The "Chemsex" Phenomenon and Its Relationship with Psychological Variables in Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Chemsex is described as the use of psychoactive substances during sexual activity to sustain, enhance, disinhibit, or facilitate the sexual experience. It preferentially concerns men who have sex with men. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between participation in chemsex and the psychological variables impulsivity, sexual assertiveness, and hypersexuality. The sample was composed of 137 Spanish men. A total of 104 participants reported that they had engaged in chemsex, with ages ranging from 19 to 42 years (M = 31.41, SD = 4.83). A total of 33 participants reported that they had never participated in chemsex sessions. The participants were contacted and recruited at social centers, LGBT associations, and key informants. Results showed that men who participated in chemsex reported higher impulsivity, higher hypersexuality, and lower sexual assertiveness than those who have never participated in it. The frequency of participation in chemsex, as well as the number of substances consumed, was positively and significantly correlated with dimensions of impulsivity and hypersexuality. This frequency and this consumption were negatively and significantly correlated with sexual assertiveness. Findings showed significant differences in the psychological variables based on the number of consumed substances (polydrug use/consumption of one substance) and the time of consumption (before, during or before and during sex). In conclusion, the study demonstrates the existence of a clear relationship between the experience of chemsex and psychological factors such as being an impulsive person, presenting hypersexual behavior, and/or having low sexual assertiveness.

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) with Sexual Arousal Measures in Men.

Objective: Provide new validity evidence of the Spanish version of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) by associating its scores with measures of sexual arousal. Method: In a sample of 48 men, using a quasi-experimental design, sexual functioning, propensity for sexual inhibition/excitation, subjective sexual arousal, and genital response (penile plethysmography recorded with Biopac MP150 equipment) were evaluated. Results: Arousal and erection scores correlated with sexual inhibition due to the threat of performance failure (r = .29; p < .05) and genital response (r = .31; p < .05), respectively. Participants with difficulties in sexual functioning indicated greater sexual inhibition due to the threat of performance failure (p = .04) and lower intensity in their genital response (p = .05). Conclusions: The validity of the measures obtained with the Spanish version of the MGH-SFQ is supported, showing the erection item to be useful for the detection of possible erectile disorders.

Objetivo: Aportar nuevas evidencias de validez a la versión española del Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ), asociando sus puntuaciones a medidas de la excitación sexual. Método: En una muestra de 48 hombres, mediante un diseño cuasiexperimental, se evaluó el funcionamiento sexual, la propensión para la excitación/inhibición sexual, la excitación sexual subjetiva y la respuesta genital (pletismografía peniana registrada con un equipo Biopac MP150). Resultados: Las puntuaciones en excitación y erección del MGH-SFQ correlacionaron significativamente con la inhibición sexual por miedo al fallo en el rendimiento sexual (r = .29; p < .05) y con la respuesta genital (r = .31; p < .05), respectivamente. Los participantes con dificultades en el funcionamiento sexual, en comparación con los que mostraron un adecuado funcionamiento, indicaron mayor inhibición sexual por miedo al fallo en el rendimiento sexual (p = .04) y menor intensidad en su respuesta genital (p = .05). Conclusiones: Se avala la validez de las medidas obtenidas con la versión española del MGH-SFQ, mostrándose el ítem de erección útil para la detección de posibles trastornos eréctiles.

Psychometric Properties of the Inventory of Parents-Peer Attachment (IPPA) in Adolescents with Behavioural Problems / Propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Apego a Padres-Iguales (IPPA) en adolescentes con problemas de comportamiento

Background: The Inventory of Parental-Peer Attachment (IPPA) is an internationally recognized measure to assess the attachment of adolescents to their parents and peers. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the IPPA in a sample of Spanish adolescents with behavioural problems. Method: The sample was composed of 294 Spanish adolescents (53% girls) with behavioural problems. The IPPA mother, father, and peer versions, along with other related measures, were administered. Results: The 25-item scale, distributed into three factors, was confirmed for both the mother and father versions but not for the peer version. The IPPA showed adequate values of reliability ranging from .79 to .86. Validity was demonstrated through correlations with emotional intelligence, antisocial behaviour, and aggressiveness. Conclusion: The three-factor version of the IPPA is a useful, reliable, and valid scale to assess the attachment of adolescents with problematic behaviours and their parents. (AU)

