Pedro Alexandre Costa

The Impact of body dissatisfaction on distressing sexual difficulties among men and women: The mediator role of cognitive distraction

Research has demonstrated a negative impact of cognitive distraction on sexual activity, and body dissatisfaction has been associated with less satisfying and fewer sexual activities. In the current study we examined the extent to which cognitive distraction, based on body appearance and sexual performance, mediated the impact of body dissatisfaction on sexual difficulties among women and men. A sample of 493 women (Mage = 30.61) and 595 men (Mage = 37.90) completed an online survey. Women reported significantly higher levels of distressing sexual difficulties, significantly more body dissatisfaction, and greater cognitive distraction based on appearance than men. In contrast, men reported higher cognitive distraction based on performance than women. A path analysis model indicated that, for men, only cognitive distraction based on performance mediated the effects of body dissatisfaction on distressing sexual difficulties, and the mediation was only partial as body dissatisfaction had a significant direct effect on distressing sexual difficulties. In contrast, among women, both appearance-based cognitive distraction and performance-based cognitive distraction fully mediated the effects of body dissatisfaction on distressing sexual difficulties.

Atitudes da população portuguesa em relação à homoparentalidade

The aim of this study was to explore Portuguese population attitude toward parenting by gay men and lesbians. Nine hundred ninety three participants, aged between 18 and 69 (M=34; SD=11), filled in a questionnaire that included a vignette depicting a heterosexual couple, a lesbian couple or a gay couple wishing to adopt. Participants were asked to rate the couple as prospective parents, and if they anticipated emotional or social problems for the children. Although most participants held a positive attitude toward gay and lesbian parents, the results revealed a more favorable attitude toward heterosexual couples. Participants anticipated more emotional and social problems in children adopted by a lesbian couple, and even more so by a gay couple.

Modeling the impact of social discrimination on the physical and mental health of Portuguese gay, lesbian and bisexual people

Background: Despite growing acceptance of same-sex sexuality in Portugal, identity development of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals is still restricted by negative societal attitudes, which maintain the experience of stigmatization and discrimination. The purpose of this study is to document the frequency of discriminatory events experienced by sexual minorities and their association with indicators of physical and mental health in Portugal. Methods: A total of 610 LGB participants completed an online survey (mean age = 34.48, SD = 11.54). Most participants were single and self-identified as gay (73.8%). The survey included five categories of survey items: demographic information, social support, physical health, mental health, and discrimination experiences. Results: Physical and mental health results revealed that bisexual people were more likely to report higher levels of psychological distress than gay men. Overall, between one-fifth and one-fourth of the participants in this sample frequently felt the need to hide their sexual orientation to prevent discrimination experiences across the different settings. Regarding actual discrimination experiences, close to 20% reported having suffered from verbal abuse, followed by close to 10% who suffered from written threats, harassment, and physical threats. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the effects of anticipated and actual discrimination on mental health. Possible confounding variables were added in the first block – age, sexual orientation, being in a relationship, body mass index, and HIV status. Anticipated and actual discrimination experiences were added in the second block. The first block of the analysis explained 6% of the overall variance, while the second block – discrimination experiences – explained an additional 17%. Conclusion: Portuguese culture and stigma/discrimination create discriminatory experiences which impact LGB peoples health. Unless policies are changed to allow for the acceptance of LGB people, they will continue to experience violence and discrimination as a result of homophobia.

Are the Fathers Alright? A Systematic and Critical Review of Studies on Gay and Bisexual Fatherhood

The purpose of the present systematic and critical review was to assess the findings and to identify the gaps in the literature concerning gay and bisexual fathers. A comprehensive search of relevant literature using electronic databases and reference lists for articles published until December 2016 was conducted. A total of 63 studies, spanning from 1979 to 2016, were collected. More than half of the studies were published after 2011 and the overwhelming majority were conducted in the United States. Nine themes were identified in the studies reviewed: (1) Pathways to fatherhood; (2) Motivations for fatherhood; (3) Parenting experiences and childrearing; (4) Family life and relationship quality; (5) Gender and father identities and gender-role orientation; (6) Disclosure of sexual identity; (7) Social climate; (8) Fathers psychosocial adjustment; and (9) Childrens psychosocial adjustment. It was found that research on gay fatherhood appears to be more heterogeneous than on lesbian motherhood, perhaps because of the variety of pathways to parenthood (via co-parenting, adoption, fostering, or surrogacy). Two-father families are becoming more visible in research on sexual minority parenting and gradually transforming the conceptualization of parenting in family research.

