Parental Attachment and Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescents Exposed to Marital Conflict.

(1) Background: Interparental conflict is a phenomenon that poses a serious threat not only to the quality of life of the couple but also to the father-child relationship, mother-child relationship, and well-being of adolescents. This study examined the difference in parental attachment and adjustment in adolescents exposed to marital conflict versus those not exposed to parental conflicts in low-income areas. (2) Methods: 67 adolescents involved in Child Welfare Services (CWS) in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in southern Spain were examined. The sample was split into two groups according to the exposure to marital conflict. Subsequently, differences between groups were analysed on father attachment, mother attachment, aggression, antisocial behaviour, and emotional intelligence. (3) Results: Primarily, the data showed significantly worse attachment with the father among conflict-exposed versus non-conflict-exposed adolescents. These results were not found for the attachment with the mother. Additionally, greater anger and worse stress management were found in conflict-exposed adolescents. (4) Conclusions: The results partially confirmed the spillover and compensatory hypothesis. Practical implications point out that developing preventive interventions that protect the father-adolescent attachment in situations of family conflict is recommended.

Sexual Health and Psychological Well-Being of Women: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Psychological well-being (PWB) and female sexual health are two important areas for women's quality of life and research, and they are closely related. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the existing literature to explore the association between PWB and sexual health in women. (2) Methods: This review was carried out following the PRISMA checklist. The inclusion criteria were studies with samples of adult women that evaluated and associated sexual functioning and psychological well-being. Scientific articles were identified on Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO (PsycInfo, PsycArticles, and Psicodoc), ProQuest, and PubMed. The search was limited to years between 2010 and 2023. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies (QATOCCS). (3) Results: 14 selected articles were analyzed, in which population samples and variables related to psychological and sexual health were examined. In total, 42.9% of the studies included clinical samples, 71.4% focused on anxiety and depression as the main psychological variables, and 50% examined female sexual functioning as a sexual health variable. (4) Conclusions: This review provides more up-to-date information about valuable insights into the possible determinants of female sexual health. An association between PWB and female sexual health has been demonstrated.

Development of the Italian version of the Orgasmic Perception Questionnaire (OPQ).

Orgasm is a phase of the human sexual response, and the possible discrepancies between male and female ways to experience it are still not clear in the literature. There is a lack of tools to adequately assess orgasm perception. This study aims to develop an instrument and verify possible differences between males and females. We constructed the Orgasmic Perception Questionnaire (OPQ) through different stages: first, 316 items selection was conducted on a sample of 96 people, where items came mainly from written descriptions of orgasm perception; second, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted on 674 Italian adults with a 63-item OPQ; finally, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on 1100 Italian adults with a 47-item OPQ. In the first study, 63 items fitted an equidistributional pattern and were to form the 63-item OPQ used for EFA. The EFA showed that five factors out of 47 explained 44.01% of the total variance and were named: Ecstasy, Contractions, Relaxation, Power, and Sensations. The confirmatory factor analyses run on the 47-item OPQ confirmed that the five-factor structure fits. Moreover, females scored higher than males with an adequate effect size in two factors: Contractions and Sensations. In conclusion, the OPQ could be a useful tool in both clinical settings and research studies to investigate the perception of orgasmic experience in its totality.

How do heterosexual men and women rate their orgasms in a relational context?

The orgasm experience refers to the psychological self-evaluation of the orgasm. No previous research has compared the characteristics of the orgasm experience between men and women creating a ranking of the adjectives that better represent it. The main objective of this study was to analyze gender differences in the global orgasm experience, its dimensions, and its descriptive words to examine how do heterosexual people rate their orgasms. A sample of 1619 heterosexual adults (793 men, 826 women) completed a background questionnaire and the Orgasm Rating Scale. Results showed that there were significant gender differences in the global orgasm experience and three of its dimensions. Furthermore, fourteen of the 25 descriptive words showed differences between genders. In the ranking, the top five adjectives that better described the orgasm experience were the same in both genders. In conclusion, although differences across gender in the orgasm experience were observed, heterosexual men and women share similar adjectives to rate their orgasms.

Psychometric Properties of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) in a Sample of Active Health Care Professionals in Spain.

Purpose: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the working, personal and health conditions of health professionals has been highlighted, although it is necessary to verify whether certain instruments used in research on this topic have sufficient psychometric support for their use. This need was the main motivation for undertaking the present study. We aimed to analyse the psychometric properties of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) in a sample of active health care workers during the pandemic. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2020 with 2326 active health care workers (78.7% women). The instruments that were applied included the UWES-9 scale, the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13), the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and an item on self-perceived health. Results: The three-factor structure related to the correlation of pairs of errors presented the best fit. The reliability of the UWES-9 was highlighted by the adequate internal consistency of the items, the existence of invariance according to gender, and its convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusion: The findings of this work support the use of the UWES-9 to assess the work engagement of health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify it as an adequate measure of this psychological variable and the constructs that comprise it.

