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PubMedDate not supplied

Associations with high-risk sexual behavior: a survey of young men of color attending urban youth centers.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent growing health care concerns that affect subgroups of the population in disproportionately high numbers. We researched associations with high-risk sexual behavior in young men of color living in an economically depressed area of a mid-size city. Our results are used to discuss the possibility of more effective interventions. METHODS: We analyzed the responses of 95 men (aged 12 to 29 years) to a self-administered questionnaire. We then examined variables hypothesized to be associated with high-risk sexual behavior and used bivariate and multivariate analyses to report associations found for this group. RESULTS: Improved perception of one's general health (odds ratio [OR] 0.95) and believing that peers approved of condoms (OR 0.51) were inversely associated with high-risk sexual behavior, whereas use of illegal drugs (OR 6.0), history of being arrested (OR 3.92), and age older than 18 years (OR 1.4) were directly associated. Knowledge about HIV was not significantly different in men who participated in high-risk sexual behavior and those who did not. Seventy-eight percent of HIV knowledge questions were answered correctly by both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the need to develop interventions that focus on more than knowledge dissemination. Interventions using modeling and education by peers have the potential to reach at-risk adolescents and young adults more effectively. Such interventions should address broader societal problems, such as health perceptions, drug abuse, and crime.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Caregivers of children with sexual behavior problems: psychological and familial functioning.

OBJECTIVE: This research examined demographic and functional characteristics of parents of children with sexual behavior problems. METHOD: Families of 72 children with sexual behavior problems completed a structured interview and several psychometric devices at intake into a treatment outcome study. RESULTS: As a group, caregivers manifested signs of a high level of life stress across a wide array of variables, including income, criminal arrest, family violence, sexual abuse, social support, modulation of emotion, and attachment to their child. Foster parents consistently reported significantly lower levels of stress than biological parents. CONCLUSION: Parents and families of children with sexual behavior problems appear multiply entrapped. They are highly distressed and somewhat isolated. The data convincingly demonstrate that in order to maximize the efficacy of treatment for children with sexual behavior problems, parents must be centrally involved and receive services coordinated with those of their child. Group treatment may be advisable to foster formation of a network of peer support for caregivers of children with sexual behavior problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Sexual behavior research on a cohort of gay men, 1984-1990: can we predict how men will respond to interventions?

In 1984, over 1000 gay and bisexual men volunteered to participate in both the Chicago Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and a companion psychosocial study, the Coping and Change Study (CCS). Participants in the semiannual Chicago MACS/CCS evaluations comprise the largest cohort of high-risk men under continuous medical, behavioral, and psychosocial observation. Chicago MACS/CCS researchers prospectively chart the sexual behavior change patterns of the cohort and relate those behavioral changes to psychosocial correlates and actual HIV infection risk. This report summarizes the behavioral natural history of the Chicago MACS/CCS cohort from 1984 to 1990, focusing on receptive anal sex practices and use patterns for alcohol and the most frequently used recreational drugs. As these are prospective observational and not controlled intervention studies, psychosocial correlates of sexual behavior change by members of the cohort are suggestive of factors influencing behavior change rather than indicative of causal relationships. However, the voluntary availability to participants in the Chicago MACS/CCS of HIV-1 antibody test results beginning in late 1985 provided the opportunity to examine whether demographic, psychosocial, or behavioral factors were indicators of sexual behavior change following disclosure and counseling about HIV-1 serostatus. Recommendations for promotion and maintenance of safer sexual behavior for the long run, and limitations in the generalizability of these findings to the much more diverse populations of men who have sex with other men conclude this article.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2006

Sexual experience does not compensate for the disruptive effects of zinc sulfate--lesioning of the main olfactory epithelium on sexual behavior in male mice.

