Changes in Young People's Sexual Behavior and Attitudes, 1943-1999: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis.

A cross-temporal meta-analysis of 530 studies (N = 269,649) showed that young people's sexual attitudes and behavior changed substantially between 1943 and 1999, with the largest shifts occurring among girls and young women. Both young men and women became more sexually active over time, as measured by age at first intercourse (decreasing from 19 to 15 years among young women) and percentage sexually active (increasing from 13% to 47% among young women). Attitudes toward premarital intercourse became more lenient, with approval increasing from 12% to 73% among young women and from 40% to 79% among young men. Feelings of sexual guilt decreased. The correlation between attitudes and behaviors was stronger among young women. These data support theories positing that culture has a larger effect on women's sexuality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of Physical Attractiveness and Alcohol on Men's Perceptions of Potential Sexual Partners and Sexual Behavior Intentions.

The current research presents the results of 2 related experimental studies designed to evaluate the influence of physical attractiveness and a moderate dose of alcohol on men's perceptions of potential sexual partners and sexual behavior intentions. Analyses revealed significant effects of physical attractiveness on partner perceptions and sexual behavior intentions. Although no main effects of alcohol were observed, alcohol differentially moderated the relations between perceived risk and sexual behavior intentions by limb of absorption. Results suggest that greater attention should be focused on identifying the specific physical characteristics of a potential sexual partner--beyond attractiveness--that influence perceptions of risk and intentions to engage in safer sex behaviors and highlight the importance of assessing limb of absorption in evaluating the complex association between alcohol and risky sexual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alcohol Use and High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: The Effects of Consumption Level and Partner Type.

Alcohol use may increase HIV sexual risk behavior, although findings have varied across study populations and methods. Using event-level data from 1,712 seronegative men who have sex with men, the authors tested the hypothesis that social context would moderate the effect of alcohol consumption on unprotected anal sex (UAS). For encounters involving a primary partner, rates of UAS did not vary as a function of alcohol use. However, consumption of 4 or more drinks tripled the likelihood of UAS for episodes involving a nonprimary partner. Thus, the effects of alcohol vary according to the context in which it is used. Interventions to reduce substance-related risk should be tailored to the demands of maintaining sexual safety with nonprimary partners. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child Sexual Abuse and Number of Sexual Partners in Young Women: The Role of Abuse Severity, Coping Style, and Sexual Functioning.

The authors proposed and tested a model describing distinct pathways through which childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may lead to relatively low or high numbers of sexual partners in adulthood. Path analyses were conducted on survey responses of young female US Navy recruits who reported CSA (N=547). Use of avoidant strategies to cope with CSA was expected to produce higher levels of sexual problems and fewer heterosexual sex partners, whereas use of self-destructive coping strategies was expected to result in more dysfunctional sexual behavior and more heterosexual sex partners. As predicted, the effect of CSA on number of sex partners was largely mediated by coping strategies and dysfunctional sexual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Priming a New Identity: Self-Monitoring Moderates the Effects of Nonself Primes on Self-Judgments and Behavior.

When a construct is primed, people often act in construct-consistent ways. Several accounts for this effect have been offered, including ideomotor theory and a social functional perspective. The authors tested an additional perspective, the Active-Self account, whereby primes can temporarily alter self-perceptions. In Study 1, non-African American participants reported feeling more aggressive on an implicit measure following an African American prime. In Study 2, participants reported feeling luckier on an implicit measure following a number 7 (vs. 13) prime. In both studies, these effects were obtained only for low self-monitors, who are more likely to change self-conceptions in response to diagnostic self-information and to use their internal states in guiding behavior. Study 3 showed that low self-monitors also show larger behavioral effects of primes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling of Liquid Level and Bubble Behavior in Vacuum Chamber of RH Process

In the Ruhrstahl-Heraeus (RH)refining process,liquid steel flow pattern in a ladle is controlled by the fluid flow behavior in the vacuum chamber.Potassium chloride solution and NaOH solution saturated with CO 2 were respectively used as a tracer to investigate the liquid and gas flow behaviors in the vacuum chamber.Principal compo-nent and comparative analysis were made to show the factors controlling mixing and circulation flow rate.The liquid level and bubble behavior in the vacuum chamber greatly affect fluid flow in RH process.Experiments were per-formed to investigate the effects of liquid steel level,gas flow rate,bubble residence time,and gas injection mode on mixing,decarburization,and void fraction.The results indicate that the mixing process can be divided into three re-gions:the flow rate-affected zone,the concentration gradient-affected zone,and their combination.The liquid steel level in the vacuum chamber of 300 mm is a critical point in the decarburization transition.For liquid level lower than 300 mm,liquid steel circulation controls decarburization,while for liquid level higher than 300 mm,bubble behavior is the main controlling factor.During the RH process,it is recommended to use the concentrated bubble injection mode for low gas flow rates and the uniform bubble injection mode for high gas flow rates.     

