Affection exchange theory posits that affectionate communication is crucial in fostering relational bonds and facilitating procreation. Building on this theory, this study examined whether affectionate communication is positively related to sexual satisfaction. Furthermore, considering that affectionate communication partially satisfies the need for sexual intimacy among couples, this study investigated whether affectionate exchanges compensated for infrequent sexual activity. Specifically, it assessed whether affectionate communication's frequency moderated the association between sexual frequency and sexual and marital satisfaction, such that couples engaging in frequent affectionate communication exhibit less reduction in well-being when sexual activity is infrequent. These hypotheses were tested by collecting data from 700 married individuals in South Korea. The findings revealed that affectionate communication mitigated the negative association between infrequent sexual activity and sexual and marital satisfaction. Notably, receiving affection from one's partner and expressing affection toward one's partner attenuated the association between sexual frequency and satisfaction levels. These findings underscore affectionate communication's importance in maintaining sexual and marital satisfaction, particularly in relationships characterized by lower sexual frequency.

Amid rising global rates of loneliness and romantic distress, many individuals seek connection with romantic chatbots-AI-driven companions designed to simulate intimate interactions. Although chatbot-assisted interventions have shown promise in mental health care, their therapeutic potential for addressing romantic distress remains largely underexplored. Men experiencing involuntary singlehood often report elevated psychological, relational, and sexual distress, yet many avoid conventional therapy, underscoring the need for innovative, accessible interventions. This mixed-methods proof-of-concept study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, adequacy, and preliminary effects of a one-session therapist-guided chatbot intervention targeting involuntary singlehood-related distress. Thirty-two Canadian men reporting involuntary singlehood completed a three-level intervention program based on a romantic chatbot simulating dating app interactions: (1) initiating contact, (2) practicing self-disclosure, and (3) navigating romantic rejection. Outcomes were assessed using validated measures of relational, psychological, and sexual distress at baseline (T1), one-month (T2), and three-month (T3) post-intervention follow-ups, while acceptability and adequacy were assessed during and immediately following the intervention through standardized instruments and open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, repeated-measures ANOVAs, and qualitative content analysis. Significant reductions were observed in relational, psychological, and sexual distress (moderate-to-large effect sizes). Most participants rated the intervention format as appropriate and found the chatbot interactions realistic, reflective of real-life romantic challenges, and beneficial for developing romantic skills. These findings suggest that this chatbot-assisted intervention may hold promise in accompanying individuals navigating involuntary singlehood. Future randomized controlled trials need to confirm its clinical effects, optimize its technical architecture and therapeutic delivery (e.g., through modules tailored to individual needs), and assess skill transfer to real-life contexts.

Enhancing genital anatomy literacy and comfort with using correct terminology is a common strategy in sexuality education to promote sexual health and well-being, yet individual variability in these competencies and their links to sexual health and well-being outcomes remain undocumented in young adulthood. This study assessed US emerging adults' (N = 516; 56.4% cisgender women, 31.3% cisgender men, 12.5% gender-diverse individuals) genital anatomy knowledge-categorizing responses as accurate, slang, unknown, or inaccurate-and their comfort with using correct terminology. It also examined links between knowledge, comfort, and six sexual health and well-being indicators: sexual self-efficacy in health-promoting behaviors, experiencing pleasure, and in refusing unwanted sexual activity; sexual satisfaction, sexual function difficulties, and respectful approaches to sexuality. Knowledge was higher for male (vs. female) anatomical parts and slang use was low overall but more common for male external genitalia. Gender differences emerged in both genital anatomy knowledge and comfort. Controlling for gender, greater knowledge and comfort with genital terminology were associated with higher sexual self-efficacy in health-promoting behaviors and experiencing pleasure, greater sexual satisfaction, and fewer sexual function difficulties. Additionally, comfort predicted resistive self-efficacy, while knowledge predicted more respectful approaches toward a partner. Implications for sexuality education and potential barriers to developing these competencies are discussed.