Recent studies point to an important role for the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) in regulating sexual behavior in male mice. We asked whether sexual experience could compensate for the disruptive effects of lesioning the MOE on sexual behavior in male mice. Male mice, which were either sexually naive or experienced, received an intranasal irrigation of either a zinc sulfate solution to destroy the MOE or saline. Sexual behavior in mating tests with an estrous female was completely abolished in zinc sulfate-treated male mice regardless of whether subjects were sexually experienced or not before the treatment. Furthermore, zinc sulfate treatment clearly disrupted olfactory investigation of both volatile and nonvolatile odors. Destruction of the MOE by zinc sulfate treatment was confirmed by a significant reduction in the expression of Fos protein in the main olfactory bulb following exposure to estrous female urine. By contrast, vomeronasal function did not seem to be affected by zinc sulfate treatment: nasal application of estrous female urine induced similar levels of Fos protein in the mitral and granule cells of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) of zinc sulfate- and saline-treated males. Likewise, the expression of soybean agglutinin, which stains the axons of vomeronasal organ neurons projecting to the glomerular layer of the AOB, was similar in zinc sulfate- and saline-treated male mice. These results show that the main olfactory system is essential for the expression of sexual behavior in male mice and that sexual experience does not overcome the disruptive effects of MOE lesioning on this behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The longitudinal relationship between drug use and risky sexual behaviors among colombian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the longitudinal relationships between drug use and risky sexual behaviors and early pregnancy in Colombian adolescents. DESIGN: Confidential survey of adolescents, consisting of structured individual interviews, at 2 time points, 2 years apart. A standard self-report questionnaire was adapted to ensure linguistic and cultural relevance. SETTING: Community samples representing differing levels of risky sexual behavior and drug use. Cohorts were drawn from higher- and lower-risk geographic areas and from various self-reported ethnic groups. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents (N = 2226) randomly selected from 3 major Colombian cities: Bogotá, Medellín, and Barranquilla. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected concerning adolescent drug use, sexual behaviors, and a history of pregnancy. The youths' drug use included measures of all illegal drugs. RESULTS: By using regression analyses (controlling for demographic variables) a reciprocal longitudinal relationship between risky sexual behaviors and drug use was identified. Those adolescents who reported higher levels of drug use at time 1 also had more sexual partners, had higher frequencies of unprotected sex, and were more likely to have experienced early pregnancy at time 2. The reverse relationship was true as well. The level of violence experienced by the adolescent emerged as a moderator of some of these relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing adolescent drug use may also reduce levels of risky sexual behavior and early pregnancy and vice versa. Furthermore, the importance of addressing violence as a risk factor for both problem behaviors is emphasized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Age and gender specific sexual behaviors in children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present research was to explore the sexual behaviors of 2- to 7-year-old children through reports of day-care personnel. An overall aim of this exploratory study was to provide information about the frequencies of child sexual behaviors. Also, the aim was to explore any age and gender differences. METHOD: A representative sample of 364 Finnish children not screened for developmental delay, sexual abuse history or psychiatric problems (181 girls and 183 boys) in 190 day-care centers were studied using the "Day-Care Sexuality Questionnaire" (DCSQ), with 244 sexual and other behavior items. RESULTS: Age influenced more the extent of the 244 sexual behaviors of boys than of girls. In sexual behaviors increasing with age, girls showed behaviors with a more social character, whereas boys showed more explorative and information-seeking behaviors. Girls had a higher frequency of domestic and gender role exploring behaviors, whereas the boys tended to engage in explorative acting and information-seeking behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that child sexual behavior reported by day-care personnel may provide useful information about the development of children's sexuality. Implications for sexual abuse investigations were discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Severity of child sexual abuse, post- traumatic stress and risky sexual behaviors among HIV-positive women.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been shown to enhance risk for HIV infection and other adverse outcomes. However, most studies examine the effects of a single incident of CSA rather than the full burden of abuse over the life span in predicting these adverse outcomes. A multi-dimensional approach was used in this study to examine the severity of abuse as a predictor of post-traumatic stress, depression, sexual symptoms, and risky sexual behaviors in a multi-ethnic sample of 147 HIV-positive women. Multivariate models indicated that experiencing both intrafamilial and extrafamilial CSA, adult sexual abuse (ASA) and Latina ethnicity predicted PTSD symptoms. ASA also predicted sexual trauma symptoms. Also, CSA and adult re-victimization contributed independently to risk for PTSD and sexual trauma symptoms, but not for risky sexual behaviors. The results support the need for interventions for HIV-positive women that address the full burden of abuse experienced and its sequelae.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Differential effects of the serotonin1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, on masculine and feminine sexual behavior of the ferret.