Substance Use in Sexual Relationships: Association with Sexual Assertiveness and Sexual Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The main objective was to examine sexual assertiveness and sexual satisfaction in people who have sex under the influence of alcohol and drugs, considering the type of substance consumed, the frequency of consumption, gender, and sexual orientation. METHODS: The sample consisted of 274 adults who had sexual relationships consuming substances. A questionnaire composed of sociodemographic, sexual history and substance use items, the Sexual Assertiveness Scale and the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction were administered. RESULTS: Gender differences were found in sexual assertiveness and in the frequency of substance use. Women reported greater sexual assertiveness and greater alcohol consumption. Men reported greater consumption of different types of substances. Furthermore, bisexual participants showed greater assertiveness and STI prevention. Homosexual participants reported a higher frequency of the consumption of poppers, mephedrone, and GBL/GHB. Sexual assertiveness was associated with sexual satisfaction. Greater consumption of some types of substances was related to sexual assertiveness, STI prevention, and sexual satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The association found between sexual assertiveness and sexual satisfaction in a specific context of substance use in sexual relationships corroborates the important role that these psychosexual variables have in sexual health, in view of the frequency and type of drug consumed, gender, and sexual orientation.

Sexual Activity in Peruvian Adolescents: Relevance of Socio-Demographic Variables and Sexual Attitudes.

The aim of this study was to explain the masturbation frequency and sexual relationships in adolescents based on age, religious adherence, erotophilia, attitudes toward sexual fantasies and masturbation, and the traditional sexual double standard. A sample of 1120 Peruvian adolescents aged 13-17 years responded to a socio-demographic questionnaire and different scales about sexuality. The frequency of masturbation and sexual relationships, as well as in the sexual attitudes evaluated differed by sex, with boys scoring higher. The masturbation frequency was explained by erotophilia in boys, and by positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in both sexes. The frequency of sexual relationships was explained by age and positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in boys and only by the latter in girls. Positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies stand out as a variable for understanding sexual activity in adolescents.

Sexual desire and its relationship with subjective orgasm experience.

Orgasm and sexual desire are components of the human sexual response. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the sexual desire and dimensions of the subjective orgasm experience. A sample composed of 1161 heterosexual adults, distributed into three age groups (18-34, 35-49, and 50 years old or older), completed a background questionnaire, the Orgasm Rating Scale, and the Sexual Desire Inventory. First, the effect that sex and age have on the subjective orgasm experience was analyzed. Second, correlations between sexual desire and orgasm experience were examined. Also, the predictive capacity that dimensions of sexual desire have on the subjective orgasm experience in the context of sexual relationship was examined. Results showed that age had a significant effect on the intensity of the subjective orgasm experience perceived during sexual relationships with a partner and that this experience decreased as people get older. There was an association between the components of sexual desire and the dimensions of subjective orgasm experience. Furthermore, partner-focused sexual desire contributed in a relevant manner to the subjective orgasm experience. Implications for both research and clinical field are also discussed.

[Subjective orgasm experience in the context of solitary masturbation]. / Experiencia subjetiva del orgasmo en el contexto de la masturbación en solitario.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The subjective orgasm experience refers to the evaluation of sensations caused by orgasm from a psychological approach. The objective of this study was to examine the subjective orgasm experience in the context of solitary masturbation taking into account sex and age, as well as to compare this experience with perceived experience in the context of a sexual relations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample was composed of 874 heterosexual adults from the general Spanish population (441 men [50.5%], 433 women [49.5%]). It was distributed into two age ranges: 18-34 and 50-93years. Participants completed a survey composed of a Background questionnaire and the Spanish version of the Orgasm Rating Scale. RESULTS: It was shown that sex (p<.001) and age (p<.001) influence subjective orgasm experience in the context of solitary masturbation. Women and young people showed greater intensity. Furthermore, significant differences in the subjective orgasm experience between the context of solitary masturbation and the context of a sexual relations were found. It was estimated as more intense in a sex-with-partner context. CONCLUSIONS: The subjective orgasm experience in the context of solitary masturbation is different to the one experienced in the context of a sexual relationship, being more intense in women and in young people.

Factors Associated with Subjective Orgasm Experience in Heterosexual Relationships.