Sexual identity, physical attractiveness and seating position as determinants of influence in discussion groups.

Two experiments are reported which show the importance of sexual identity as a determinant of influence in heterosexual discussion groups. In one study a male confederate was more likely than a female to get an elegant solution to a problem accepted. In general, male subjects were more active and exerted more influence in the group than did females. In the second study the social context of the problems was changed to make them less male-oriented, but a female confederate was still largely unable to get the elegant solution accepted. The physical attractiveness of the confederate had no influence on her effectiveness. Male domination of the discussions continued as before. Finally, there was some indication that sitting at the head of a table in a discussion group makes a person a little more influential in the group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethnic Enclaves and the Dynamics of Social Identity on the College Campus: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The effects of membership in ethnic organizations and fraternities and sororities on intergroup attitudes were examined using a 5-wave panel study at a major, multiethnic university. The results showed that these effects were similar for both minority and White students. Membership in ethnic student organizations for minorities and Greek organizations for Whites was anteceded by the degree of one's ethnic identity, and the effects of membership in these groups were similar, although not identical, for both White and minority students. These effects included an increased sense of ethnic victimization and a decreased sense of common identity and social inclusiveness. Consistent with social identity theory, at least a portion of these effects were mediated by social identity among both White and minority students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual compulsivity, state affect, and sexual risk behavior in a daily diary study of gay and bisexual men.

Researchers have identified a strong link between sexual compulsivity (SC) and risky sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). Meanwhile, affect/mood has also been connected with negative sexual health outcomes (sexually transmitted infection/human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] transmission, sexual risk, sex under the influence of drugs/alcohol). Given that SC is characterized by marked distress around one's own sexual behavior, affect may play a central role in SC and HIV risk behavior. Data were taken from the Pillow Talk Project, a pilot study conducted in 2008–2009 with 50 highly sexually active MSM (9 or more male sex partners, ≤ 90 days), of which half displayed SC symptoms and half did not. Forty-seven men completed a daily diary online for 30 days (n = 1,060 diary days), reporting on their sexual behavior and concurrent affect: positive activation, negative activation, anxious arousal, and sexual activation. We conducted HLM analyses using daily affect (Level 1, within subjects) and SC and HIV status (Level 2, between subjects) to predict sexual behavior outcomes. Increased negative activation (characterized by fear, sadness, anger, and disgust) was associated with reduced sexual risk behavior, but less so among sexually compulsive MSM. Sexual activation was associated with increased sexual risk taking, but less so among sexually compulsive MSM. Anxious arousal was associated with increased sexual behavior, but not necessarily sexual risk taking. Findings indicate that affect plays key roles in sexual behavior and sexual risk taking; however, the association between affect and behavior may be different for sexually compulsive and non-sexually compulsive MSM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Theory of Planned Behavior in Prediction of Leisure Time Physical Activity Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To examine the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) for predicting leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Study Design: Prospective correlational design. Participants: 104 men (n=75) and women (n=29) with SCI. Method: Baseline telephone interview assessing attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intentions for engaging in LTPA. One-week follow-up telephone interview assessing frequency of LTPA. Results: Attitudes (β=.29), subjective norms (β=.29), and PBC (β=.47) each predicted LTPA intentions. LTPA intentions (β=.45) but not PBC (β=-.05) predicted LTPA. Furthermore, intentions mediated the attitudes-LTPA, subjective norms-LTPA, and PBC-LTPA relationships. Conclusions: These findings support the tenets of the TPB and provide a foundation for developing interventions promoting LTPA in the SCI population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Maternal Stress and Pituitary-Adrenal Manipulations During Pregnancy in Rats: Effects on Morphology and Sexual Behavior of Male Offspring"; Corrections to Chapman and Stern.