Administration of the serotonin (5-HT)1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) facilitates the expression of masculine sexual behavior in male and female rats as well as in male rhesus monkeys and inhibits lordosis behavior in female rats. In the present study the effects of 8-OH-DPAT on masculine coital and feminine proceptive and receptive behaviors were evaluated in the ferret, a carnivore. Doses of 8-OH-DPAT (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg) that facilitate masculine sexual behavior in rats inhibited masculine sexual behavior in castrated, estradiol benzoate (EB)-treated male ferrets. Lower doses of 8-OH-DPAT (5 or 10 micrograms/kg) had no effect on the expression of masculine sexual behavior in either males or females. In contrast to the female rat, administration of 8-OH-DPAT significantly facilitated receptive behaviors in ovariectomized, EB-treated female ferrets. None of the doses of 8-OH-DPAT tested modified proceptive behaviors of gonadectomized, EB-treated male or female ferrets, as assessed in a T-maze in which the subjects could choose to approach either a castrated, sexually inactive male or a castrated, testosterone-primed stud male. Thus whereas the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT facilitates masculine sexual behavior and inhibits lordosis in the rat, it inhibits masculine sexual behavior and facilitates receptivity in the ferret. The different effects of 8-OH-DPAT observed in these two species may reflect differences in the neural control of their masculine coital and feminine receptive responses, respectively.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related deficits in brain androgen binding and metabolism, testosterone, and sexual behavior of male rats.

Brain androgen binding and metabolism, serum testosterone (T), and sexual behavior were measured in old and young male Fischer 344 rats. After completion of sexual behavior tests, blood was collected for T assay and brains were removed for simultaneous measurements of cytosolic (ARc) and nuclear (ARn) androgen receptors and aromatase activity (AA) in the preoptic area (POA), hypothalamus (HYP) and amygdala (AMG). In Experiment 1, old and young intact males were examined. None of the old males ejaculated in any of the tests of sexual behavior whereas all of the young males ejaculated. The old males had lower levels of serum T, lower levels of ARn in the POA and HYP and lower levels of AA in the POA. The ARc levels of the old and young males did not differ. Experiment 2 was designed to determine if the deficits in brain androgen binding and metabolism were due to low levels of T. Old and young T-treated gonadectomized (GX-T) males and young intact (I) males were examined. T levels were comparable in the young and old GX-T males and were higher in each of these groups than in the young I males. In sexual behavior tests, all of the young but only 25% of the old GX-T males ejaculated. Although ARn levels in the old GX-T males were lower than in the young GX-T males, they were comparable to the young I male levels. No age-related differences in T induction of AA were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Verbal coercive sexual behavior among college students.

Coercive sexual behavior exists at alarming rates on college campuses. Researchers attempting to identify factors related to sexual coercion have primarily investigated either the coercing college male or the coerced college female, independent of relationship factors. The present study investigated the prevalence of verbal sexual coercion, the beliefs and attitudes of sexually coercive and noncoercive men, and the differences in affective states between groups and at different stages of relationship development. Undergraduate students were grouped on the basis of their self-reported sexual experience history as being sexually inexperienced, having had consensual sexual relationships only, or having had coercive sexual relationships. Also, subjects who reported having been sexually experienced were asked to rate the nature of their relationship to their sexual partner. Subjects completed measures referring to sexual attitudes, sexual arousal patterns, and the emotional components of a sexual encounter. Analyses indicated that 42% of the males in the sample had engaged in verbal sexual coercion. Differences on the measures were found between the sexual experience groups and the relationship type subgroups. Results are discussed in the context of the situational model, in which the coercive male plays an active role in shaping his environment.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Characteristics of young children with sexual behavior problems: a pilot study.

