Brian D. Zamboni

Using Masturbation in Sex Therapy: Relationships Between Masturbation, Sexual Desire, and Sexual Fantasy

Abstract Masturbation may be useful in treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder. To examine this possibility, the current study examined the relationships between masturbation, sexual desire, sexual fantasy, and dyadic sexual activity. The relationships between masturbation and other constructs were also examined: overall sexual dysfunction, relationship satisfaction, life stress, and sexual attitudes. Mediational analyses suggest several causal pathways between masturbatory desire, masturbatory frequency, sexual fantasy, sexual desire, and sexual activity. Developing a model of masturbation may help illustrate its role in sexual functioning and highlight its potential role in sex therapy.

Predictors of sports motivation among gay and bisexual Men

ABSTRACT Athletic activities are associated with reduced levels of stress and negative mood states among heterosexuals; thus, examining this association among gay/bisexual men is warranted. The current study examined the relationship between sports motivation and mood states, self-esteem, body esteem, life satisfaction, perceptions of masculinity/femininity, and parental encouragement for athletic endeavors among 195 gay/bisexual men. The results were mixed, but suggest that sports participation among gay/bisexual men may relate to a desire to express their masculinity and maintain a positive body image. Gay/bisexual men may be more likely to participate in sports if they receive positive reinforcement from others.

Adult Baby/Diaper Lovers: An Exploratory Study of an Online Community Sample

This internet-based study provided descriptive information and exploratory analyses on 1,795 male and 139 female members of the Adult Baby/Diaper Lover (ABDL) community. Based on prior research, some research questions focused on the degree to which ABDL behavior was associated with negative mood states, parental relationships, and attachment style. Based on clinical experience, a second research question focused on discerning two possible subgroups within the ABDL community: persons focused on role play behavior and persons who were primarily interested in sexual arousal in their ABDL behavior. The results showed modest support for the former research questions, but notable support for the last research question. Because of some overlap between the two hypothesized subgroups, additional subgroups may exist. Males in the ABDL community identified their ABDL interests earlier than females and these males may be more focused on sexual aspects of ABDL practices. Both males and females perceived being dominated as important in their ABDL behavior. Most participants were comfortable with their ABDL behavior and reported few problems. ABDL behavior may represent a sexual subculture that is not problematic for most of its participants.

Identity, Training, and Expertise Among Sexual Health Professionals

ABSTRACT The current study explores identity, training, and reported areas of expertise among sexual health professionals. Members of sexual health organizations (n = 500) completed an Internet survey. Personal interest in sexuality best predicted a priori planning to enter the field. Few individuals reported advanced training in sexual health, but those who did reported more mentorship, training satisfaction, and current work hours focused on sexual health. Participants reported more work in sex therapy than in sex education or research. Female and male sexual dysfunction received more professional attention at the expense of specialized topics. To nurture sexual health as a field, more training opportunities, more sex research, more sex education, and more attention to marginalized topics are needed.

Family Sex Communication and the Sexual Desire, Attitudes, and Behavior of Late Adolescents

Parental sex education might promote healthy sexual behavior among adolescents, but some parents assume that family communication about sex will lead to sexual activity. Family sex communication has been studied with a limited range of adolescent sexual behaviors but not sexual fantasy or desire. Two measures of family sex communication were compared and examined in relation to measures of sexual fantasy, desire, attitudes, and behavior among a sample of 522 females and males in their late adolescence. An expanded range of sexual behaviors was assessed. Family sex communication was not associated with level of sexual fantasy, desire, attitudes, or most sexual behaviors. Causal inferences cannot be made, but parents might consider talking openly with their children about sexual matters without fearing that such communication will ignite their sexual desire or prompt sexual behavior.