Antecedentes: El Inventario de Apego a Padres e Iguales (IPPA) es un instrumento reconocido internacionalmente para evaluar el apego de adolescentes hacia padres e iguales. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido examinar las propiedades psicométricas del IPPA en una muestra de adolescentes españoles con problemas de conducta. Método: La muestra estaba compuesta por 294 adolescentes españoles (53% chicas) con problemas de conducta. Se administraron las versiones de IPPA madre, IPPA padre e IPPA iguales, junto con otras medidas relacionadas. Resultados: Se ha confirmado la escala de 25 ítems, distribuida en tres factores, para la versión IPPA madre e IPPA padre, pero no para la versión de iguales. El IPPA ha mostrado valores adecuados de fiabilidad que oscilaban entre .79 y .86. La validez se demostró mediante las correlaciones significativas con las variables inteligencia emocional, conducta antisocial y agresividad. Conclusiones: La versión de tres factores del IPPA es una escala útil, fiable y válida para evaluar el vínculo de adolescentes que muestran conductas problemáticas con sus padres. (AU)

Study of Sexual Concordance in Men and Women with Different Typologies of Adherence to the Sexual Double Standard.

Background/Objective: Sexual concordance (i.e., relationship between genital response and subjective sexual arousal) is higher in men than in women. Among the factors that could explain this difference would be the sexual double standard (SDS). Sexual concordance is examined by SDS typologies of adherence (egalitarian, man-favorable, and woman-favorable). Method: During exposure to a film with sexual content, genital response (penile circumference/vaginal pulse amplitude) and self-reported sexual arousal were recorded in 104 young adults (42 men and 62 women), distributed into SDS typologies of adherence on the basis of their scores on the Sexual Double Standard Scale. Results: Sexual concordance was obtained in men and women with egalitarian and man-favorable typology. Subjective sexual arousal explained a significant percentage of the variance in genital response in the egalitarian typology (men: R2  = .32, p < .01; women: R2  = .19, p < .05) and man-favorable typology (men: R2  = .21, p < .05; women: R2  = .23, p < .05). Conclusions: Agreement between genital responsiveness and subjective sexual arousal depends on DES adherence typology.

Antecedentes/Objetivo: La concordancia sexual (i.e., relación entre respuesta genital y excitación sexual subjetiva) parece ser mayor en hombres que en mujeres. Entre los factores que podrían explicar dicha diferencia estaría el doble estándar sexual (DES). Se examina la concordancia sexual en función de la tipología de adhesión al DES (igualitaria, favorable al hombre y favorable a la mujer). Método: Durante la exposición a un filme de contenido sexual, se registró la respuesta genital (circunferencia peniana/amplitud del pulso vaginal) y la excitación sexual autoinformada de 104 adultos jóvenes (42 hombres y 62 mujeres), distribuidos en las tipologías de adhesión al DES a partir de sus puntuaciones en la Sexual Double Standard Scale. Resultados: Se obtuvo concordancia sexual en hombres y mujeres con tipología igualitaria y favorable al hombre. La excitación sexual subjetiva explicó un porcentaje significativo de la varianza de la respuesta genital en la tipología igualitaria (hombres: R2  = 0,32, p < 0,01; mujeres: R2  = 0,19, p < 0,05) y en la favorable al hombre (hombres: R2  = 0,21, p < 0,05; mujeres: R2  = 0,23, p < 0,05). Conclusiones: El acuerdo entre la respuesta genital y la excitación sexual subjetiva depende de la tipología de adhesión al DES.

Association between Psychopathological Dimensions and Sexual Functioning/Sexual Arousal in Young Adults.

Psychological-psychiatric factors have a different effect on sexual functioning in men and women. This research aimed to examine the association between psychopathological dimensions and dimensions of sexual functioning in Spanish young adults in two studies. Study 1 examined sexual functioning and psychopathological dimensions in 700 women and 516 men. Study 2 conducted an experimental laboratory task to evaluate subjective sexual arousal and genital sensations when watching visual sexual stimuli in a subsample of participants from Study 1 (143 women and 123 men). As a result, the first study showed that depression and anxiety-related symptoms had a negative effect, both in men and women, and having a partner had a positive influence on the dimensions of sexual functioning. The second study showed that anxiety symptoms were positively associated with subjective sexual arousal in both men and women, and anxiety was associated with the assessment of genital sensations in men. The differences between the results of anxiety may be explained because sexual arousal was evaluated in general terms in Study 1, whereas it was evaluated as a state in Study 2. These findings confirm that the presence of psychopathological symptoms contributes to sexual functioning, as well as the necessity of strengthening mental illness prevention programs that include sexual health components.

The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Sexual Attitudes, Sexual Assertiveness, and Sexual Functioning in Men and Women.