Object of desire self-consciousness (ODSC), a perception of one's own romantic and/or sexual desirability, may play a more important role in women's than in men's sociosexuality, including in their language of sexual communication. We examined whether sexual phrases indicative of ODSC themes referred to, and were expressed by, women more than men using a corpus approach to language in a large database of books. Specifically, variations of the phrase "feel sexy" were examined because this language has been argued to capture a perception of one's desirability but also often indicates an arousal component to that sense of desirability, reflective of ODSC. We examined these phrases, alongside male and female nouns and pronouns, using Google's Ngram function. As hypothesized, the majority (89%) of the "hit" phrases (occurring in at least 40 books) were more associated with a female noun/pronoun than a male noun/pronoun. In addition, when "hit" ODSC phrases occurred with both a female and male noun/pronoun, the female-oriented phrases significantly exceeded the frequency of the equivalent male-oriented phrases. An examination of a sample of the books containing the most frequent ODSC phrase (i.e., "her feel sexy") indicated they were predominantly authored by women (89%). Also, an analysis of the genre of the books containing this phrase indicated that a large proportion (64%) were heterosexual romance novels. Finally, the gendered effects for feel sexy language occurred over and above potentially broader language trends in which women were described more than men in a sexualized context. The gendered language effects for feel sexy language support other research suggesting that ODSC can be an important facet of women's sexual scripts.

Problematic pornography use (PPU) is a widespread phenomenon in the USA. Recent research suggests PPU to be related to psychological symptoms. Little is known about these associations on a national level and even less about potential interactions with frequencies of pornography use and masturbation. This study utilized a large representative sample (n = 2,773; 53.7% women; 85.1% heterosexual) of US men and women. We tested associations with PPU as well as interaction effects between mental distress (i.e., anxiety and depression), loneliness, and frequencies of pornography use and masturbation. All study variables displayed statistically significant positive correlations with PPU. Interaction effects between loneliness and pornography use frequency (β = 0.10) and between mental distress and masturbation frequency (β = 0.11) in predicting PPU were found. PPU relates to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness in US men and women. Individuals who experience loneliness with pornography use and mental distress with masturbation may be specifically vulnerable to PPU. Further research is needed to examine these associations and effects in longitudinal designs.

Research on LGBTQ+ media has predominantly focused on high-prejudice contexts and portrayals of gay men, whereas little attention has been paid to how low-prejudice individuals engage with lesbian stereotypes. This study examined responses from 480 Spanish university students (70.1% cis-women) with low-lesbophobia scores, who watched seven video stimuli-six depicting different lesbian stereotypes and one neutral control-in a randomized order. To enhance validity and reduce stimulus-specific bias, each of the seven stereotype categories was represented by two distinct videos (totaling 14 stimuli). The key predictors of enjoyment included identification, perceived realism, familiarity, accuracy, and minimal exaggeration, and these findings were consistent across genders. A mediation model confirmed that identification mediated the effect of perceived realism on enjoyment. The "manipulative/seductive" and "sick/tormented" stereotypes were the most enjoyed, while the "object of desire" was least popular, suggesting a preference for more complex portrayals. Identification emerged as the most critical factor, mediating the effect of realism on enjoyment. Audiences prefer authentic, multidimensional portrayals, with "artistic/fashion-oriented" and neutral depictions rated most realistic and relatable, while "masculine" and "evil" stereotypes were deemed unrealistic and disconnected. These findings advance research on stereotype reception, queer studies, cultivation theory, and narrative persuasion by emphasizing the role of identification and realism in shaping young people's responses to lesbian portrayals.

This study examined contemporary perceptions and attitudes within Israel's ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community, a religious minority characterized by a strict interpretation of Jewish religious law, toward homosexuality and gay men. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 ultra-Orthodox males in 2023-2024. Using thematic analysis, four distinct discourses emerged: the discourse of deviation and pathology, which views homosexuality as a medical condition requiring treatment, including advocacy for conversion therapy; the discourse of negation alongside inclusion, which rejects homosexual behavior on religious grounds while accepting gay men as people; the discourse distinguishing personal from public spheres, which tolerates private relationships but opposes public normalization; the discourse of an evolving approach, reflecting views on how the ultra-Orthodox community's attitudes toward homosexuality have changed in recent years, incorporating emerging awareness as well as criticism of conversion therapy. These findings reveal a shift from uniform rejection to more nuanced attitudes that align with broader societal changes and the gradual integration of modern Western values. The study contributes to understanding the dynamics of religious minorities concerning sexual minorities. Additionally, the research has practical implications for developing strategies to reduce homonegativity and promote inclusive perceptions and attitudes regarding gay men within the ultra-Orthodox community, specifically, and religious minorities generally. Study limitations and recommendations for future research and practice are discussed.