Does "Open" Rhyme with "Special"? Comparing Personality, Sexual Satisfaction, Dominance and Jealousy of Monogamous and Non-monogamous Practitioners

Romantic relationships are changing in Western culture. The recent rise of alternative relationship models called consensual non-monogamies (CNMs) has drawn attention toward them. Western cultures largely stereotype and stigmatize CNMs, portraying their practitioners (among other aspects) as psychologically distinct from monogamous practitioners. Likewise, recent scientific literature suggests probable differences for CNMs practitioners, mainly them being more extraverted, agreeable, and open, but also less jealous and dominant toward their romantic partners. However, although CNMs differentiate themselves from cheating monogamous practitioners, potential differences are unclear. The present study compared 372 participants (with 193 CNMs practitioners) from Spanish culture regarding their personality, sexual satisfaction, dominance, and jealousy. On most dimensions, monogamous and CNMs practitioners did not differ significantly from each other. CNMs practitioners showed significantly higher openness and lower conscientiousness, although these differences were small and debatable; thus, these findings should be taken with caution. These differences could not be explained by differences in age, gender, education, marital status, sexual orientation, or other demographic variables. The addition of cheating monogamous mitigated these differences. Overall, this study suggests that monogamous and non-monogamous practitioners are not psychologically different. Methodological limitations and future recommendations are discussed, with particular emphasis on replication studies.

Intersections Around Ambivalent Sexism: Internalized Homonegativity, Resistance to Heteronormativity and Other Correlates

This article explores the connections between the construct of sexism and other sociodemographic and attitudinal variables, such as internalized homonegativity and heteronormative resistances, among psychology students. Both unrefined and inferential analyses were used with a representative sample of 841 psychology students from public universities in Madrid. Results showed higher levels of sexism, internalized homonegativity and low resistances to heteronormativity among groups of men, heterosexuals and conservatives. Interactions were found that showed a higher degree of hostile sexism in: heterosexual people with respect to LGB and heterosexual men with respect to heterosexual women. Also, interactions were found to show a greater degree of heteronormative resistance in: LGB people with respect to heterosexuals and left-wing women with respect to right-wing women. Correlations with sexism varied according to gender identity and sexual orientation. In addition, heteronormative resistances correlated negatively with sexism, while some components of internalized homonegativity correlated positively. Political affiliation was the most frequent predictor of sexism. The results highlight the need for an intersectional approach to understanding the phenomenon of sexism.

Verbal victimisation, depressive symptoms, and suicide risk among sexual minority adults in France: results from the nationally-representative 2017 Health Barometer survey

PURPOSE

Our study estimates rates of depressive symptoms and suicide risk according to sexual minority status, and examines the mediating effect of verbal victimisation in the association between sexual minority status and mental health outcomes.

METHOD

Analysis is based on data from the 2017 French Health Barometer, a general population phone survey, which recruited 25,198 adults aged 18-75 years. Data were weighted to be representative of the French adult population. Four mental health outcomes occurring in the preceding year or currently were examined in relation to sexual minority status using multivariate logistic regressions: (a) current depressive symptoms, (b) having experienced a major depressive episode, (c) suicidal ideation, and (d) suicide attempt. Further we conducted mediation analyses to evaluate the contribution that verbal victimisation experienced in the preceding year has in the association between sexual minority status and the listed outcomes. All analyses were also stratified by sex.

RESULTS

Sexual minority adults were more likely to experience verbal victimisation in the last year compared to heterosexual individuals (22% vs 11.4%). They were also more likely to have experienced each of the four mental health outcomes, even after adjusting for potential confounders. In adjusted mediation analysis, verbal victimisation in the preceding year was found to significantly mediate the association between sexual orientation and mental health outcome with mediated proportions varying between 15 and 22%.

CONCLUSION

Sexual minority individuals are more at risk of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation compared to heterosexuals, and this may be partially mediated by verbal victimisation.

Stigma on the Streets, Dissatisfaction in the Sheets: Is Minority Stress Associated with Decreased Sexual Functioning Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men?

