CJHS Abstracts: Vol 17(4) 2008

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality (CJHS)

Volume 17, Number 4, 2008
Canadian university students’ perceptions of the practices that constitute “normal” sexuality for men and women Todd G. Morrison¹, Travis A. Ryan², Lisa Fox², Daragh T. McDermott², and Melanie A. Morrison¹ ¹Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK ²School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Abstract: This study investigated perceptions of “sexual normalcy” in a sample of male and female undergraduate students (N = 104) using modified versions of the Normal Sexual Behaviours Inventory (Kite, 1990). Participants were randomly assigned to the version in which a female actor engaged in various behaviours or to the version in which a male actor engaged in the same or comparable behaviours. Participants also completed measures that assessed their erotophilia/erotophobia, sexual experience, and religiosity. Ratings of normality differed according to sex of the actor in that participants considered it more abnormal for a male to be disinterested in sexuality, to engage in homosexual fantasy, and to practice sexual activities characterized by submission (e.g., receiving pain during sex). However, no statistically significant differences were found between male and female participants’ ratings and there was no statistically significant sex of participant by sex of actor interaction. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are discussed (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17, 161-171). Enjoyment of sexual activities and attributions of enjoyment to the other gender Luis T. Garcia¹, Carlos Cavalie², Laura Goins², and Erica King² ¹Rutgers University, Department of Psychology, Camden College, Camden, NJ ²Rutgers University, Camden College student Abstract: This study of heterosexually self-identified introductory psychology students sought to determine whether the sexes would differ in their self-ratings of enjoyment for various sexual activities, how they would attribute enjoyment of each activity to the other sex, and how accurate they would be in such attributions. The 197 female and 150 male participants (mean age 19.3 years) completed questionnaires that assessed self-enjoyment and attribution of enjoyment to the other sex for each of 18 sexual activities. Results indicated that men rated most activities higher in enjoyment than women. However, correlational analyses suggested strong similarities between the sexes in the activities they rated most and least enjoyable. Their attributions of enjoyment to the other sex correlated significantly with their own ratings of enjoyment. Although difference score analyses found a statistically significant difference between men’s and women’s attributions of level of enjoyment and the other gender’s self-reported level of enjoyment, the correlation analysis suggested that men and women were accurate in their attributions of the activities that the other gender would most and least enjoy (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17: 173-182). The feasibility and acceptability of handheld computers in a prospective diary study of adolescent sexual behaviour Sarah A. Vannier¹ and Lucia F. O’Sullivan¹ ¹Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB Abstract: The use of electronic prospective diary methods for the collection of sensitive information such as sexual behaviour has become increasingly more prevalent, and a body of research examining respondent reactions to these methods has emerged. Unfortunately, this research has relied heavily on forced-choice answers and has consisted mainly of adult populations. The current study used a structured interview to gain an in-depth understanding of late adolescents’ reactions toward using a handheld computer to provide information about their sexual behaviour. Participants included 49 adolescents (mean age = 18.33 years) enrolled in a mid-sized Canadian university. Participants completed a daily brief structured questionnaire, administered via a handheld computer, for a two-week period followed by a structured interview about their experiences with the method. Handheld computers were an effective method for collecting information about adolescent sexual behaviour. The response rate was 95.6% (655/686 person days). The majority of participants reported that the experience of participating in the study was positive, interesting, easy, and efficient. Suggestions for future research include using a computer with reminder capability, making forms accessible from any computer, and time-stamping forms to monitor daily completion. The findings emphasize the importance of researchers embracing technological advances in data collection and research methodology (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17, 183-192). Predictors of stigma and shame related to sexually transmitted infections: Attitudes, education, and knowledge Lyndsay R. Foster¹ and E. Sandra Byers¹ ¹Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB Abstract: The stigma and shame associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been identified as barriers to the STI care-seeking process and as contributors to negative psychosocial experiences in response to a STI diagnosis. However, little is known about factors associated with STI-related stigma and STI-related shame. This study of 125 female and 93 male university students examined these associations for factors that included: sexual conservatism, social conservatism, STI knowledge, and perceptions of school-based and home-based STI-related sexual health education. Individuals who scored higher on authoritarianism and sexual conservatism, and who did not have a personal acquaintance with someone who had ever had a STI had higher scores on STI-related stigma over and above the effect of other predictors. Sexual conservatism and dissatisfaction with school-based sexual health education were uniquely associated with higher STI-related shame. STI knowledge and home-based sexual health education were not uniquely associated with either STI-related stigma or shame. The results highlight the importance of social and sexual attitudes for understanding STI-related stigma and shame (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17: 193-202). The state is still in the bedrooms of the nation: The control and regulation of sexuality in Canadian criminal law Alan Young Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto ON Abstract: Canada has seen a considerable relaxing of linguistic and visual taboos related to sexuality over the past 50 years. This article explores the response of modern criminal law to such changes with particular emphasis on the inability of obscenity and indecency laws to resist the emergence of highly sexualized materials in society and the lack of any meaningful legal reform in our laws on prostitution. Case examples and legal precedents are drawn upon to illustrate a variety of sexuality-related issues grappled with by legislators, politicians and society in seeking to determine what sexual practices should be prohibited. Canadian laws on prostitution, which put sex workers at risk without significantly diminishing the incidence of the phenomenon, are considered in terms of the rationale for legislated regulation in this domain. An overarching theme in this and other such examples is the role of criminal legislation in addressing the tension between private sexual morality and public policy in a pluralistic society (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17: 203-220).

