household finance, mortgage), relational context (e.g., relationship of marriage, interaction with spouse and relationship with friends) and temporal context (e.g., birth plan, past dreary experience and the related association), more than biological given; (d) they interpreted the experience of sexual dysfunction embedded with structural time or in a horizon of temporality stretching through past, present and future, from the sphere of coitus to the sphere beyond coitus that juxtaposed with the linear time concept; (e) the spouses usually interpreted the significance of sexual dysfunction in view of their plan of reproduction; (f) stress arisen from busy life and occupied living condition in household and socio-economic context was a prominent feature of their marital life; (g) the spouses sought alternatives for sexual and relational satisfaction apart from coitus, e.g. masturbation, caress, hug, kiss or sweet words. / For the implications of the study, it had been working towards a bio-psycho-social model with adoption of the principles of descriptive phenomenology and philosophical hermeneutics searching for meaning of the experience that surmounted physiological and etiological views of sexual dysfunctions in marriage, and shed light on social work intervention for sexual dysfunction, especially for sake of a substratum of clinical integrative practice. It also made an ideological critique on uni-mode of understanding against the sexual dysfunctions in marriage without consideration of its multifaceted phenomena. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Kwan, Ka Wing. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 485-537). / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Wang, Guan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-172). / Abstracts in English and Chinese ; includes Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 論文摘要 --- p.i / Declaration of Anonymity and Confidentiality --- p.ii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- The Moralists --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- The Mainstreams --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- The Radicals --- p.110 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.140 / Chapter Appendix: --- Interview Protocol --- p.167 / References Cited --- p.169

Background: Though there continues to be a significant amount of research aimed at understanding factors associated with participating in sexual risk behavior in populations of YBMSM, there has been far less research concerned with understanding how psychological distress may influence sexual risk behaviors and how emotional bond formation may affect the relationship between psychological distress and sexual risk behavior. This study aims to better understand the relationship between psychological distress and sexual risk behavior as well as the moderating effect of adult attachment insecurity on this relationship. Methods: Three data collection strategies were utilized to address the study aims: 1) cross-sectional (n = 228), 2) eight-week structured diary (n = 153), and 3) semi-structured interview (n = 30). The cross-sectional survey provided measurement information on adult attachment style using a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR) that consists of the attachment avoidance and anxiety subscales, the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI) and the Kessler-10 (K10). Sexual risk was measured by assessing unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and serodiscordant UAI in the last two months. The eight-week structured diary utilized weekly reports of UAI encounter vs. no UAI encounter, and serodiscordant UAI encounter vs. no serodiscordant UAI encounter. The K10 and the Profile of Moods (POMS) anxiety and depression subscales measured psychological distress. The semi-structured interview assessed childhood attachment. Regression analyses were used to analyze the cross-sectional data. Random effects and population average regression models were used to analyze the structured diary data. A thematic inductive analysis technique was utilized to analyze the qualitative data. Results: Overall, participants reported slightly elevated mean scores on the attachment anxiety subscale while scores on the attachment avoidance subscale remained low. Participants reported an average of two UAI partners in the last month and an average of 1.3 UAI encounters over the eight-week diary period. Psychological distress scores were slightly elevated in the cross-sectional survey and depression scores were elevated in the diary component. For Aim 1, men higher on attachment insecurity (anxiety and avoidance) had higher levels of general psychological distress, depression, and anxiety in comparison to men who were more secure. The qualitative data supported the quantitative findings and showed that subjective appraisal of traumatic events and sexual orientation disclosure may mediate the relationship between childhood attachment and adult mental health. For Aim 2, the quantitative findings suggested that attachment insecurity was not related to sexual risk behavior. However, the qualitative component suggested that participants who were anxious used sex as a means to try to create an emotional bond, while participants who were avoidant used sex as a means to feel good without wanting to create an emotional bond. Both anxious and avoidant men seemed to participate in more concurrent sexual relationships which could increase their likelihood of HIV/STI transmission. For Aim 3, men who were more depressed and had higher levels of general psychological distress were more likely to report a serodiscordant UAI encounter in a given week. The qualitative data supported the quantitative findings and suggested that men might use sex as a means of escape their negative mood. This model of "escapism" could have lead to participation in sexual practices that increased men's risk of HIV/STI transmission. For Aim 4, adult attachment insecurity did not moderate the relationship between psychological distress and sexual risk. The qualitative data suggested that secure attachment in childhood was important to adequately coping with stressful situations, which in turn promoted overall well-being. Conclusion: Study findings suggest that understanding adult attachment may lead to a better understanding of psychological distress and sexual risk behavior among YBMSM. The results highlight the importance of considering childhood and young adult emotional bond formation in the development of HIV/STI prevention intervention activities aimed at addressing the heightened rates of sexual risk behavior among YBMSM. This research could have valuable implications for the development of HIV/STI and mental health prevention interventions aimed at reducing sexual risk behaviors and promoting well-being in populations of YBMSM

