Sexual activity, sexual satisfaction and their correlates among older adults in China: findings from the sexual well-being (SWELL) study.

Background: Sexual activity is important to the holistic health of older adults. However, the sexual lives of older adults are understudied. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of sexual activity and sexual satisfaction among older adults in China. Methods: In this multi-centre cross-sectional study, individuals aged 50 years and older were recruited from four regions in China between June 2020 and December 2022. An investigator-administered questionnaire was completed to collect information on socio-demographics, health status (general health and specific health), and sexual health characteristics. Sexual activity (including vaginal, oral, or anal sex) in the past year was treated as sexually active. Sexual satisfaction was measured using a validated five-point Likert scale. Logistic regression was used to assess correlates of sexual activity and sexual satisfaction. Findings: 3001 older adults (1182 women and 1819 men, mean age 60.3 ± 7.8 years) were recruited. Most participants were living in urban areas (1688, 56.2%), in a stable relationship (2531, 84.3%), and satisfied with life (2141, 71.3%). 46.8% of men and 40.7% of women were sexually active. Better self-reported general health status (good: aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.82; fair: 0.47, 0.29-0.76; bad or very bad: 0.58, 0.35-0.96; versus very good), no difficulty walking upstairs (0.63, 0.41-0.97), diabetes (0.64, 0.42-0.98), and menopause (0.57, 0.36-0.92), were associated with sexual activity among women. Such an association was not found among men. Among sexually active participants, about three-quarters (men: 73.6%, women: 73.4%) were sexually satisfied. Self-reported general health status (men [good: 0.25, 0.12-0.53; fair: 0.17, 0.08-0.37; bad or very bad: 0.15, 0.06-0.34]; women [good: 0.27, 0.10-0.70; fair: 0.11, 0.04-0.30; bad or very bad: 0.11, 0.04-0.32]), life satisfaction (men: 1.73, 1.22-2.46; women: 2.23, 1.34-3.71) and talking about sexual preferences with a partner (men: 1.77, 1.23-2.56; women: 2.93, 1.69-5.09) were associated with sexual satisfaction. Interpretation: Older adults who had better health status and talked easily with their partners about their sex life were more likely to report sexual satisfaction. For women, better self-reported general health status and lack of disability were associated with sexual activity. Further research should address measures that improve sexual satisfaction, especially among sexually active older adults. Funding: This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China International/Regional Research Collaboration Project [72061137001] and the Economic and Social Research Council [ES/T014547/1].

Hospitalization, interpersonal and personal factors of social anxiety among COVID-19 survivors at the six-month follow-up after hospital treatment: the minority stress model.

Background: As a highly infectious disease with human-to-human transmission characteristics, COVID-19 has caused panic in the general public. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 may experience discrimination and internalized stigma. They may be more likely to worry about social interaction and develop social anxiety. Objectives: This study investigated the associations among hospitalization factors, social/interpersonal factors, personal factors, and social anxiety to reveal the mechanism of social anxiety in COVID-19 survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional, multicenter telephone survey was conducted from July to September 2020 in five Chinese cities (i.e. Wuhan, Nanning, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Dongguan); adult COVID-19 survivors were recruited 6 months after they were discharged from the hospital. Linear regressions and path analysis based on the minority stress model were conducted to test the relationships among hospitalization, social/interpersonal factors, personal factors, and social anxiety. Results: The response rate was 74.5% (N = 199, 55.3% females). Linear regression analyses showed that various hospitalization, social/interpersonal, and personal factors were statistically significantly associated with social anxiety. Path analysis showed that the proposed model fit the data well (χ2(df) = 3.196(3), p = .362, CFI = .999, NNFI = .996, RMSEA = .018). Internalized stigma fully mediated the association between perceived discrimination/social support and social anxiety, while it partially mediated the association between perceived affiliate stigma and social anxiety. Conclusions: The results suggest that social/interpersonal and personal factors have a stronger association with social anxiety than hospitalization factors and highlight the importance of internalized stigma in understanding the mechanisms of these relationships. Clinical psychologists can refer to these modifiable psychosocial factors to develop efficient interventions for mental health promotion.

Antecedentes: Como una enfermedad altamente infecciosa con características de transmisión de persona a persona, el COVID-19 ha causado pánico en el público en general. Aquellos que se han recuperado del COVID-19 pueden experimentar discriminación y estigma internalizado. Es más probable que se preocupen por la interacción social y desarrollen ansiedad social.Objetivos: Este estudio investigó las asociaciones entre factores de hospitalización, factores sociales /interpersonales, factores personales y ansiedad social para revelar el mecanismo de ansiedad social en sobrevivientes de COVID-19.Métodos: Se realizó una encuesta telefónica transversal multicentro de julio a septiembre de 2020 en cinco ciudades chinas (es decir, Wuhan, Nanning, Shenzhen, Zhuhai y Dongguan). Se reclutaron sobrevivientes adultos de COVID-19 seis meses después de ser dados de alta del hospital. Se realizaron regresiones lineales y análisis de ruta basados en el modelo de estrés de minoría para probar las relaciones entre la hospitalización, los factores sociales/interpersonales, los factores personales y la ansiedad social.Resultados: La tasa de respuesta fue del 74,5% (N = 199, 55,3% mujeres). Los análisis de regresión lineal mostraron que varios factores de hospitalización, sociales/interpersonales y personales se asociaron de manera estadísticamente significativa con la ansiedad social. El análisis de ruta mostró que el modelo propuesto se ajustaba bien a los datos (χ2 (df) = 3.196 (3), p = .362, CFI = .999, NNFI = .996, RMSEA = .018). El estigma internalizado medió completamente la asociación entre discriminación/apoyo social percibido y ansiedad social, mientras que medió parcialmente la asociación entre el estigma percibido de afiliados y ansiedad social.Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que los factores sociales/interpersonales y personales tienen una asociación más fuerte con la ansiedad social que los factores de hospitalización y resaltan la importancia del estigma internalizado en la comprensión de los mecanismos de estas relaciones. Los psicólogos clínicos pueden referirse a estos factores psicosociales modificables para desarrollar intervenciones eficientes para la promoción de la salud mental.

Association between rectal douching and HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other STIs worldwide. Rectal douching, which is commonly used by MSM in preparation for anal sex, may increase the risk of HIV and other STIs by injuring the rectal mucosa. Results from individual studies reporting associations between rectal douching and HIV and other STIs among MSM are inconsistent. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the association between rectal douching and HIV and other STIs among MSM. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science for studies published from January 1970 to November 2018. Studies that reported ORs and 95% CIs of associations between rectal douching and infection with HIV/STIs, or reported enough data to calculate these estimates, were included. We assessed risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. ORs were pooled using a random effects model. RESULTS: Twenty-eight eligible studies were identified in our review, of which 24 (20 398 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. Rectal douching was associated with increased odds of infection with HIV (OR 2.80, 95% CI 2.32 to 3.39), and any STI other than HIV (including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and human papillomavirus) (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.95 to 3.11) among MSM. For specific STIs, douching was associated with increased odds of viral hepatitis (HBV, HCV) (OR 3.29, 95% CI 2.79 to 3.87), and chlamydia or gonorrhoea (OR 3.25, 95% CI 2.02 to 5.23). These associations remained significant in studies that adjusted for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Rectal douching may put MSM at increased risk for infection with HIV and other STIs. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify this association, and health education materials should inform men of the potential for increased risk of infection with rectal douching.