Volume 17, Number 4, 2008

Canadian university students’ perceptions of the practices that constitute “normal” sexuality for men and women
Todd G. Morrison¹, Travis A. Ryan², Lisa Fox², Daragh T. McDermott², and Melanie A. Morrison¹
¹Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
²School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

Abstract: This study investigated perceptions of “sexual normalcy” in a sample of male and female undergraduate students (N = 104) using modified versions of the Normal Sexual Behaviours Inventory (Kite, 1990). Participants were randomly assigned to the version in which a female actor engaged in various behaviours or to the version in which a male actor engaged in the same or comparable behaviours. Participants also completed measures that assessed their erotophilia/erotophobia, sexual experience, and religiosity. Ratings of normality differed according to sex of the actor in that participants considered it more abnormal for a male to be disinterested in sexuality, to engage in homosexual fantasy, and to practice sexual activities characterized by submission (e.g., receiving pain during sex). However, no statistically significant differences were found between male and female participants’ ratings and there was no statistically significant sex of participant by sex of actor interaction. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are discussed (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17, 161-171).

Enjoyment of sexual activities and attributions of enjoyment to the other gender
Luis T. Garcia¹, Carlos Cavalie², Laura Goins², and Erica King²
¹Rutgers University, Department of Psychology, Camden College, Camden, NJ
²Rutgers University, Camden College student

Abstract: This study of heterosexually self-identified introductory psychology students sought to determine whether the sexes would differ in their self-ratings of enjoyment for various sexual activities, how they would attribute enjoyment of each activity to the other sex, and how accurate they would be in such attributions. The 197 female and 150 male participants (mean age 19.3 years) completed questionnaires that assessed self-enjoyment and attribution of enjoyment to the other sex for each of 18 sexual activities. Results indicated that men rated most activities higher in enjoyment than women. However, correlational analyses suggested strong similarities between the sexes in the activities they rated most and least enjoyable. Their attributions of enjoyment to the other sex correlated significantly with their own ratings of enjoyment. Although difference score analyses found a statistically significant difference between men’s and women’s attributions of level of enjoyment and the other gender’s self-reported level of enjoyment, the correlation analysis suggested that men and women were accurate in their attributions of the activities that the other gender would most and least enjoy (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17: 173-182).

The feasibility and acceptability of handheld computers in a prospective diary study of adolescent sexual behaviour
Sarah A. Vannier¹ and Lucia F. O’Sullivan¹
¹Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB

Abstract: The use of electronic prospective diary methods for the collection of sensitive information such as sexual behaviour has become increasingly more prevalent, and a body of research examining respondent reactions to these methods has emerged. Unfortunately, this research has relied heavily on forced-choice answers and has consisted mainly of adult populations. The current study used a structured interview to gain an in-depth understanding of late adolescents’ reactions toward using a handheld computer to provide information about their sexual behaviour. Participants included 49 adolescents (mean age = 18.33 years) enrolled in a mid-sized Canadian university. Participants completed a daily brief structured questionnaire, administered via a handheld computer, for a two-week period followed by a structured interview about their experiences with the method. Handheld computers were an effective method for collecting information about adolescent sexual behaviour. The response rate was 95.6% (655/686 person days). The majority of participants reported that the experience of participating in the study was positive, interesting, easy, and efficient. Suggestions for future research include using a computer with reminder capability, making forms accessible from any computer, and time-stamping forms to monitor daily completion. The findings emphasize the importance of researchers embracing technological advances in data collection and research methodology (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17, 183-192).

Predictors of stigma and shame related to sexually transmitted infections: Attitudes, education, and knowledge
Lyndsay R. Foster¹ and E. Sandra Byers¹
¹Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB

Abstract: The stigma and shame associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been identified as barriers to the STI care-seeking process and as contributors to negative psychosocial experiences in response to a STI diagnosis. However, little is known about factors associated with STI-related stigma and STI-related shame. This study of 125 female and 93 male university students examined these associations for factors that included: sexual conservatism, social conservatism, STI knowledge, and perceptions of school-based and home-based STI-related sexual health education. Individuals who scored higher on authoritarianism and sexual conservatism, and who did not have a personal acquaintance with someone who had ever had a STI had higher scores on STI-related stigma over and above the effect of other predictors. Sexual conservatism and dissatisfaction with school-based sexual health education were uniquely associated with higher STI-related shame. STI knowledge and home-based sexual health education were not uniquely associated with either STI-related stigma or shame. The results highlight the importance of social and sexual attitudes for understanding STI-related stigma and shame (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17: 193-202).

The state is still in the bedrooms of the nation: The control and regulation of sexuality in Canadian criminal law
Alan Young
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto ON

Abstract: Canada has seen a considerable relaxing of linguistic and visual taboos related to sexuality over the past 50 years. This article explores the response of modern criminal law to such changes with particular emphasis on the inability of obscenity and indecency laws to resist the emergence of highly sexualized materials in society and the lack of any meaningful legal reform in our laws on prostitution. Case examples and legal precedents are drawn upon to illustrate a variety of sexuality-related issues grappled with by legislators, politicians and society in seeking to determine what sexual practices should be prohibited. Canadian laws on prostitution, which put sex workers at risk without significantly diminishing the incidence of the phenomenon, are considered in terms of the rationale for legislated regulation in this domain. An overarching theme in this and other such examples is the role of criminal legislation in addressing the tension between private sexual morality and public policy in a pluralistic society (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2008; 17: 203-220).

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