Dylan L. Galos

Does Sexually Explicit Media (SEM) affect me? Assessing first-person effects of SEM consumption among Norwegian men who have sex with men

Using a self-selected online sample of 448 Norwegian men who have sex with men (MSM) and a cross-sectional design, the present study investigated first-person effects of sexually explicit media (SEM) consumption on sexual knowledge, enjoyment of and interest in sex, attitudes towards sex and understanding of one’s sexual orientation. First-person effects refer to self-perceived and self-reported effects of SEM consumption as experienced by the consumer. In addition, the study examined and provided a thorough validation of the psychometric properties of the seven-item Pornography Consumption Effect Scale (PCES). The study found that 93% of MSM reported small-to-large positive effects from their SEM consumption on their sexual knowledge, enjoyment of and interest in sex, attitudes towards sex and understanding of their sexual orientation. Only 7% reported any negative effects from their SEM consumption on these outcomes. Furthermore, the psychometric properties of the revised version of the PCES were found to be very satisfactory. The results of the study indicate that SEM consumption among MSM may play a positive role in MSM’s sexuality by enhancing their sex life, being a major source of sexual information, providing a recreational sexual outlet and offering confirmation of one’s sexual orientation.

Challenges, coping strategies, and recommendations related to the HIV services field in the HAART era: a systematic literature review of qualitative studies from the United States and Canada.

Qualitative research methods have been utilized to study the nature of work in the HIV services field. Yet current literature lacks a Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment (HAART) era compendium of qualitative research studying challenges and coping strategies in the field. This study systematically reviewed challenges and coping strategies that qualitative researchers observed in the HIV services field during the HAART era, and their recommendations to organizations. Four online databases were searched for peer-reviewed research that utilized qualitative methods, were published from January 1998 to February 2012, utilized samples of individuals in the HIV services field; occurred in the U.S. or Canada, and contained information related to challenges and/or coping strategies. Abstracts were identified (n=846) and independently read and coded for inclusion by at least two of the four first authors. Identified articles (n=26) were independently read by at least two of the four first authors who recorded the study methodology, participant demographics, challenges and coping strategies, and recommendations. A number of challenges affecting those in the HIV services field were noted, particularly interpersonal and organizational issues. Coping strategies were problem- and emotion-focused. Summarized research recommendations called for increased support, capacity-building, and structural changes. Future research on challenges and coping strategies must provide up-to-date information to the HIV services field while creating, implementing, and evaluating interventions to manage current challenges and reduce the risk of burnout.

Strengthening the Role of Unmarried Fathers: Findings from the Co-Parent Court Project

While the importance of fathers in unmarried coparent families is a strong area of social and political interest, a dearth of community-based interventions exists for supporting the role of fathers in at-risk families. The Co-Parent Court (CPC) was a 3-year demonstration project evaluating the effectiveness of a collaborative intervention to support unmarried coparents establishing paternity and improving their coparenting relationships and paternal involvement in their childs life. A randomized-control experimental design was employed. The paper will explore father involvement and coparent relationship outcomes.

Typologies of sexually explicit media use among MSM: An application of latent class analysis

The viewing of sexually explicit media (SEM) is widespread, especially among men, and research linking SEM viewing and sexual behaviour has shown a variety of results, some positive (e.g., sexuality education) and some negative (e.g., poorer body image). These results might be due to limitations in measuring SEM consumption, particularly around typology. The goal of the current study was to examine potential patterns of SEM viewing activities. Using data from an online survey of men who have sex with men, we conducted latent class analyses of 15 SEM activities. Results suggested a three-class solution. The most prevalent class included over 60% of men and was characterized by viewing primarily safer sex or conventional behaviours. The second class included 32% of men and had a similar, albeit amplified, pattern of viewing. The final class included just 7% of men and was marked by high levels of viewing of all activities, including fetish and kink. Compared to the conventional or safer sex class, the other classes had lower internalized homonegativity, lower condom use self-efficacy and higher SEM consumption or dose. Implications for HIV prevention, sexuality research and the SEM industry are discussed.

Extending Our Understanding of Burnout and Its Associated Factors: Providers and Staff in Primary Care Clinics.