INTRODUCTION

Sexual function and satisfaction are understudied aspects of adolescent and young adult sexual wellbeing, and even less is known about sexual minority youth who are vulnerable to unique lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)-related stigma.

AIM

We aimed to describe sexual functioning (sexual interest, erectile function, orgasm satisfaction, global satisfaction with one's sex life, and anal discomfort) and examine its associations with demographics, sexual and relationship behavior, and minority stressors (internalized stigma, victimization, microaggressions, and perceived LGBT acceptance within residential neighborhood) among a cohort of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) aged 16-29.

METHODS

Data for this cross-sectional analysis came from an ongoing longitudinal study of HIV and substance use among YMSM (analytic N = 678). We conducted univariate and bivariate analyses and multivariable linear regression, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation as well as sexual and relationship characteristics that were significant at the bivariate level.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

We assessed sexual functioning in the previous 30 days using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sexual Function and Satisfaction Measures Brief Profile for Males.

RESULTS

YMSM in our sample reported high levels of sexual functioning that were significantly greater than an adult clinical reference population. However, 13.9% of the sample reported having any difficulty with erections, 6.9% reported having less than "good" satisfaction with orgasms, 20.0% reported being "somewhat" or less satisfied with their sex lives, and 9.1% reported experiencing problems during receptive anal sex at least "sometimes." Most associations between minority stressors and sexual functioning domains that were significant at the bivariate level attenuated to non-significance in multivariable analyses. Internalized stigma remained negatively associated with global satisfaction, whereas perceived neighborhood acceptance remained positively associated with orgasm satisfaction. Being sexually active was significantly associated with increased sexual interest and orgasm satisfaction. Having had a recent serious partner was significantly associated with sexual interest and global satisfaction. Negative effects were found for having had casual partners and being HIV positive.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Although most YMSM have high sexual functioning, a minority report problems and dissatisfaction that may warrant intervention.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS

Our study was limited by its cross-sectional design, measurement limitations, and generalizability to other populations, but it is one of the first to examine sexual functioning among YMSM, using a large, diverse community sample.

CONCLUSION

Public health research and practice must continue to combat LGBT stigma and include sexual functioning as integral to healthy sexuality. Li DH, Remble TA, Macapagal K, et al. Stigma on the Streets, Dissatisfaction in the Sheets: Is Minority Stress Associated with Decreased Sexual Functioning Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men? J Sex Med 2019;16:267-277.

Sexual orientation disparities in the co-occurrence of substance use and psychological distress: a national population-based study (2008-2015)

PURPOSE

Although strong evidence documents the elevated prevalence of both substance use and mental health problems among sexual minorities (i.e., gay, lesbian, and bisexuals), relatively less research has examined whether risk of the co-occurrence of these factors is elevated among sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. The object of this study was to (1) explore sexual orientation-based differences in substance use, psychological distress, and their co-occurrence in a representative sample in Sweden, and (2) examine if greater exposure to stressors, such as discrimination, victimization/threats, and social isolation, could explain these potential disparities and their co-occurrence.

METHODS

Data come from the cross-sectional Swedish National Public Health Survey, which collected random samples of individuals (16-84 years of age) annually from 2008 to 2015, with an overall response rate of 49.7% (n = 79,568 individuals; 1673 self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual). Population-level sexual orientation differences in substance use (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) and psychological distress were examined.

RESULTS

Our findings showed significantly elevated prevalence of high-risk alcohol use, cannabis use, and daily tobacco smoking, among sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. These substantial disparities in substance use more often co-occurred with psychological distress among sexual minorities than among heterosexuals. The elevated risk of co-occurring psychological distress and substance use was most notable among gay men relative to heterosexual men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.65, CI 1.98, 3.55), and bisexual women relative to heterosexual women (AOR = 3.01, CI 2.43, 3.72). Multiple mediation analyses showed that experiences of discrimination, victimization, and social isolation partially explained the sexual orientation disparity in these co-occurring problems.

CONCLUSIONS

This study adds to a growing body of research showing that sexual minorities experience multiple threats to optimal health and points toward future interventions that address the shared sources of these overlapping health threats in stigma-related stress.