A Research Inquiry into Some American Women's Sexual Concerns and Problems

Abstract

The New View of Women's Sexual Problems is supported by findings of the 1993-94 Ellison/Zilbergeld sexuality survey of 2,632 mostly white, college-educated women born 1905-1977 (Ellison, 2000; see questionnaire at www.womenssexualities.com). Sexual experiences of women with previous year sexual partners are reported. The most important sexual concerns or problems in the previous year of 1,637 women are categorized: 34% desire/frequency (low sexual desire, desire discrepancy); 28.5% physical responsiveness (female arousal, orgasm; male partners' erectile difficulties, ejaculatory control); 16% lovemaking (sexual technique); 7.5% finding a partner; < 5% sexual relationship, fertility, pregnancy, STDs/safe sex, the woman's body/health, non-monogamy, orientation; 547 others reported none. Exemplary quotes from respondents are included. Sex therapy for low sexual desire is addressed. Recommended solutions emphasize individual differences and the multidimensionality of sexuality.     

Patient and Family Descriptions of Ethical Concerns

Abstract

Ethically challenging situations routinely arise in the course of illness and healthcare. However, very few studies have surveyed patients and family members about their experiences with ethically challenging situations. To address this gap in the literature, we surveyed patients and family members at three hospitals. We conducted a content analysis of their responses to open-ended questions about their most memorable experience with an ethical concern for them or their family member. Participants (N?=?196) described 219 unique ethical experiences that spanned many of the prevailing themes of bioethics, including the patient-physician relationship, end-of-life care, decision-making capacity, healthcare costs, and genetic testing. Participants focused on relational issues in the course of experiencing illness and receiving medical care and concerns regarding the patient-physician encounters. Many concerns arose outside of a healthcare setting. These data indicate areas for improvement for healthcare providers but some concerns may be better addressed outside of the traditional healthcare setting.     

Genetic Counselors' Judgments of Patient Concerns: Concordance and Consequences

The aims of this prospective study were to determine (a) the concordance between patient concerns and genetic counselors' judgments of these concerns, (b) the predictors of patient and counselor judgments, and (c) the relationship between concordance and patient outcomes. Patients' and counselors' views were sought before and after 131 routine genetic consultations. Before consultations, there was concordance about level of patient concern to within one point in 63% (82/131) of consultations and about type of patient concern in 60–84% of consultations. Lack of concordance in judging level and type of concern was associated with lower satisfaction with information and higher anxiety after the consultation. The biggest predictor of counselor judgment of concern was professional background: doctors judged patients to be more concerned than did nurses. Concordance of concern was predicted by counselors' experience in genetics: less experienced counselors overestimated patient concern. Future research needs to determine whether improving judgment of concern improves patient outcome.     

Sexual Assault: The Female Victim,Her Male Partner,and Their Relationship

Using the Crisis model of Fox and Scherl, treatment issues for the female sexual assault victim and her male partner are proposed.     

Treating the Sexual Concerns of Adult Incest Survivors and Their Partners

SUMMARY

Negative attitudes about sex and sexuality and many types of sexual dysfunction are common aftereffects of sexual child abuse and incest. The traumatic sexualization and the aversive sexual conditioning resulting from childhood abuse have long gone unrecognized, however. This article presents research findings regarding the impact of incest on sexual attitudes and functioning along with treatment recommendations.     

1例晚期肿瘤患者宁养服务浅谈

通过提供居家宁养护理指导和心理疏导的方法,为晚期癌症患者提供身、心、灵全方位的照顾,从而提高晚期癌症患者的生活质量。通过对1例晚期肿瘤患者进行症状控制、护理指导、心理疏导、灵性沟通,该晚期肿瘤患者及家属的自身照顾能力提高,晚期肿瘤患者在生命末期的生活质量有所提高,最终达到善终。身心灵的照顾在宁养服务中起重要作用,有利于患者生活质量的提高,但仍要根据患者的个体特点并掌握一定技巧。     

His and Her Perspectives: Gender Ideology, Work-to-Family Conflict, and Marital Satisfaction

This study examines the relationships between gender ideology, work-to-family conflict, and marital satisfaction. We hypothesize that gender ideology will moderate relationships between both the respondent’s work-to-family conflict and their spouse’s work-to-family conflict in predicting marital satisfaction, and that spouses’ gender ideologies will interact in predicting marital satisfaction. The hypotheses are addressed using data from a random sample of U.S. dual-earner couples (N?=?156) in a western state. The findings indicate that the more egalitarian women’s gender ideologies, the stronger the negative relationship between women’s marital satisfaction and women’s work-to-family conflict. The results also indicate that the dependence of men’s marital satisfaction on wives’ gender ideologies varies according to men’s own gender ideologies. Implications of the study are discussed.     

