Dennis M. Dailey

Dyadic Adjustment/Sexual Satisfaction in Women and Men as a Function of Psychological Sex Role Self-Perception

Men and women who were found to be androgynous in the sexual situation were more sexually satisfied and had better adjustment in their dyadic relationship than their sex role stereotypic counterparts. This finding was not surprising, since androgyny implies more flexibility. On the other hand, the finding was surprising in light of the fact that large numbers of both men and women in the study sample perceived themselves as feminine in the sexual situation, compared to their global sex role self-perception. Several explanations are offered with respect to these outcomes, and the importance of qualitative differences between men and women is highlighted.

AdJustment of Heterosexual and Homosexual Couples in Pairing Relationships: An Exploratory Study

Abstract An exploratory study was conducted to examine the level of success of heterosexual and homosexual couples in their “permanent” pairing relationships. Subjects completed seven self‐report measures of various aspects of their relationships. All couples showed high levels of success; however, homosexual couples had significantly lower levels compared to married couples. Homosexual females had significantly lower scores on self‐esteem and generalized contentment, suggesting that being lesbian and a woman may be a twofold problem. Some evidence of cross gender sex‐role endorsement occurred in all three groups but not in homosexual subjects exclusively as is the societal expectation.

Variations in men's psychological sex role self-perception as a function of work, social and sexual life roles.

Research was conducted to determine whether or not sex role self-perception varied across life situations. Data including demographic information and situational and global sex role was collected from men employed at a large midwestern university. Findings indicate a significant variation in sex role self-perception across work, social and sexual interactions. Regardless of whether the man generally perceives himself as masculine, feminine, or androgynous, his perceptions may change when confronted with culturally stereotypic rules and role demands. The results suggest, first, that caution be exercised in assuming that global sex role perceptions generalize to various role situations and, second, that discrepancies between the global sex role and the situational sex role could result in role strain. The latter could have clear impact upon the dyadic sexual situation.

Women's Sex Roles in Their Public and Private Lives

Research was conducted to determine whether or not sex-role self-perception varies across situations. Data on global and situational sex roles were collected from faculty and nonclassified women employed at a large midwestern university. Findings indicate a significant variation in sex-role self-perception across work, social, and sexual interactions. Regardless of whether the woman generally perceives herself as masculine, feminine, or androgynous, her perceptions change when confronted with cultural stereotypic rules and role demands. The results suggest that caution be exercised in assuming that global sex-role perceptions generalize across situations. Contextual issues affecting sex-role behavior need to be considered by practitioners in their work with women and their partners.

Understanding and Affirming the Sexual/Relationship Realities of End-Stage Renal Disease Patients and Their Significant Others

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) frequently occurs within the social context of relationships and has many predictable consequences in the experience of patients and their significant others. Relationship and sexual issues and concerns must be assessed early in the treatment process and be continually attended to as patients seek new levels of coping. Sex-role conflicts, changes in sexual functioning and sexual self-esteem, challenges to both physical and emotional intimacy, and the life-altering consequences of chronic illness are all very real for ESRD patients. If a holistic perspective on the health care needs of ESRD patients is to be a reality, it will contain a concern for, active attention to, and involvement in the relationship/sexual dimension of life.

The Pregnant Male

ABSTRACTFor centuries the experience of pregnancy was largely, if not exclusively, the womans experience. More recently the notion of “our pregnancy” has gained popularity, as the man shares the pregnancy experience with the woman. The present article describes a more recent experience, that being the unique pregnancy experience of the male. The male pregnancy, although primarily an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual experience (as opposed to physical), is one characterized by typical and systematic qualities quite unlike the experience of the female.