Elizabeth L. McGarvey

Reliability and Construct Validity of the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire Short-Form (CSFQ-14)

The Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ) is a 36-item clinical and research instrument identifying five scales of sexual functioning. This study documents the internal consistency and factor structure of a 14-item version of the CSFQ (CSFQ-14), which yields scores for three scales corresponding to the phases of the sexual response cycle (i.e., desire, arousal, and orgasm) as well as the five scales of the original CSFQ. Factor analysis confirms the construct validity of the CSFQ-14 as a global measure of sexual dysfunction. The CSFQ-14 and the individual scales exhibit strong internal reliability.

Prevalence of HIV-related risk behaviors and STDs among incarcerated adolescents

PURPOSE To determine the HIV-related risk behaviors and STDs in a population of incarcerated adolescents in order to strategically target education and prevention efforts. METHODS A single point-in-time prevalence study based on an analysis of intake medical records of 1,215 incarcerated youth were analyzed for HIV risk behaviors and STD history. RESULTS Incarcerated adolescents report high rates of risk behaviors for HIV infection and STDs, with 75% reporting three or more sex partners, 25% never using condoms and 19% having a current diagnosis of at least one STD. Significantly more females than males reported a history of STDs and had higher rates of current diagnoses of chlamydia/non-gonococcal urethritis, trichomonas and gonorrhea. CONCLUSIONS Ethnic/racial and gender differences were found in risk behaviors for STDs among a sample of incarcerated adolescents.

Adolescent inhalant abuse: environments of use.

A questionnaire survey of 285 consecutively recruited adolescents who were adjudicated to juvenile correctional facilities in Virginia was conducted using the Inhalant Use Questionnaire (1). White youths (36.1%) and youths from other ethnic backgrounds (44.4%) are significantly more likely to report past inhalant use than black youths (1.4%). The median age reported for first-time use of inhalants is 13 years. Youths were divided between those who experimented with inhalants (27%) and those who were heavy users (27%). Huffing was preferred by 60% of youths. Of the youths, 52% reported using inhalants with friends present, whereas 34% used inhalants when they were alone. Sites where youths reported inhalant use include at a friends home (68%), at home (54%), on the street (40%), at parties (28%), on school grounds (26%), and at school (18%). There are no gender differences in age of onset of inhalant use, lifetime frequency of inhalant use, frequency of inhalant use in the past year, or preferred method of using inhalants. The five substances most frequently used as inhalants include gasoline (by 57.4%), Freon (40.45%), butane lighter fluid (38.3%), glue (29.8%), and nitrous oxide (23.4%). There were no gender differences for use of other products.

Using Focus Group Results to Inform Preschool Childhood Obesity Prevention Programming

Objective. This study about maternal feeding practices and beliefs was conducted as background for the development of a childhood obesity prevention program for multi-ethnic parents in the USA receiving services from a federal government supplemental nutrition program for low-income mothers. Design. Using a grounded theory approach, focus groups were conducted with low-income African American, white non-Hispanic (i.e. the majority Caucasian American population), Hispanic and Vietnamese parents to collect cross-cultural perspectives on: (a) infant and child feeding practices, (b) childhood overweight, (c) healthy dietary intake, (d) physical activity and inactivity, and (e) infant feeding information sources. Results. A content analysis of the data yielded three main themes common to all four groups: (a) lack of awareness of the relationship between increased physical activity and health, (b) the use of food to influence behavior, and (c) the loss of parental control over feeding when a child starts child care or school, and revealed perspectives on age-appropriate food, infant satiety, overweight and information sources that were specific to each group. Conclusion. Interventions that enhance parent self-efficacy that build on themes that are specific to ethnic groups toward preventing childhood obesity are needed. There is also a need for culturally appropriate information for governmental nutrition programs that is in the clients own language and takes into account ethnic differences in beliefs and traditions.

Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk Behavior among College Students: Understanding Gender and Ethnic Differences

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to assess the role of gender and ethnicity in the relationship between alcohol use and risky sexual behavior. Method: Sexually active college students (n = 425) reported on alcohol expectancies, perceived risk of HIV, and drinking and sexual behavior in the context of a larger health behavior survey. Results: Approximately one-third of participants reported binge drinking 3 or more times in the past two weeks. African-American women reported less drinking and less positive alcohol expectancies than other women. Older men engaged more often than younger men in binge drinking and reported more sexual partners in the past year. Younger age and greater perceived risk for HIV were positively associated with condom use for both women and men. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings suggest that alcohol abuse and HIV prevention efforts among young adults need to consider gender, ethnicity, and age.