Reports an error in the original article by Robert H. Chapman and Judith Stern (Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978, Vol. 92[6], pp. 1074-1083). On p. 1081, paragraph 2, line 27, "handling" should read "group housing." Reference Note 3 should be a Reference entry: Dunlap, J. L., Zadina, J. E., & Gougis, G. Prenatal stress interacts with prepubertal social isolation to reduce male copulatory behavior. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1980-08973-001.) Investigated whether the demasculinizing and feminizing effects of prenatal stress (i.e., stress applied to the mother during pregnancy) in rats reported previously by I. L. Ward (1972) are mediated by activation of the maternal pituitary-adrenal axis. Neither whole-body restraint, with or without hyperthermia, nor ACTH treatment during the last third of gestation had any reliable effect on masculine or feminine sexual behavior in male Sprague-Dawley offspring, although these treatments produced maternal pathology and evidence of maternal adrenocorticoid release. Significant littermate similarity was found for almost every morphological and behavioral measure. Failure to control for the litter variable may account for many previously reported effects of prenatal stress on sexual behavior in rats. The discrepancy between the present and earlier findings is discussed in terms of methodological and theoretical considerations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Effectiveness of Expatriate Coping Strategies: The Moderating Role of Cultural Distance, Position Level, and Time on the International Assignment.

On the basis of the stress and coping literature, the authors examined the diverse coping strategies used by expatriate managers in response to the problems encountered while on international assignments. It was hypothesized that although problem-focused coping strategies may be more effective than are emotion-focused coping strategies in affecting cross-cultural adjustment and intention to remain on the international assignment, the relationship is moderated by contextual factors such as hierarchical level in the organization, time on the assignment, and cultural distance. Coded semistructured interview responses from 116 German expatriates on assignment in either Japan or the United States were analyzed with moderated regression analyses. The results suggest that the effectiveness of problem-focused coping strategies in predicting cross-cultural adjustment is moderated by cultural distance and position level but not by time on the assignment. The use of problem-focused coping strategies was not related to expatriates' intention to remain on the assignment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cytochrome Oxidase Activity in the Preoptic Area Correlates With Differences in Sexual Behavior of Intact and Castrated Male Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius).

Although the utility of analyzing behavioral experience effects on neural cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity is well recognized, the behavioral correlates of endogenous differences in CO activity have rarely been explored. In male leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius), the incubation temperature experienced during embryogenesis (IncT) and age affect CO activity in the preoptic area (POA), an area that modulates copulatory behavior. In this study, the authors assessed whether differences in POA CO activity correlate with differences in sexual behavior in intact and castrated geckos. Males with IncT- and age-dependent increases in POA CO activity mounted females with shorter latencies while intact and after castration and ejaculated more frequently after castration. The authors discuss the predictive value of CO activity and propose similar parallels in other species. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of participation and control in the effects of computer monitoring on fairness perceptions, task satisfaction, and performance.

Procedural justice and social facilitation theories were used to investigate effects of 2 kinds of process control on fairness perceptions, task satisfaction and performance of complex, computer-monitored tasks. A laboratory study manipulated participation (high or low voice) and monitoring approach (monitoring, control over monitoring, or no monitoring). High-voice participants perceived higher justice. Monitored participants reported higher satisfaction with high voice and lower satisfaction with low voice. Task performance was poorer for monitored participants unless they had control over monitoring. Among those with control, performance was not impaired for higher baseline performers. The 2 kinds of process control had different effects on the outcome variables. Results suggest the value of considering variations in the kinds of control provided and the justice principles that may apply in predicting effects of monitoring procedures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parents, Peers, and Problem Behavior: A Longitudinal Investigation of the Impact of Relationship Perceptions and Characteristics on the Development of Adolescent Problem Behavior.

This study examined longitudinal relations among adolescents' family relationships, peer relationships, and problem behavior. Participants were 1,357 African American and European American adolescents who were interviewed at 3 time points: 7th grade (mean age=12.7 years), the summer after 8th grade (mean age=14.2 years), and 11th grade (mean age=17.1 years). For all racial and gender groups, 7th-grade family characteristics (youth perceptions of autonomy and warmth) predicted a risky peer context during 8th grade, which in turn predicted problem behavior during 11th grade. Additionally, problem behavior in the 7th grade predicted 11th-grade problem behavior, directly as well as indirectly through the peer context. Racial and gender differences are discussed, as are implications for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Therapeutic Alliance in Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Children Referred for Oppositional, Aggressive, and Antisocial Behavior.

