Innovative Tools and Venues for Sexual Health Promotion

One of the primary research areas of the Center is focused on understanding the manner in which adults seek products and information related to sexuality through both traditional and non-traditional sources. Additionally, our work explores the potential for unique and understudied segments of society to become active outlets for the delivery of sexual health promotion initiatives. We are particularly focused on both traditional and non-traditional venues, both those considered to be part of the adult retail industry (e.g., sex shops, adult bookstores, in-home sex toy parties) and those considered to be more mainstream (e.g., internet sites, community pharmacies). Our research in this area examines studies focused on a) the characteristics of the venues where sexuality-related products are accessed by consumers, b) the nature of the products themselves, and c) the characteristics of today’s consumer and the types of information and products they seek.

Women’s Sexual Health

Women’s experiences related to sexuality are unique due to biological reasons (e.g., female anatomy, hormones, etc), life experiences such as pregnancy or menopause, as well as socio-cultural factors that may affect their sexual expression. As such, much of our research is influenced by a desire to learn more about women’s sexual health and sexual expression. This is reflected in several of our research studies including those related to women’s use of lubricants, sexual health information seeking behaviors of women in in-home sex toy party settings, women’s use of sex toys, and sexual function following treatment for breast cancer. In addition, we have dedicated our research efforts to developing and testing reliable and valid measures of attitudes toward women’s genitals, and to understanding the social and behavioral contexts of vulvovaginal pain and discomfort.

Men’s Sexual Health

As with women, men also face distinctive sexual health issues on the basis of their gender. For example, men comprise over half of those who are HIV infected worldwide and the majority of infections in women have been attributed to sexual activity with HIV positive men. Public health entities, including the National Institutes of Health, have recently called for more research on gender and HIV risk. Men’s gender roles and norms may influence sexual behavior in numerous specific ways and contexts. However, most past research on the influence of gender on sexual behavior has focused primarily on women. The disproportionate concentration on women has led to a relative lack of knowledge of the male side of gender, the development and maintenance of men's - and women's - perceptions of appropriate male behavior, and men’s specific sexual health needs. Our ongoing research projects related to men’s sexual health include understanding men’s use and non-use of condoms, relations between men’s sexual orientation and identity to their sexual and risk behaviors, and innovative methods of reaching men with sexual health services (including testing and routine care).

Psychological Health and Care Seeking Following HIV or STI Diagnosis

Societies around the world continue to face increasing challenges as a result of pandemics like HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. While much attention has been paid to the epidemiology of these issues, less remains know about the psychological and social impact of these conditions, and even less known about the types of care and support individuals seek upon receiving such a diagnosis. Our work at the Center is focused on understanding the nature of the psychosocial consequences of being diagnosed with HIV or another STI, particularly among individuals who are seeking care and support services in public health systems both in the U.S. and abroad. Much of our work in this area is conducted through strategic partnerships with community-based and other non-governmental organizations who are on the front lines of delivering care to individuals in diverse communities.

Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Sexual Health

To effectively promote sexual health requires that researchers seek to fully understand the complexity of human sexual expression within the context of the lived experiences of individuals and the communities in which they are embedded. To accomplish this, our Center has remained committed to research that incorporates the principles of community based participatory research. Our students receive intensive training in the application of these principles to sexual health research and the vast majority of our work across all priority areas is grounded in participatory mechanisms.

Global Sexual Health

Sexual health research, particularly given the nature of global sexual health pandemics like HIV/AIDS, requires us to be active global citizens and to facilitate the growth of scholars focused on sexual health in other nations. Our Center currently has strategic research partners in Africa, Europe, South America and Asia. Additionally, through our Partnership for Sexual Health Promotion with our sister center, the Latin American Center for Sexual Health Promotion, based in the School of Public Health at the University of Puerto Rico, we have a rapidly expanding agenda focused on the Caribbean.