The sexual double standard (SDS) refers to the acceptance of different criteria to assess the same sexual behavior in men and women. To date, the few studies that have addressed the relationship ...between SDS and sexual satisfaction have obtained inconclusive results. In addition, no study has analyzed sexual satisfaction in people who maintain different forms of adherence to the SDS. This study establishes three SDS typologies of adherence (man-favorable, woman-favorable, egalitarian) in two areas of sexual behavior (sexual freedom and sexual shyness) to examine the predictive capacity of personal variables (age, social dominance orientation, propensity for sexual excitation/inhibition), interpersonal variables (relationship satisfaction) and social variables (gender norms about sexual behaviors) in sexual satisfaction. A sample of 1194 heterosexual adults (51.1% men, 48.8% women) aged between 18 and 87 years (
= 40.63;
= 15.67), who had been in a relationship for more than 6 months, was evaluated. In men, the highest sexual satisfaction levels were obtained in the egalitarian typology in the sexual freedom area. In women, no significant differences were found between the typologies of adherence to the SDS. Regression models showed that relationship satisfaction was the main predictor of sexual satisfaction in all the typologies in both men and women. In addition, the predictive relationship of personal variables with sexual satisfaction varied according to gender and the SDS adherence type. The results show the importance of studying sexual satisfaction by taking into account not only the differences between men and women. Furthermore, it is essential to consider other differences between people; for example, the difference that derives from the way of psychologically internalizing attitude toward the SDS.
The subjective orgasm experience (SOE) is the psychological perception of orgasm sensations and closely related to sexual health. Here, SOE was studied through the context in which it is experienced ...(sexual relationships and solitary masturbation), gender, and sexual orientation. For this purpose, data were collected from 4255 people (1927 men and 2328 women) of different sexual orientations (heterosexual = 1545; bisexual = 1202; and gay = 1508) who completed two versions of the Orgasm Rating Scale (ORS) for both contexts (i.e., sexual relationships and solitary masturbation) along with a socio-demographic questionnaire. Results showed that the ORS in the context of solitary masturbation is an instrument invariant by gender and sexual orientation. Significant differences in SOE were found by context: it was more intense in the context of sexual relationships (vs. solitary masturbation); by gender: women (vs. men) reported greater intensity; and by sexual orientation, with heterosexual people (vs. gay and bisexual people) having a more intense experience.
The study objective was to examine the factorial structure, reliability and to provide some evidence for validity of the Spanish version of the Bem Sexual Roles Inventory (BSRI), which assesses ...self-description in terms of gender traits. A sample of 2,672 Spanish participants, heterosexual adults (1,289 men, 1,383 women) distributed into four age groups (18-25, 26-35, 36-55, 56 years or more), completed a Spanish 40-item version of BSRI. An 8-item scale is proposed with a two-dimensional structure: Masculinity (M) and Femininity (F). Both factors present adequate reliabi-lity. Regarding evidence for validity, men (vs. women) scored higher in M, and women (vs. men) in F. The M scores were higher for the participants aged less than 56 years. No differences were found in the F scores among age groups. We discuss the usefulness of this measure to assess interindividual differences, across sex and age, in the self-attribution of traditional gender traits.
El objetivo del estudio fue examinar la estructura factorial, la confiabilidad y proporcionar alguna evidencia de validez de la versión en español del Inventario de Roles Sexuales de Bem (BSRI), que evalúa la autodescripción en términos de rasgos de género. Una muestra de 2.672 participantes españoles, adultos heterosexuales (1.289 hombres, 1.383 mujeres) distribuidos en cuatro grupos de edad (18-25, 26-35, 36-55, 56 años o más), completó una versión en español de 40 ítems del BSRI. Se propone una escala de 8 ítems con estructura bidimensional: Masculinidad (M) y Feminidad (F). Ambos factores presentan una fiabilidad adecuada. Con respecto a la evidencia de validez, los hombres (vs. las mujeres) obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en M y las mujeres (vs. los hombres) en F. Las puntuaciones M fueron más altas para los participantes menores de 56 años. No se encontraron diferencias en las puntuaciones F entre grupos de edad. Discutimos la utilidad de esta medida para evaluar las diferencias interindividuales, según el sexo y la edad, en la autoatribución de los rasgos de género tradicionales.
•Clinically valid assessment tools of psychosocial aspects in primary care are needed.•The DCPR-R identify psychosocial factors that would be undetected using the DSM-5.•The DCPR-R increase the ...prediction of psychosocial functioning in primary care.