The impact of relational factors on sexual satisfaction among heterosexual and homosexual men

This study analyzed the correlates of sexual satisfaction among exclusively heterosexual and homosexual men. Analyses were carried out using data from a 2011 web survey about male sexual interest in two European countries. A total of 2968 men with exclusive heterosexual behavior and 285 men with exclusive homosexual behavior in the previous five years from Portugal and Croatia, participated in this study. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed in order to explore which variables predicted sexual satisfaction. Among heterosexuals, in step one, both age and sexual difficulties emerged as highly significant predictors, and in step two, the frequency of intercourse and the number of sexual partners also emerged as significant predictors. Finally, in the third step, the intimacy and the length of the relationship emerged as highly significant predictors of sexual satisfaction. Among homosexuals, in step one, sexual difficulties and country were significant predictors, in step two, only the frequency of sexual intercourse was a significant predictor, and in step three, both relational variables (relationship length and relationship intimacy) were significant predictors. The findings suggest that relational factors, particularly couple intimacy were the strongest predictors of sexual satisfaction for both heterosexual and homosexual men.

The effectiveness of a group intervention to facilitate posttraumatic growth among women with breast cancer

This longitudinal study tested the effectiveness of a group intervention designed to facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG).

A Comparative Study of Attitudes Toward Same-Gender Parenting and Gay and Lesbian Rights in Portugal and in Mexico

ABSTRACT The belief that gay men and lesbians are unable to provide a stable environment in which to raise children fuels manifestations of sexual prejudice that are still highly prevalent in Portugal and Mexico. The aim of this study was to assess attitudes toward same-gender parenting and gay and lesbian rights, as well as beliefs about the controllability of homosexuality among a sample of 531 university students. A further aim was to assess the predictors of attitudes toward same-gender parenting. Results revealed the existence of ambivalent attitudes toward same-gender parenting. The belief that homosexuality is a choice and thus controllable in particular explained over 50% of the total variance of attitudes toward same-gender parenting. Being a man, older, and highly religious predicted higher levels of sexual prejudice regarding same-gender parenting. Comparative cross-cultural studies have the potential to highlight common features but also specificities of sexual prejudice.

AGENCY AND EXPRESSIVENESS IN MIDDLE AND OLDER AGED PORTUGUESE MEN AND WOMEN

Bem’s model of gender roles (Bem, 1974, 1981a) proposed that psychological masculinity and femininity are two separate and orthogonal dimensions, and further supported the advantages of a shared masculine and feminine personality in comparison to a gendered personality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) in Portugal, specific to two essential dimensions of gender roles – Agency/Instrumentality and Expressiveness. This study was part of a larger study about perceived health in both middle and older aged men and women. The sample consisted of 630 Portuguese adults (53.3% women), aged between 40 and 86 (M = 51.52, SD = 8.4). To assess construct validity, an Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed, confirming the two-dimensional model of Agency/Instrumentality (9 items) and Expressiveness (9 items), and with a high internal consistency. Afterwards, Confirmatory Factor Analyses were performed, and confirmed the two-dimensional first-order model with 18 items among men and women separately, and in the total sample. Lastly, a Multi-group Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed, and the invariance between gender groups was confirmed. The current study provided evidence of good psychometric and factorial validity of the 18-item version of BSRI for a middle and older aged Portuguese sample.

Adaptação dos inventários de sexismo moderno para Portugal: o inventário de sexismo ambivalente e o inventário de ambivalência em relação aos homens

The relationship between men and women is rather unique and composed by inequality and prejudice towards members of the opposite sex. Whilst hostile sexism has been well studied, modern sexism is characterized by the simultaneity of hostile and benevolent forms of prejudice, therefore conceptualized as Ambivalent Sexism. The purpose of this study was to adapt the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) and the Ambivalence toward Men Inventory (AMI) to the Portuguese population and evaluate their psychometric properties. Both inventories were administrated to 258 university students (31% male and 69% female) with a mean age of 27 years. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the multidimensionality of both inventories and provided evidence of factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity, and internal reliability. Men revealed higher levels of hostility and benevolence toward women, whereas women revealed higher levels of hostility toward men. Hostility toward men increased with age whereas benevolence decreased. Hostile and benevolent prejudice was higher in participants with less education. Religiosity was correlated with benevolent sexism. This study showed the validity and reliability of Modern Sexism Inventories in Portugal.