Burnout has been identified as an occupational hazard in the helping professions for many years and is often overlooked, as health-care systems strive to improve cost and quality. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) are tools for assessing burnout prevalence and its associated factors. We describe how we used them in outpatient clinics to assess burnout for multiple job types. Traditional statistical techniques and seemingly unrelated regression were used to describe the sample and evaluate the association between work life domains and burnout. Of 838 eligible participants, 467 (55.7%) were included for analysis. Burnout prevalence varied across three job categories: providers (37.5%), clinical assistants (24.6%), and other staff (28.0%). It was not related to age, gender, or years of tenure but was lower in part-time workers (24.6%) than in full-time workers (33.9%). Analysis of the AWS subscales identified organizational correlates of burnout. Accurately identifying and defining the operative system factors associated with burnout will make it possible to create successful interventions. Using the MBI and the AWS together can highlight the relationship between system work experiences and burnout.

Application and Modification of the Integrative Model for Environmental Health

The Integrative Model for Environmental Health (IMEH) has guided research, literature reviews, and practice initiatives since 2002. This article presents the Modified IMEH that was developed based on using the IMEH as a guiding conceptual framework in a community-based participatory research environmental health project. Concepts from the Model of Risk Information Seeking and Processing as well as emergent themes from the data analysis were instrumental in this process. The Modified IMEH alters the structure of the IMEH in that the Vulnerability and Epistemological Domains are more prominent and feedback between domains is included.

Examining the relationship between use of sexually explicit media and sexual risk behavior in a sample of men who have sex with men in Norway

The purpose of this study was to investigate consumption patterns of gay-oriented sexually explicit media (SEM) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Norway, with a particular emphasis on a possible relationship between gay SEM consumption and HIV risk behavior. Participants included 529 MSM living in Norway recruited online to complete a SEM consumption and sexual risk survey. Of the 507 participants who responded to the all items measuring exposure to SEM, 19% reported unprotected anal intercourse with a casual partner (UAI) in last 90 days, and 14% reported having had sero-discordant UAI. Among those with UAI experience, 23% reported receptive anal intercourse (R-UAI) and 37% reported insertive anal intercourse (I-UAI). SEM consumption was found to be significantly associated with sexual risk behaviors. Participants with increased consumption of bareback SEM reported higher odds of UAI and I-UAI after adjusting for other factors using multivariable statistics. MSM who started using SEM at a later age reported lower odds of UAI and I-UAI than MSM who started earlier. Future research should aim at understanding how MSM develop and maintain SEM preferences and the relationship between developmental and maintenance factors and HIV sexual risk behavior.

Preferred aspects of sexually explicit media among men who have sex with men: where do condoms fit in?

Sexually explicit media (SEM) is viewed by many men who have sex with men (MSM) and is widely available via the Internet. Though research has investigated the link between SEM and sexual risk behaviour, little has been published about preferences for characteristics of SEM. In an Internet-based cross-sectional study, 1390 adult MSM completed an online survey about their preferences for nine characteristics of SEM and ranked them in order of importance. Respondents preferred free, Internet-based, anonymous SEM portraying behaviours they would do. Cost and looks were the most important characteristics of SEM to participants, while condom use and sexual behaviours themselves were least important. Results suggest that while participants may have preferences for specific behaviours and condom use, these are not the most salient characteristics of SEM to consumers when choosing.

How Should We Improve Neighborhood Health? Evaluating Evidence from a Social Determinant Perspective

BackgroundA great deal of public health research and activism has focused on improving the health of persons residing in specific and/or disadvantaged neighborhoods. There is growing consensus that in order to have an impact, interventions must address the social determinants of health, which include access to health care, education, economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, and social context. Yet, there is some question about the best strategy for actually improving a neighborhood’s health.ObjectivesThis paper discusses existing experimental evidence for the effects, or lack thereof, of social interventions on the average health of neighborhoods.Research DesignWe conducted a targeted literature review of published research using PubMed, Social Science Index, and Google Scholar databases. We summarize and synthesize key evaluation research, focusing on experimental studies and those doing comparative analyses of alternative interventions in the USA.FindingsDespite the publication of thousands of papers addressing the social determinants of health, there is very little experimental and/or rigorous comparative research to guide researchers, policymakers, philanthropists, or other stakeholders on optimal strategies to improve health in communities. Comparative analysis, performed to determine what an alternative intervention or policy would have accomplished, and opportunity costs and unintended consequences are rarely considered.ConclusionsIf scholars and activists truly believe that improvements must address the social determinants of health, it is time for a more concerted effort to determine what works, when and where, and what the opportunity costs relative to plausible alternatives are. While usually expensive, occasionally ethically challenged, and occasionally infeasible, (cluster randomized) experiments remain critical to understanding what works and where. Social epidemiologists must be better positioned to offer guidance in this regard.