The main objective of this study was to determine the predictive capacity of different variables, organized based on Ecological theory (i.e., personal, interpersonal, social, and ideological), in the intensity of the subjective orgasm experience within the context of heterosexual relationships. The sample was composed of 1,300 adults (547 men, 753 women). The proposed model for men showed that more intense subjective orgasm experience was predicted by age, sexual sensations seeking, sexual satisfaction, and partner-focused sexual desire. The model for women showed that more intense subjective orgasm experience was predicted by age, erotophilia, sexual sensation seeking, partner-focused sexual desire, and sexual satisfaction.

[Connection between subjective sexual arousal and genital response: differences between men and women]. / Relación entre la excitación sexual subjetiva y la respuesta genital: diferencias entre hombres y mujeres.

OBJECTIVE: The level of agreement between subjective and objective measures of sexual arousal is referred as sexual concordance. Sex is one of the principal moderators and there is a higher level of correspondence in men than in women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive validity of the scales Ratings of Sexual Arousal (RSA) and Ratings of Genital Sensations (RGS), relating their scores with the genital response to visual sexual stimuli in men and women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A sample of 159 young heterosexuals was used (69 men and 90 women) which completed, firstly, a sociodemographic and sexual story questionnaire, the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales Short-Form and the SOS-6. At the laboratory, they were exposed to a neutral film and to an explicit sexual content film. The subjective sexual arousal was evaluated with the RSA and RGS scales and the genital response was registered through a plethysmography (men) and a photo-plethysmography (women). RESULTS: Significant correlations were obtained between subjective and objective sexual arousal only in men. The RGS scale has the capacity to predict the erection response toward sexual stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: The theory of differences in sexual concordance between men and women was endorsed. Modest evidence about the predictive validity of the subjective sexual arousal evaluation scale was found only in men. It arises the need for subjective and objective assessment of sexual arousal, in clinical settings and research area.

Factorial invariance, differential item functioning, and norms of the Orgasm Rating Scale.

Background/Objective: Orgasm Rating Scale (ORS) assess the subjective orgasm experience in context of sexual relationship. It is composed of four dimensions attributed to the orgasm (Affective, Sensory, Intimacy, and Rewards). The purpose is to analyse the factorial invariance of the ORS across groups, to examine the metric equivalence across sex, and to present the standard scores. Method: A total of 1,472 Spanish adults (715 men and 757 women) were evaluated. They were distributed across age groups (18-34, 35-49 and 50 years old and older). Factorial invariance across different groups and the differential functioning of the items across sex were analyzed, internal consistency was examined, and the standard scores were developed. Results: The structure of the ORS showed strict measurement invariance across sex, relationship status, sexual orientation and education level. It also reached a scalar measurement invariance across age range and duration of the relationship. Some items showed a differential functioning between sexes. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the ORS is invariant across different groups at a factorial level, and it shows equivalence across sex in most of its items at a metric level. The standard scores allow a more accurate assessment of the subjective orgasm experience in context of sexual relationship.

Antecedentes/Objetivo: La Orgasm Rating Scale (ORS) evalúa la experiencia subjetiva del orgasmo en el contexto de las relaciones sexuales en pareja. Está compuesta por cuatro dimensiones atribuidas al orgasmo (Afectiva, Sensorial, Intimidad y Recompensa). Se analiza su invarianza factorial por grupos, su equivalencia métrica por sexo y se presentan baremos en población española. Método: Se evaluó a 1.472 adultos españoles (715 hombres y 757 mujeres), distribuidos en cuotas de edad (18-34, 35-49 y mayores de 50 años). Se analizó la invarianza factorial por diferentes grupos y el funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems por sexo, se examinó la consistencia interna de los factores y se establecieron sus puntuaciones baremadas. Resultados: La estructura de la ORS mostró un nivel de invarianza estricta por sexo, relación de pareja, orientación sexual y nivel de estudios, e invarianza fuerte por rango de edad y duración de la relación. Algunos de sus ítems mostraron indicios de funcionamiento diferencial entre sexos. Conclusiones: La versión española de la ORS es invariante por grupos a nivel factorial y presenta equivalencia por sexo en la mayoría de sus ítems a nivel métrico. Los baremos permiten una evaluación más precisa de la experiencia subjetiva orgásmica en el contexto de las relaciones sexuales.