Brief Report: The Sexual Harassment of Faculty Members by Students

We investigated sexual harassment by college students toward faculty members using modified versions of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ) developed by Fitzgerald and colleagues. The SEQ measures three major constructs of sexual harassment: gender harassment, sexual coercion (bribery), and unwanted sexual attention. The student version of the SEQ was completed by 359 college students (85% White); 102 faculty members (92% White) completed the faculty version. Although we did not ask about their social class, they are typically middle class. Female faculty reported experiencing significantly more unwanted sexual attention from students and were more bothered by it than male faculty. While the frequency of gender harassment did not differ significantly between male and female faculty, the latter were significantly more bothered by it than the former. Concerning students' responses to the SEQ, there were no significant gender differences. Sexual harassment as both a tool and a result of male dominance in society is discussed.     

Influence of Cognitive Factors on Sexual Assault Recovery: Descriptive Review and Methodological Concerns

This article aims to verify whether the empirical data presented in the literature on sexually assaulted victims support the hypothesis advanced by various aetiological models, which is that cognitions play an important role in the development and maintenance of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The first objective is to present state-of-the-art results on sexually assaulted victims' post-traumatic cognitions and their link to post-assault symptomatology. The second objective is to analyse the various methodological facets of those studies. Finally, paths for future studies are traced and recommendations are made.     

Her Mother Her Self: The Ethics of the Antigone Family Romance

This essay discusses the implications of Irigaray's readings of the Antigone in the construction of a feminist ethics. By focusing on the gaps and intersections between Lacanian psychoanalysis and Hegelian phenomenology as formulative of Irigaray's eventual call for an ethics of sexual difference, 1 emphasize the inevitability of rethinking the functions of historicity, femininity, and maternity in the formation of new models of intersubjectivity.     

Private Terrors Sexualized Aggression and a Psychoanalyst's Fear of Her Patient

This clinical paper explores the meanings and evolution of an analyst's reaction of fear in relation to her patient's sexualized aggression. From both an intrapsychic and an intersubjective perspective, the author analyzes the coconstruction of this transference—countertransference phenomenon. Case vignettes illustrate the author's attempts to address her patient's sexualized aggression while struggling to free herself from the feelings of intimidation and fearfulness stirred by his sadomasochistic fantasies and patterns of interaction. The analyst's unconscious identification with the patient's disowned femininity and narcissistic vulnerability is seen as central to this countertransference “stranglehold.” Release from the analyst's masochistic position comes through a shift in her own affective participation. The importance of the analyst's recognizing her own unconscious contributions to this sadomasochistic dynamic is emphasized and elaborated. Discussion also focuses on the relevance of gender to the issue of countertransference fear, as illustrated in this particular male patient—female analyst dyad.     

The First Man in Her Life: Father Emotional Responsiveness During Adolescence and College Women's Sexual Refusal Behaviors

Few empirical studies have examined how fathers influence daughters’ sexual interactions with male peers. We hypothesized that paternal emotional responsiveness would empower daughters to refuse unwanted sex. Female undergraduates (N = 144) and their fathers completed measures of paternal responsiveness during adolescence; daughters also reported their global self-worth, acceptance of male partner dominance, and sexual refusal behaviors. As expected, paternal responsiveness promoted daughters’ refusals of unwanted sex. Paternal responsiveness predicted daughters’ self-worth, partially explaining daughters’ increased sexual assertiveness. Perceived paternal responsiveness also negatively predicted daughters’ acceptance of male dominance. These results suggest that positive paternal relationships promote daughters’ sexual agency.     