A Qualitative Exploration of Adult Baby/Diaper Lover Behavior From an Online Community Sample

This study examined qualitative data on 1,795 male, 139 female, and 78 transgender members of the adult baby/diaper lover (ABDL) online community. Using grounded theory, the analyses examined a description of ABDL practices, explored evidence of subgroups within the ABDL community, and examined the degree to which ABDL behavior involves sexual motivations. Overall, the data suggest there is a fair amount of diversity within the ABDL community. Most participants enjoy wearing diapers or engaging in age regression (as babies or children), and the importance of incontinence may vary. ABDL practices can reflect bondage play for some individuals and a way to cope with medical problems for others. Overall, there is modest evidence of more than two ABDL subgroups. Although a large number of individuals do not see their ABDL practices as sexual in nature, there is a clear contingent that describes sexual motivations. For some, sex during ABDL activity violates conceptions of baby play. Nonsexual motivations include a desire to relax or be carefree as well as a desire to be nurtured. Some diaper lovers and adult babies have the same goals but achieve them in different ways. ABDL practices may be as diverse as seemingly typical sexual behaviors.

Human Sexuality Education in Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Programs

Given the likelihood that marriage and family therapists will encounter clients with sexual concerns, it is important to know how graduate training programs are preparing future clinicians to work with this domain of life. Sixty-nine marriage and family therapy (MFT) program directors completed an online survey to examine how sexual health education is integrated into graduate training programs. Findings indicate that while the majority of program directors value sexuality curriculum, and most programs require at least one course in this area, there are barriers to privileging sex topics in MFT graduate programs. Barriers include few MFT faculties with expertise in human sexuality and marginalized sexual health topics. Implications for training MFT graduate students and their work with future clients are discussed.

HIV Status and Coming Out among African American Gay and Bisexual Men

It is possible that disclosing ones HIV status can further a persons coming-out process as a gay or bisexual man and can have other mental health benefits. Using samples of gay identified and bisexually identified African American men, this study examined the relationship between HIV status and several variables: use of mental health services, levels of internalized homonegativity, levels of stigma associated with same-sex activity and disclosure about same sex activity to community and family. Compared to individuals without HIV, the African American HIV+ men who had sex with men in this study reported using more mental health services, having lower levels of internalized homonegativity and experiencing lower levels of stigma associated with same sex activity. Duration of HIV+ status was positively associated with disclosure about same-sex activity. This pattern of results was more pronounced for gay identified African American men than those who identified as bisexual. These findings highlight how disclosing ones HIV status can be associated with the coming-out process, but minority stress associated with a bisexual identity among African American men who have sex with men may minimize these potential benefits.

Body Image and Sexual Functioning Among Bisexual Women

ABSTRACT Using the Sexual Health Model, the current study examined the relationship between body image and three aspects of sexual health (sexual functioning, safer sex behavior, and sexual orientation) among 136 bisexualwomen.Amore positive body imagewas significantly associated with higher levels of sexual activity (in the prior three months) and higher levels of sexual satisfaction, but only marginally associated with masturbation and orgasms. Mediation analyses showed that a positive body image predicts sexual activity, which then predicts increased sexual satisfaction. Although body image was significantly related to safer sex self-efficacy, it did not moderate the relationship between condom attitudes and safer sex self-efficacy. A positive body image was associated with greater comfort with ones sexual orientation, but not with self-reported changes in sexual identification. Body image is closely related to sexual health, but is one of many variables that interact in complex ways to promote sexual well-being.

Experiences of distress by participants in the Adult Baby/Diaper Lover community

ABSTRACT This study examined data on 1795 male, 139 female, and 78 gender non-binary members of the Adult Baby/Diaper Lover (ABDL) online community. Using grounded theory, qualitative analyses explored reasons for breaks in ABDL practices and reasons for distress lasting longer than 6 months due to ABDL interests. Quantitative analyses examined differences between participants reporting the aforementioned period of distress and those who did not. Negative reactions from parents and romantic partners appeared to cause breaks in ABDL behavior as well as distress due to ABDL interests. Other reasons for breaks were a living arrangement that interfered with ABDL behavior, a struggle in self-acceptance of ABDL interests, and lack of access to ABDL paraphernalia. Distress due to ABDL interests reflected mental health concerns, such as depression, due to conflicting feelings about their ABDL interests or due to interpersonal conflicts over the ABDL practices. Participants who reported distress were older, had practiced ABDL longer, reported more problems due to ABDL interests, had more negative mood states, had a more negative relationship with both parents, greater attachment avoidance, and greater attachment anxiety. Normalizing sexual diversity may help minimize distress in individuals who have atypical interests or practices, whether they are sex-related or not.