Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy

Research has highlighted parent-adolescent communication as a potential protective factor associated with a decreased likelihood of adolescents engaging in risky behavior. In the present study, the link between parents’ psychopathology and parent-adolescent communication quality (related and unrelated to sex) was examined, while taking into consideration the mediating effects of family-cohesion, family-adaptability, and perceived family-support. A sample of 275 Israeli parent-adolescent dyads – mother (Mage = 45.48, SD=5.45); father (Mage = 48.06, SD=7.30); and adolescent (Mage = 16.23, SD=1.18) – completed a set of questionnaires, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the responses. The findings revealed that higher maternal-psychopathology was linked to lower family-cohesion, which in turn was linked to lower perceived family-support and to lower parent-adolescent communication (related and unrelated to sex). Higher paternal-psychopathology was linked to lower family-adaptability, which in turn was linked to lower parent-adolescent communication (unrelated to sex). The findings of this study highlight the need to consider both family functioning and perceived family support in order to understand the influence of parents’ psychopathology on parent-adolescent communication quality.

Sexual power dynamics (SPD) regroup sexual interests of dominance, submission, and tender sex. Interest toward sexual domination and/or submission has historically been pathologized and linked with higher levels of sexo-relational distress. Guided by sexual script theory, the consideration of one’s attitudes toward gender roles (GR), as either gender transcendent or gender-linked, might help identify different profiles of clients in sex therapy. To our knowledge, studies have yet to explore the different profiles while considering both SPD and GR. The scarcity of research on these variables limits our understanding of their implications for individuals’ sexo-relational well-being. The current study aimed to explore the presence of latent profiles based on SPD and GR reported by clients in sex therapy, and to compare the resulting profiles on possible correlates (i.e., sociodemographic characteristics, romantic attachment, relationship and sexual satisfaction). A sample of 325 adults in sex therapy, completed self-reported questionnaires at intake. Results revealed three profiles: (1) Dominant stereotypical thinkers (3.7%), (2) Tender conflicted traditionalists (15.4%), and (3) Flexible and coherent lovers (80.9%). Inter-profile comparisons revealed significant differences regarding gender, age, avoidant attachment and relationship satisfaction. Overall, results suggest the presence of an intricacy between SPD and GR, which would benefit from further exploration.

While a few studies have investigated the sexual fantasies of adults reporting sexual attraction to minor, none, to the best of our knowledge, have focused on the specific types of content of these fantasies. in this qualitative study, we conducted content and thematic analyses of the sexual fantasies reported by an international sample of 112 adults reporting sexual attraction to minors recruited online. seven themes were found: Minor-focused fantasies, Other paraphilic fantasies, Unrealistic fantasies, Incestuous fantasies, Adult-focused fantasies, Promiscuous fantasies, and Group sex fantasies. the sexual fantasies of adults reporting sexual attraction to minors exhibited diversity both in terms of the individuals involved and in the range of sexual practices imagined. however, much of the sexual fantasy content shared by participants was predominantly of a paraphilic nature. approximately one-third of the fantasies involved minor as sexual partners, romantic partners, or featured participants imagining themselves as minors. additionally, nearly half of the disclosed sexual fantasies refer-enced other paraphilic sexual interests, such as violence, fetishism, exhibi-tionism/voyeurism, body fluids, and zoophilia. Results of our research highlight the possibility of co-occurring paraphilic interests in adults reporting sexual attraction to minors.

Sex toys are widely used in both solitary and partnered sexual activities, yet the sociodemographic characteristics and sexual wellbeing of users remain under-researched. This study examined solo and partnered sex toy users’ sociodemographic characteristics and levels of erotophobia and sexual satisfaction in a Canadian community sample (n = 1,959). Participants completed an online survey, including a sociodemographic questionnaire, an inventory of sex toy usage, and validated measures of erotophobia and sexual satisfaction. Comparative analyses (i.e., t-tests, chi-squared) examined the differences in characteristics between individuals who use sex toys and those who do not, while binomial logistic regressions tested the main factors associated with solitary and partnered sex toy usage. Women, younger adults, self-identified virgins, homosexual or bi/pansexual individuals, and those with a history of childhood sexual victimization were more likely to report sex toy use. Sex toy users reported higher sexual satisfaction and lower erotophobia in both solo and partnered contexts than those who had not used sex toys. These findings offer important insights into the characteristics of sex toy users and suggest that further research is needed to understand how individual and sociocultural factors contribute to the relationship between sex toy usage and sexual wellbeing.