This thesis examined whether mental health problems and sexual risk taking were associated in a general population sample and if so, the extent and direction of this association. The thesis begins with a review of theories of risk taking; sexual risk and mental health correlates; and the existing studies linking mental health and sexual risk taking. Three empirical studies were conducted. Study One produced new evidence that a range of psychiatric disorders were linked to early sex (<16 years), risky sex (multiple partners and inconsistent condom use in the past year at age 21) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by the age of 21 years. Young people who present with schizophrenia spectrum disorder were also prone to early and risky sex and STIs. Second, depression, the single most common psychiatric problem in the population, was also associated with risky sex and STIs. The risk increased with comorbid psychiatric conditions. Study Two addressed the issue of directionality, specifically examining if childhood behavioural and emotional problems and early adolescent psychiatric disorder predicted later sexual risk taking and STIs. Main findings showed that childhood antisocial behaviour increased the likelihood of risky and early sex, and that low levels of childhood anxiety increased the likelihood of later risky sex and having STIs. Involvement with delinquent peers mediated the association between childhood antisocial behaviour and risky and early sex. To a lesser degree, attachment to parents mediated the association between antisocial behaviour and early sex. These factors did not mediate the association between low levels of childhood anxiety and later sexual outcomes. No associations were found between adolescent psychiatric disorder and later sexual risk taking, with the exception of conduct disorder. However, it is important to note that by excluding the group who had early sex in order to establish temporality, other behaviours of interest exhibited by this group were also excluded. The third study examined whether sexual risk taking was associated with an increased risk of subsequent mental health problems, addressing the issue of directionality in the other direction. Main findings showed that reports of early sex, multiple sex partners and STIs elevated the risk of later substance dependence disorders. Importantly, this association persisted after controlling for �baseline� levels of psychiatric disorder. Early sex also predicted later conduct disorder, even after controlling for prior conduct disorder. In contrast, early sex, multiple sex partners and acquisition of STIs were unrelated to later diagnoses of anxiety or depression. The significant associations with multiple sex partners and STIs were also shown for incident cases of substance dependence. Moderation analyses revealed no differences between the sexes in any of the studies except in Study Three. Specifically, the association between multiple sex partners and substance dependence appeared to be stronger for males than females for up to 10 sex partners and substantially stronger for females than for males beyond ten sex partners. The final chapter in this thesis reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the studies in this thesis before considering the implications of the results for theory, research and practice.

Salamander courtship coordinates the exchange of gametes. Plethodontids have evolved an elaborate means by which this is done. Throughout the family Plethodontidae a tail-straddling walk is performed to orchestrate the transfer of sperm. Typically this behavior is linear, however in the genus Aneides there are exceptions. In the genus Aneides there are two species that have a circular tail-straddling walk; others perform the highly conserved linear tail-straddling walk. I observed courtship in three species of Aneides and used accounts of others to discern which members possessed circular tail-straddling walk and used a phylogeny to map the courtship characters found in the courtships of the members of the tribe plethodontini. / Graduation date: 2003

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 285-308).