Ageing via sexual perception is a by-product of male adaptive plasticity inDrosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACTSensory perception of environmental cues can dramatically modulate ageing across distant taxa. For example, maleDrosophila melanogasterage faster if they perceive female cues but fail to mate (ageing via sexual perception). This finding has been a breakthrough for our understanding of the mechanisms of ageing, yet we ignore how and why such responses have evolved. Here, we usedD. melanogasterto ask whether ageing via sexual perception may be a by-product of plastic adaptive responses to female cues, and found that while long-term sexual perception leads to reproductive costs, short-term perception increases male lifetime reproductive success in a competitive environment. Simulations under a wide range of socio-sexual and demographic scenario suggest that such plasticity as a response to sexual perception might be a widespread strategy in nature. Finally, we show that sexual perception can significantly magnify sexual selection (15-27% average increase in the opportunity for selection).

Iranian Adolescent Girls' Perceptions of Premarital Sexual Relationships: A Qualitative Study

Sexual perception refers to the attitudes, expectations, beliefs, and values associated with sexual behaviors. Adolescents’ sexual behaviors is affected by the knowledge, attitudes, values, beliefs, and social norms in their society. In this respect, the sexual perception of adolescents can be studied from a cultural perspective. The present study was designed to identify factors affecting Iranian adolescent girls’ perceptions of premarital sexual relationships. A qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach. Data was collected using in-depth unstructured interviews with 18 adolescents recruited through purposive sampling. Data analysis resulted in the development of a primary main theme, meaning and value of sexual self-care, and three main categories: significant others, sexual norms, and attitudes, and perceived risks. Overall, findings of the present study revealed that the sexual perceptions of Iranian adolescent girls motivated them to abstain from premarital sexual relationships. However, apart from the perceived double standards involved in social norms and attitudes identified in the study, the presence of a conflict caused by their families, schools, and peers necessitated the importance of establishing and consolidating parent-adolescent communication about sexual issues. Findings of this study point to the need for appropriate sexual education for adolescents and parents to promote adolescent sexual literacy and health.

Mood and the Perception of Sexual Interest in Different Cultural Contexts: A Comparison Between a Malaysian and a Swiss Sample

The current study examined, on the basis of past findings and theories on mood and cognition, whether people’s perception of sexual interest from others would decrease when they are in a negative mood and increase when they are in a positive mood. Using repeated-measures experiments, university students in Switzerland ( n = 117) and Malaysia ( n = 117) underwent mood inducement procedures followed by participation in video-guided imagined interactions, where they judged the sexual interest of their interaction partners. Results revealed a dampening effect of negative mood on sexual perceptions in the Swiss sample. No significant mood differences in sexual perception were found in the Malaysian sample. Our results suggest that this sample difference may be associated with differences in endorsement of cultural values. The more people valued social harmony and stability, the less likely they were to succumb to mood effects on sexual perception.

CONOCIMIENTOS, ACTITUDES HACIA LA ORIENTACIÓN SEXUAL, COMPORTAMIENTOS DE RIESGO Y ABUSOS SEXUALES EN MUJERES CON DISCAPACIDAD INTELECTUAL

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RISK BEHAVIORS AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN WOMEN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIESThe purpose of this study is to analyze of attitudes to sexuality expression, knowledge about safe and risk sex practices and sexual behavior in a sample of women with intellectual disabilities, to prevent sexual violence against this group. The sample consists of 39 women, aged between 27 and 52 years living in sheltered housing, residential homes or households. The results obtained through a structured interview and a scale of sexual perception adapted to the study population, indicate that the most common and acceptable behavior in women between 27 and 35 years is the oral sex with both men and women. The sex had been practiced by women between 44 and 52 years and also this segment had received more sexual abuse. Regarding the type of housing, attitudes to sexual expression in public and knowledge about safe and risk sex practices was higher in women residing in institutions. Among women living in sheltered housing masturbation, oral and vaginal sex, is the most common. These results underscore the importance of tailoring affective-sexual education programs to different types of housing and/or lifestyles of this group.Keywords: woman, intellectual disability, type of housing, safe sex practices, sexuality, sexual abuse.Resumen:El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las actitudes ante la expresión de la sexualidad, los conocimientos sobre prácticas sexuales seguras y de riesgo y el comportamiento sexual en una muestra de mujeres con discapacidad intelectual, para prevenir la violencia sexual hacia este colectivo. La muestra está compuesta por 39 mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre 27 y 52 años, residentes en viviendas tuteladas, centros residenciales o unidades familiares. Los resultados obtenidos a través de una entrevista estructurada y una escala de percepción sexual adaptada a la población de estudio, indican que la conducta más aceptable y frecuente en mujeres entre los 27 y 35 años es la práctica de sexo oral tanto con hombres como con mujeres. Las relaciones sexuales habían sido más practicadas por mujeres entre los 44 y 52 años y también este segmento había recibido más abusos sexuales. En relación al tipo de vivienda, en las mujeres que residen en viviendas tuteladas la masturbación, el sexo oral y el vaginal más frecuentes que en otros tipos de vivienda, mientras que las actitudes ante la expresión de la sexualidad en público y el conocimiento sobre prácticas sexuales seguras y de riesgo, son más favorables en mujeres que residían en centros residenciales. Estos resultados subrayan la importancia de adecuar los programas de educación afectiva-sexual a los diferentes tipos de vivienda y/o estilos de vida de este colectivo.Palabras clave: mujer, discapacidad intelectual, tipo de vivienda, prácticas de sexo seguro, sexualidad, abuso sexual.