BACKGROUND: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm. The association between psychosexual (sexual assertiveness, erotophilia, and attitude towards sexual fantasies) and sexual function (sexual desire, sexual excitation, erection, orgasm capacity, and sexual satisfaction), and the experience of physical and non-physical IPV was assessed. METHODS: Data from 3394 (1766 women, 1628 men) heterosexual adults completed the Spanish version of the Index of Spouse Abuse, scales measuring psychosexual and sexual function, and demographic characteristics were collected. RESULTS: For men, poorer sexual health was associated with an experience of physical abuse (F = 4.41, p < 0.001) and non-physical abuse (F = 4.35, p < 0.001). For women, poorer sexual health was associated with physical abuse (F = 13.38, p < 0.001) and non-physical abuse (F = 7.83, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The experience of physical or non-physical abuse has a negative association with psychosexual and sexual functioning in both men and women.

The Spanish Version of the Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS-6): Evidence of Validity of a Short Version.

The aim of this work was to provide validity evidences of the short Spanish version of the Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS-6). First, a psychometric study was performed to examine the factorial invariance of the scale across different groups. A sample of 1,500 heterosexual adults (50% men, 50% women) from the general Spanish population, aged 18 to 80, was examined. Results showed that the unidimensional model of the SOS-6 is invariant across sex, age range, relationship status, and educational level. Secondly, a laboratory study was performed to determine the relationship between erotophilia and objective and subjective sexual arousal in response to sexual stimuli. The sample consisted of 130 young Spanish university students (46.92% men, 53.08% women) with heterosexual orientation. In men, erotophilia was related to subjective sexual arousal; in women, erotophilia was related to subjective sexual arousal and estimation of genital sensations. In conclusion, this work provides validity evidences of the short version of the SOS-6 and describes the factorial equivalence of the scale across groups and its concurrent validity.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue aportar evidencias de validez a la versión española breve del Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS-6) mediante dos estudios independientes. En primer lugar, se realizó un estudio psicométrico para examinar la invarianza factorial de la escala por diferentes grupos. Se empleó una muestra de 1.500 adultos heterosexuales (50% hombres, 50% mujeres) de la población española general de entre 18 y 80 años de edad. Los resultados mostraron que el modelo unifactorial del SOS-6 es invariante por sexo, rango de edad, estatus de relación de pareja y nivel de estudios. En segundo lugar, se realizó un estudio de laboratorio para determinar la relación de la erotofilia en la excitación sexual objetiva y subjetiva ante estímulos sexuales. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 130 jóvenes universitarios (46,92% hombres, 53,08% mujeres) de nacionalidad española y con orientación heterosexual. En los hombres, la erotofilia se relacionó con la excitación sexual subjetiva; en las mujeres, la erotofilia se asoció tanto con la estimación de la excitación sexual como con la valoración de sensaciones genitales. Como conclusión, este trabajo aporta evidencias de validez a la versión española breve del SOS-6, mostrando su equivalencia por grupos y su validez concurrente.

Validity evidence and norms of the Spanish versión of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Fantasy.

BACKGROUND: Sexual fantasies are described as thoughts or mental images with sexual content. The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Fantasy (HISF) evaluates the positive attitude towards sexual fantasies. The objective of this study was to provide validity evidence of the Spanish version of the HISF and to present its standard scores. METHOD: The sample was composed of 3,458 adults from the general Spanish population (1,641 men; 1,817 women), distributed across age groups (18-34, 35-49, and over 50 years old). RESULTS: The unifactorial structure of the Spanish version of the HISF showed strict measurement invariance across sex, age range, and education level. Positive attitudes towards sexual fantasies significantly correlated with erotophilia, sexual assertiveness, sexual desire, and sexual functioning. Also, the scale was useful for differentiating between individuals with sexual functioning difficulties and individuals with no difficulties. Finally, the standard scores were obtained based on sex and age range. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the HISF is a reliable, valid, and invariant scale for assessing a positive attitude towards sexual fantasies in people with different sociodemographic characteristics.

Relationship between orgasm experience and sexual excitation: validation of the model of the subjective orgasm experience.

The aim of this study was to provide validity evidence of the Model of the Subjective Orgasm Experience (MSOE) associating its components with different types of sexual excitation. A total of 96 participants (48 men and 48 women) performed an experimental laboratory task, in which neutral and erotic content films were presented while the genital response was registered. After exposure to sexual stimulus presentation, participants reported their subjective sexual arousal. In addition, four dimensions (affective, sensory, intimacy, and rewards) of the subjective orgasm experience and the individual propensity for sexual excitation were assessed. Results showed that, in men, the affective, sensory, and rewards dimensions of the orgasm experience significantly correlated with the propensity for becoming sexually excited, and the intimacy dimension correlated with the genital response. In women, the sensory dimension of the orgasm experience positively correlated with the subjective sexual arousal. Types of sexual excitation which previously correlated with the orgasm experience were able to predict its four dimensions. The validation of the MSOE provides a more delimited explanation of the psychological experience of orgasm applicable to both sexes. It is an adequate model for both clinical and research purposes.