Sexual behavior problems (SBP) have been increasingly recognized in young children. Despite rising awareness, previous research has focused on school-age children with SBP and adolescent sex offenders. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the history, adjustment, and social environment of preschool children with SBP. Thirty-seven young children with SBP were evaluated. As expected, significant emotional and behavior problems were evident, and caregivers reported high levels of stress related to parenting. Contrary to findings among school-age samples, more of the children were female (65%) than male (35%). Many (62%) did not have substantiated histories of sexual abuse. Many children had experienced physical abuse (47%) and/or witnessed interparental violence (58%). Only four (11%) had no known history of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or witnessing domestic violence. Although further research is necessary, results supported the need to consider the developmentally unique presentation of young children with SBP.

Caregivers↗
PubMed1997

[Hormonal control of sexual behavior in males and endocrinologic causes of sexual dysfunction].

The role of androgens in the male sex differentiation, in the genesis and preservation of the erectile function is summarized. In sex differentiation, testosterone acts on genitalia and central nervous system (CNS). In CNS sexual steroids exert a morphogenetic action during neuronal development. At the pubertal age, the increase of testosterone leads to the development of sex characteristics, the onset of libido and the beginning of the nocturnal spontaneous erectile function. Spontaneous erections are androgen-dependent, and they are impaired in androgen deficiency. Normal androgen levels lead to make voluntary erections. However, in the human species, cortical influences may greatly affect what could be possible to occur in relation to the hormonal situation. Endocrine causes of sexual dysfunction are responsible for about 20-25% of the total; among these primary and secondary hypogonadisms are the most frequent and they are to be managed with causal treatments and androgen replacement therapy. Therefore, androgen treatments are not useful in functional sex disorders and they may be at risk on prostatic tissue. Andropause is related to a progressive reduction of testicular function, principally due to vascular disorders, with low-normal androgen levels. On the basis of these observations it is underlined that in the human species the androgen presence is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a correct sex function.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

How REM sleep deprivation and amantadine affects male rat sexual behavior.

There are conflicting findings about the sexual effects of REM sleep deprivation (REMd). Otherwise, several studies show a dopaminergic hypersensitivity after REMd. The effect of REMd and amantadine (AMA) was studied for standard measures and temporal patterning in the first experiment, in four groups: normal with vehicle, normal with AMA (5.0 and 10 mg/kg), REMd with vehicle and REMd with AMA (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg). REMd reduced mount latency (ML), intromission latency (IL) and mount number (MN) and increased copulatory efficiency (CE) and hit rate factor. REMd also reduced the mount bout number (MBN) and increased the sexual interaction (mount bout time, MBT) among male and female during copula. AMA stimulates initiation and hit rate factors and accelerates the temporal patterning of sexual behavior, evoking fewer and quicker mount bouts. In the experiments with combination of REMd and AMA administration, AMA did not increase behavior effects evoked by REM deprivation, probably due to a top or a bottom effect, depending on the measures considered. A second experiment studied the effects of AMA (1.25 to 5.0 mg/kg) and REMd on the sexual reflexes of nonimmobilized male rats. REMd enhanced the AMA effects upon the seminal emission reflex, but inhibited the penile erection reflex elicited by 1.25 mg/kg of AMA. Curiously, our results showed that REMd, like AMA, a dopaminergic agonist, causes similar effects of sexual behavior in the male rat, particularly those related to arousal mechanism and hit rate factor. The results are discussed and the effects of REMd probably involve dopaminergic hypersensitivity and increased sexual motivational response.