The authors examined the therapeutic alliance in evidence-based treatment for children (N = 185, 47 girls, 138 boys; ages 3-14 years) referred clinically for oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior. Different alliances (child-therapist, parent-therapist) were assessed from each participant's perspective at 2 points over the course of treatment. As predicted, both child-therapist and parent-therapist alliances related to therapeutic change, family experience of barriers to participation in treatment, and treatment acceptability. Greater alliance was associated with greater therapeutic change, fewer perceived barriers, and greater treatment acceptability. The findings could not be attributed to the influence of socioeconomic disadvantage, parent psychopathology and stress, and child dysfunction or to rater effects (common rater variance in the predictors and criteria). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluative pressure in mothers: Effects of situation, maternal, and child characteristics on autonomy supportive versus controlling behavior.

This study examined the effects of situational pressure and maternal characteristics (social contingent self-worth, controlling parenting attitudes) on mothers' autonomy support versus control in the social domain. Sixty 4th-grade children and their mothers worked on a laboratory task in preparation for meeting new children, with mothers in either an evaluation (mothers told their child would be evaluated by other children) or no-evaluation (no mention of evaluation) condition. Mothers in the evaluation condition spent more time giving answers to their children. Mothers with controlling parenting attitudes exhibited more controlling behavior. Further, mothers with high social contingent self-worth in the evaluation condition were most controlling. Results suggest the importance of interactions between situations and maternal characteristics in determining levels of mothers' autonomy support versus control and have implications for helping parents support children's autonomy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

[Review of Sexual behavior in the human female; Sex ethics and the Kinsey reports; and Twenty-five years of sex research. History of the National Research Council Committee for Research in Problems of Sex, 1922-1947].

Reviews the books Sexual behavior in the human female by A. C. Kinsey et al. (see record 1954-05526-000); Sex ethics and the Kinsey reports by S. Hiltner (1953); and Twenty-five years of sex research. History of the National Research Council Committee for Research in Problems of Sex, 1922-1947 by Sophie D. Aberle, and G. W. Corner (see record 1954-02151-000). Concerning the first book, this review merely points to the facts that have been marshalled in the enormous range of individual differences in reported capacity, or rather claimed performance, and to the extensive detailed information set forth in Part III entitled "Comparisons of Female and Male." The sex difference shown by the fact that in 30 out of 33 items the male, on the average, is more readily affected by psychological stimuli is worthy of special note. This finding provides a wealth of insight for better understanding of the psychology of human males and females. Hiltner's work will aid many clergymen to assimilate the findings with a minimum of trauma. It should enable them to do a better job of understanding and counseling their parishoners, young or old. The significance of Kinsey's work and of Hiltner's interpretation can be fully understood only by studying the magnificent achievements of the NRC Committee for Research in Problems of Sex. Aberle and Corner's report gives due credit to Robert M. Yerkes who was chairman from 1922 to 1947. Yerkes' foresight, initiative, tact, courage, and everlasting persistence were primarily responsible for this development. The Committee courageously supported research on all aspects of sex in all species from paramecium to man. Thus psychology has moved from an intellectualistic preoccupation with man as a rational being to a more realistic understanding of man as a behaving organism in all of his manifold adjustments. In short, sex can no longer be ignored. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of methyphenidate and expectancy on children with ADHD: Behavior, academic performance, and attributions in a summer treatment program and regular classroom settings.

Pharmacological and expectancy effects of 0.3 mg/kg methylphenidate on the behavior and attributions of boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were evaluated. In a within-subject, balanced-placebo design, 136 boys received 4 medication-expectancy conditions. Attributions for success and failure on a daily report card were gathered. Assessments took place within the setting of a summer treatment program and were repeated in boys' regular classrooms. Expectancy did not affect the boys' behavior; only active medication improved their behavior. Boys attributed their success to their effort and ability and attributed failure to task difficulty and the pill, regardless of medication and expectancy. Results were generally equivalent across the two settings; where there were differences, beneficial effects of medication were more apparent in the school setting. The findings were unaffected by individual difference factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)