La autoestima sexual: su relación con la excitación sexual / The sexual self-esteem: Its relationship with the sexual arousal

Resumen En este estudio se tuvo como objetivo analizar la relación entre la autoestima sexual (AS) y la excitación sexual como rasgo, estado y componente de la respuesta sexual. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 65 jóvenes heterosexuales que completaron la subescala Excitación Sexual de las Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form, el Massachussets General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire y la subescala Autoestima sexual del Brief Sexuality Scale. A continuación, realizaron una tarea experimental donde completaron las escalas Valoración de Excitación Sexual y Valoración de Sensaciones Genitales tras visualizar un video neutro y otro con contenido sexual explícito. Los resultados mostraron asociaciones significativas entre la AS y la excitación sexual rasgo y la excitación sexual como componente de la respuesta sexual. Ambas manifestaciones de la excitación sexual explicaron un porcentaje significativo de la AS (R 2 = 0,19). Sin embargo, la excitación sexual estado no se asoció con la AS.

Abstract The aim was to analyze the relationship between sexual self-esteem (SSE) and sexual arousal as a trait, as a state and as a component of the sexual response. The sample consisted of 65 heterosexual young people who completed the Sexual Excitation subscale of the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form, the Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, and the Sexual Self-esteem subscale of the Brief Sexuality Scale. Participants performed an experimental task where they completed the Ratings of Sexual Arousal and the Ratings of Genital Sensations after visualizing a neutral film and another one with explicit sexual content. The results showed significant associations between SSE and sexual arousal as a trait and as a component of the sexual response. These two types of excitation explained a significant percentage of the SSE (R 2 = 0.19). However, sexual arousal as a state did not correlate to the SSE.

[Systematic review of the subjective experience of orgasm]. / Revisión sistemática sobre la experiencia subjetiva del orgasmo.

Orgasm is an essential component of the sexual response. Its study has generated results that point out its importance in human sexuality. The aim of the present study was to review the subjective orgasm experience, its evaluation and its association with personal, interpersonal and psychosocial variables. After conducting a literature search in major databases, we provide a total of 121 scientific articles published between 2000 and 2016, in which the subjective orgasm experience was the main variable. The analysis of the related variables shows that personal variables (for example, health and demographic factors) and interpersonal variables (for example, sexual functioning) are the most considered. To conclude, we observe the need to develop standardized instruments to evaluate specifically the subjective orgasm experience and the need to study jointly the associated variables in order to propose explanatory models of orgasm that are useful for clinical practice.

Psychometric Properties of the Orgasm Rating Scale in Context of Sexual Relationship in a Spanish Sample.

BACKGROUND: The Orgasm Rating Scale (ORS) is one of the few self-reported measures that evaluates the multidimensional subjective experience of orgasm. AIM: The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the ORS in context of sex-with-partner in a Spanish sample. METHODS: We examined a sample of 842 adults from the general Spanish population (310 men, 532 women; mean age = 27.12 years, SD = 9.8). The sample was randomly divided into two, with a balanced proportion of men and women between each sub-sample. Sub-sample 1 consisted of 100 men and 200 women (33.3% and 66.6%) with a mean age of 27.77 years (SD = 10.05). Sub-sample 2 consisted of 210 men and 332 women (38.7% and 61.3%) with a mean age of 26.77 years (SD = 9.65). The ORS, together with the Sexual Opinion Survey-6 and the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, was administered online. The survey included a consent form, in which confidentiality and anonymity were guaranteed. OUTCOMES: Based on exploratory factor analysis, we obtained a reduced 25-item version of the ORS, distributed along 4 dimensions (affective, sensory, intimacy, and rewards). RESULTS: We performed both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The Spanish version of the ORS had adequate values of reliability that ranged from .78-.93. The 4 factors explained 59.78% of the variance. The factor structure was invariant across gender at a configural level. Scores from the ORS positively correlated with erotophilia and sexual satisfaction. The scale was useful to differentiate between individuals with orgasmic difficulties and individuals with no difficulties. We found that individuals with orgasmic difficulties showed a lower intensity in the affective, intimacy, and sensorial manifestations of orgasm. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: This version of the ORS could provide an optimum measure for the clinical assessment to identify individuals with difficulties in their orgasmic capacity, thus, it could be used as screening device for orgasmic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The ORS is an appropriate measure for its use for both research and clinical purposes. As limitations, quota sampling implies that the extent to which the results can be generalized is modest. Measurement invariance did not reach the level of weak invariance, and it was not tested across sexual orientation because most individuals identified themselves as heterosexual. The ORS is a multidimensional measure of the subjective experience of orgasm which has adequate psychometric properties; it is a reliable and valid scale. Arcos-Romero AI, Moyano N, Sierra JC. Psychometric Properties of the Orgasm Rating Scale in Context of Sexual Relationship in a Spanish Sample. J Sex Med 2018;15:741-749.