Delinquency and family problems in incarcerated adolescents with and without a history of inhalant use

In this retrospective study of incarcerated adolescents, inhalants were used by significantly more nonminority than minority youth. Among both minority and nonminority groups, family problems and delinquent behaviors were higher among those youth with a history of inhalant use than those who reported no use. Family problems included history of running away from home, breaking rules, fighting with parents, and having relatives who had attempted suicide. Delinquent behavior included earlier personal use of drugs, selling illegal drugs, buying drugs from dealers, committing crimes while under the influence, committing crimes to get money to buy drugs, and threatening to hurt people.

Physician Attitudes Regarding Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in a Primary Care Clinic: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION Female sexual dysfunction (FSD), in particular, complaints of low desire, affects many American women. Despite the impact FSD may have on these women, many do not present their symptoms to their physicians. AIM To determine physician attitudes and practices regarding hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in the primary care setting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES A 10-item questionnaire regarding HSDD. METHODS All residents and faculty in an academic primary care clinic were invited to participate in a web-based survey regarding HSDD. Return of the questionnaire was considered consent. Responses were downloaded into Excel and converted into an spss database. RESULTS In total, 53 of 155 physicians responded (46% response rate-41.5% women, 58.5% men). Of respondents, 90% reported little confidence in making the diagnosis of HSDD, 90% of physicians had not screened a patient for HSDD, and 98% of the physicians had not prescribed medication for patients with HSDD. No significant gender differences among physicians were identified, but faculty providers had more confidence in diagnosing and treating HSDD than resident physicians. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate there is an opportunity to improve patient care and life satisfaction by offering physicians training on diagnosis and management of HSDD.

Assessment of sexual functioning during the menstrual cycle

In a study of 115 women who presented with complaints of premenstrual symptoms, we investigated the relationship between the menstrual cycle and different aspects of sexual functioning, using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire. Women who were assessed at the screening visit during the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle reported less desire to engage in sexual activity and less frequent sexual activity than women who were assessed during other phases of the menstrual cycle. The 24 women who returned for the second and third visits reported less frequent orgasms and less satisfaction from their orgasms premenstrually than during midcycle.

Acute Stress Disorder Following Diagnosis of Cancer

We conducted a study to examine prevalence, predictors, and concomitants of acute stress disorder (ASD) following diagnosis of cancer among 89 patients. In addition to other measures, each participant completed the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ). One-third (33%) of the sample met all ASD symptom criteria. Significantly more women than men met criteria for ASD. For women, predictors for ASD symptoms included being of a younger age, having no prior life-threatening illness, perceiving less social support from friends, and reporting less satisfaction with how the diagnosis got communicated to them. A statistical trend was evident between higher religious/spiritual commitment and fewer ASD symptoms. For men, no factors were significantly related to ASD symptoms. Overall among cancer patients, those who met symptom criteria for ASD reported significantly more impulsive spending, desire to run away to avoid contact with people, giving away personal belongings, thinking about suicide, and forgetting medical information following cancer diagnosis than did cancer patients who did not meet criteria for ASD.

Relationships of Depression to Child and Adult Abuse and Bodily Pain Among Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

This study investigates whether depression in women who experienced intimate partner violence is associated with having also experienced childhood sexual and physical abuse, psychological abuse by an intimate partner, recent involvement with the abusive partner, and bodily pain. Fifty-seven women who had left a violent relationship with an intimate partner completed measures assessing their demographic characteristics, experiences of abuse in childhood and in their relationship with their intimate partner, and depressive symptoms. Multiple regression analysis showed that women’s depression was significantly greater among those who had experienced childhood physical and sexual abuse, more severe psychological abuse, and greater bodily pain (p < .001), adjusted R 2 = .32. These results suggest characteristics that can help to identify abused women who are most at risk for depression, and they suggest specific issues that may need to be addressed in this population.