Couple Therapy for Depression Within a Naturalistic Setting in Finland: Factors Related to Change of the Patient and the Spouse

The study examined factors related to change in treatments for depression in couple therapy (CT; N = 29) and treatment-as-usual (TAU; N = 22). Treatments were adapted in accordance with the patient’s need. The patients’ depressive symptoms, general mental health and marital satisfaction were assessed at baseline and at 6 months post-baseline. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Symptom Check List-90, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) were used for the patients. The BDI and the DAS were used for the spouses. The couples in CT group assessed their subjective distress (SD) at every session by using the Outcome Rating Scale. The results showed that the spouses’ gender, the spouses’ depressive symptoms at baseline, and the number of therapy sessions were related to differing changes in the CT and TAU groups at the 6-month post-baseline assessment. The spouses in the CT group demonstrated a higher treatment response than those in the TAU group. In the CT group, the spouse’s benefit from the treatment was related to SD at the outset on the part of either the patient or the spouse or both. The change in the patient’s SD predicted the patient’s change in depressive symptoms, general mental health, and was associated with the patient’s change in marital satisfaction. The study emphasizes the importance of the spouse’s involvement in the treatment of depression, the provision of feedback on SD, and discussion of individual well-being and relational issues, in addition to the focus on depression.     

Sexual Health Counselor Preferences of African American and European American Women: A Brief Report

African American women (n = 42) and European American women (n = 46) were queried regarding their comfort level discussing various sexual health topics with hypothetical counselors who were varied by race (African American vs. European American) or counseling value (culturally sensitive vs. knowledgeable). Contrary to hypotheses, European American participants were more comfortable with the knowledgeable African American counselor and the culturally sensitive European American counselor, while African American women showed no preference. Implications are discussed for improving sexual health counseling services for African American and European American women with consideration of client sexual attitude and race of counselor in order to reduce disparities in sexual health.     

乳腺癌患者自我管理行为与生活质量的相关性研究

探讨乳腺癌患者自我管理行为、生活质量及两者之间的相关性.应用慢性病自我管理研究测量表中的自我管理行为量表、乳腺癌患者生活质量测定量表调查260例乳腺癌患者的自我管理行为和生活质量.乳腺癌患者自我管理行为及生活质量现状均不理想,自我管理行为与生活质量呈正相关（P＜0.05）.乳腺癌患者自我管理行为与生活质量间有密切关系,临床护理工作中可对患者进行护理干预来增强其自我管理行为,进而提高生活质量.     

Sexual Relationships in Psychology Training: A Brief Comment on Ethical Guidelines and Coping Strategies

Research has suggested that sexual relationships between psychology educators and their students often have adverse consequences. Therefore, ethical guidelines setting limits on such relationships are proposed. Coping strategies are offered for students who experience sexual harassment from educators. The task of the administrator in handling complaints of harassment is also discussed.     

In Her Own Words: Semi-structured Interviews of Women Veterans Who Experienced Military Sexual Assault

Twenty-one female veterans volunteered to talk about 29 events of military sexual assault (MSA) via semi-structured interviews covering pre-military abuse, during and immediately after the assault and reactions post-assault. The 14 who reported on-going abuse in childhood, also experienced multiple events of MSA. Common themes revealed that most events happened at night (52% specifically referenced night, while 69% most likely occurred at night), 24% in a car, and 24% while the victim was on duty. MSA was associated with a low use of weapons (17% with knives or guns) but a high use (52%) of physical violence (e.g., hitting, choking) and intimidation (59%). 69% knew their perpetrator prior to the assault and 12 of them (60%) were superiors. 34.5% of the perpetrators and 24% of the victims were drinking alcohol prior to the assault. 27.5% reported the MSA; however, 52% had to continue to interact with the perpetrator as part of her job. 67% reported being pregnant or seriously injured as a result of the MSA; however, only 28% received help. 71% disclosed that they had suicidal ideation 14% made suicide attempts while on active duty, and 38% made a suicide attempt some time in their lifetime post-MSA. 52% said the MSA lead to an early discharge from the military. 76% stated MSA interfered with their ability to have an intimate relationship. All participants graduated Warrior Renew sexual trauma treatment and reported positive responses. Although this is a small sample, findings may help generate hypotheses for larger scale studies.