Amantadine↗
PubMed2001

Normative perceptions in relation to substance use and HIV-risky sexual behaviors of college students.

In this study, 410 college students completed a survey assessing their personal substance use patterns and sexual behavior and their perceptions of other students' substance use and sexual behavior. Two parallel sets of questions were presented to reflect the two contextual conditions of being drunk or high versus being not drunk or high. Results indicated that number of recent sexual partners and normative perceptions of HIV-risky sexual behavior were the strongest predictors of personal HIV-risky behavior when not drunk or high. HIV-risky behavior when drunk or high was predicted by personal substance use as well as by number of recent partners and normative perceptions of peer sexual behavior. These findings suggest that HIV-prevention programs for college students should aim to correct overinflated perceptions of other students' high-risk sexual behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Evidence for GABA involvement in stress-induced inhibition of male amphibian sexual behavior.

The behavioral effects of GABA analogs were investigated to determine whether GABAergic neurotransmission is involved in the stress-induced inhibition of masculine sexual behaviors in rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa). Injections of bicuculline, a GABA antagonist, stimulated male sexual behaviors in a dose-dependent fashion, and the minimum effective dose was 40-fold less when administered centrally rather than systemically, suggesting a central nervous system site of action. Injections of muscimol, a GABA agonist, suppressed reproductive behaviors in male newts, and this inhibition lasted at least 5 hr and was proportional to the dose of muscimol administered. The inhibitory effects of muscimol on newt sexual behaviors could be reversed by a single 100-microgram ip injection of arginine vasotocin. The inhibitory effects of confinement stress or corticosterone (CS) injections on newt sexual behaviors were blocked by pretreatment of newts with mercaptopropionic acid, a blocker of GABA synthesis. As well, bicuculline prevented the inhibition of sexual behavior induced by CS injection. These results support the conclusion that, in a male amphibian, the GABAergic system is involved in the inhibitory mechanisms regulating sexual behaviors and that CS mediates the stress-induced inhibition of sexual behaviors through the GABAergic system.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Muscarinic and nicotinic influences on masculine sexual behavior in rats: effects of oxotremorine, scopolamine, and nicotine.

In this study, the role of cholinergic systems in the regulation of male sexual behavior was analyzed by different approaches. Both muscarinic agonists and antagonists, as well as a nicotine agonist, were administered to sexually experienced male rats. In Experiment 1, oxotremorine (OXO), a muscarinic agonist, decreased the intromission frequency and ejaculatory latency in a dose-dependent way. Moreover, an increase in ejaculatory frequency was observed. In Experiment 2, the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine (SCO) produced a dose-related impairment of sexual behavior, decreasing the percentage of sexually active males. The smaller doses of SCO delayed the initiation of sexual behavior and decreased ejaculatory frequency. In an attempt to analyze the effect of muscarinic supersensitivity on sexual behavior, in Experiment 3 a long-term blockade of muscarinic receptors (SCO for 17 days) was followed by OXO administration. Animals displayed a significant increase of mount frequency, which results in the decrease of both the hit rate and ejaculatory frequency. In Experiment 4, six doses of nicotine were acutely administered. Only the higher doses (0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mg/kg) induced a decrease in intromission frequency, although no significant differences were found in any other parameter. These results strongly suggest that cholinergic participation in masculine sexual behavior regulation is mediated mainly through muscarinic system.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Sexual behavior and risk for pelvic inflammatory disease.

Sexual behavior characteristics of 35 patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and 44 healthy controls was studied prospectively. Patients with PID had sex more often than did controls (P less than 0.001). The mean number of sexual partners or age at first intercourse did not differ significantly between cases and controls. PID patients more often had oral sex than controls (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that sexual behavior characteristics may be important risk factors for PID, and should be prospectively studied in larger populations.

Adult↗