Psychosocial problems are highly prevalent among primary care (PC) patients, but they often remain undetected using traditional classification systems. The aim of the present study was to test the incremental validity of the revised version of the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR-R), in addition to standard psychiatric assessment based on DSM-5, with regard to the prediction of psychosocial functioning of PC patients. Two-hundred PC patients were consecutively recruited. A comprehensive assessment was performed using two clinical interviews and three self-rating questionnaires (the PsychoSocial Index PSI, the Short-Form Health Survey SF-12 and the Illness Attitude Scales IAS) for the assessment of psychopathology and psychosocial functioning. Adding the DCPR-R to DSM-5, the amount of explained variance significantly increased by 9% to 16% in the PSI subscales, by 13% in the SF-12 mental component summary, and by 2% to 6% in the IAS scales. The joint use of DCPR-R and DSM-5 thus significantly increased the prediction of psychosocial functioning of primary care patients. These findings further support the use of the DCPR-R in PC settings, particularly in patients who do not satisfy DSM-5 criteria and yet present with high psychological distress, maladaptive illness behavior, impaired psychological well-being and quality of life.
The sexual double standard (SDS) consists of judging men and women differently for the same sexual behavior. This study contributes to research on the factors that determine inconsistent adherence to ...the SDS. It uses a descriptive methodology to analyze the association between individual and contextual factors both with adherence to the SDS, and with four SDS adherence typologies (man-favorable SDS, woman-favorable SDS, egalitarian and ambivalent). A total of 1,206 heterosexual Spanish adults (603 men and 603 women) participated. The mean age in the male sample was 41.7 (
SD
= 14.25), in the female sample
M
= 40.84 (
SD
= 14.24). The results show that the conceptualization of SDS as a gender-based prejudice is valid to understand the bias of ingroup favoritism that SDS implies: adherence to SDS is more related to the identity of the gender role of men (vs. women). In addition, evidence is provided that the normative context and domain of sexual behavior (i.e., sexual freedom or sexual shyness) determine the form that SDS adopts to express itself. The domain of behaviors related to sexual shyness (vs. domain related to sexual freedom) better discriminates between the different four SDS adherence typologies. The importance of adopting different levels of analysis (i.e., individual, intergroup, societal) to explain and predict both SDS adherence and the prevalence of SDS adherence typologies is discussed.
Measures implemented in many countries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a change in lifestyle with unpredictable consequences on physical and mental health. We aimed at identifying the ...variables associated with psychological distress during the lockdown between April and May 2020 in the Italian academic population. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional online survey (IO CONTO 2020) within five Italian universities. Among about 240,000 individuals invited to participate through institutional communications, 18 120 filled the questionnaire. Psychological distress was measured by the self-administered Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The covariates collected included demographic and lifestyle characteristics, trust in government, doctors and scientists. Associations of covariates with influenza-like symptoms or positive COVID-19 test and with psychological distress were assessed by multiple regression models at the local level; a meta-analysis of the results was then performed. Severe levels of anxiety or depression were reported by 20% of the sample and were associated with being a student or having a lower income, irrespective of their health condition and worries about contracting the virus. The probability of being severely anxious or depressed also depended on physical activity: compared to those never exercising, the highest OR being for those who stopped during lockdown (1.53; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.84) and the lowest for those who continued (0.78; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.95). Up to 21% of severe cases of anxiety or depression might have been avoided if during lockdown participants had continued to exercise as before. Socioeconomic insecurity contributes to increase mental problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the measures to contain it. Maintaining or introducing an adequate level of physical activity is likely to mitigate such detrimental effects. Promoting safe practice of physical activity should remain a public health priority to reduce health risks during the pandemic.
Cognitive fusion (CF) occurs when people are entangled in their private experiences. Rigid patterns of CF are a risk factor for various forms of psychopathology. The most widely used self-report ...instrument for assessing CF is the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-7 (CFQ-7), a unidimensional scale with good reliability and validity. However, its psychometric properties have been studied mainly in non-clinical samples and by applying Classical Test Theory. The goal of this study was to use Item Response Theory to investigate the adequacy of the scale in a non-clinical sample and to test measurement invariance across non-clinical and clinical psychological samples. The non-clinical sample consisted of 258 undergraduate students (68.2% females, Mage = 24.3), while the clinical sample consisted of 105 undergraduate students with psychological distress (60.7% females, Mage = 23.8). The results showed that CFQ-7 assesses a wide range of CF severity among non-clinical subjects and that it is useful to discriminate different levels of CF. Moreover, the results showed the scale was sufficiently informative for a broad range of the trait. The relationships of CFQ-7 scores with theoretically related constructs provided further support to the validity of the scale. The Differential Item Functioning analysis showed that CFQ-7 is invariant across different types of population. Overall, findings in this study provide support for the adequacy of the CFQ-7 both in non-clinical and clinical contexts.
Sexual double standard (SDS) has long been associated to several dimensions of sexual health. Therefore the assessment of SDS is relevant and requires self-reported measures with adequate ...psychometric properties. This study aims to adapt the Sexual Double Standard Scale (SDSS) into heterosexual Spanish population and examine its psychometric properties. Method: Using quota incidental sampling, we recruited a sample of 1,206 individuals (50% women), distributed across three groups based on their age (18-34, 35-49 and 50 years old and older). Results: We performed both, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. An abridged version was yielded, consisting of 16 items distributed into two factors (Acceptance for sexual freedom and Acceptance for sexual shyness). A second-order factor structure was also adequate, which facilitates the use of a global index for SDS. Reliability, based on internal consistency and temporal stability was good for the factors. Evidence of validity is also shown and reported. Conclusions: This adapted version of the SDSS is reliable and valid. The importance for its use to estimate the prevalence of both traditional and modern forms of this phenomenon is discussed.
El doble estándar sexual (DES) se ha asociado a distintas dimensiones de la salud sexual, por lo que su evaluación es relevante y requiere de instrumentos con adecuadas propiedades psicométricas. Se plantea la adaptación a población heterosexual española de la Sexual Double Standard Scale (SDSS) y examinar sus propiedades psicométricas. Método: Mediante un muestreo incidental por cuotas se obtuvo una muestra de 1.206 sujetos (50% mujeres), distribuidos en tres grupos en función de la edad (18-34 años, 35-49 años y 50 años o más). Resultados: Mediante Análisis Factorial Exploratorio y Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio se consiguió una versión de 16 ítems distribuidos en dos factores (Aceptación de la libertad sexual y Aceptación del recato sexual), cuya combinación en un factor de segundo orden permite obtener un índice global de doble estándar sexual. La fiabilidad de consistencia interna y test-retest es óptima para los dos subfactores y sus medidas presentan adecuados índices de validez. Conclusiones: Esta versión adaptada de la SDSS es fiable y válida. Se discute su importancia para detectar la prevalencia de DES tradicional y de expresiones más modernas de este fenómeno.
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced changes in people’s lives that affected their mental health. Our study aimed to explore the level of psychological distress in the academic population during the ...lockdown period and investigate its association with the new working or studying conditions. The study sample included 9364 students and 2159 employees from five Italian universities from the study IO CONTO 2020. We applied linear regression models to investigate the association between home learning or remote working conditions and psychological distress, separately for students and employees. Psychological distress was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In both students and employees, higher levels of distress were significantly associated with study/work–family conflicts, concerns about their future careers, and inadequacy of equipment; in employees, higher levels of distress were significantly associated with a lack of clarity on work objectives. Our results are in line with previous research on the impact of spaces and equipment in remote working/studying from home. Moreover, the study contributes to deepening the association between well-being and telework–family conflict, which in the literature is still equivocal. Practical implications require academic governance to promote sustainable environments both in remote and hybrid work conditions, by referring to a specific management by objectives approach.
El doble estándar sexual (DES) consiste en evaluar los mismos comportamientos sexuales en hombres y mujeres usando diferentes criterios. El apoyo al DES favorable al hombre está relacionado con la ...agresión y la victimización sexual. Sin embargo, hasta la fecha, los estudios no han examinado la prevalencia de la adhesión al DES. Este estudio pretende identificar la prevalencia por género y edad de la población española que se adhiere a las tipologías de DES (favorable al hombre, favorable a la mujer, igualitaria, ambivalente) considerando los ámbitos de la libertad sexual y del recato sexual. Una muestra de 2.002 adultos heterosexuales españoles (50% hombres, 50% mujeres), distribuidos en cuatro grupos de edad (18-25, 26-35, 36-55 y más de 55 años), respondió a la Sexual Double Standard Scale. Los resultados mostraron diferencias en la prevalencia de las tipologías de DES por género y edad. Por género se observó una mayor prevalencia de la tipología favorable al hombre en los hombres y una mayor prevalencia de la tipología igualitaria y la tipología favorable a la mujer en las mujeres. Por grupos de edad se encontraron diferencias significativas en las tipologías favorable al hombre y favorable a la mujer, tanto en hombres como en mujeres. De acuerdo con la evidencia de las cuatro tipologías de adhesión al DES, se recomienda estudiar la relación de estas tipologías con la agresión/victimización sexual para diseñar programas más eficientes de prevención de la violencia sexual e intervención en la misma.
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