This article was downloaded by: [Memorial University of Newfoundland] On: 02 August 2014, At: 17:09 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
The Journal of Sex Research Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjsr20
Review Articles About Special Interest Groups: Difficult But Rewarding Jacques van Lankveld
a
a
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , Open Universiteit Published online: 22 Apr 2014.
To cite this article: Jacques van Lankveld (2014) Review Articles About Special Interest Groups: Difficult But Rewarding, The Journal of Sex Research, 51:4, 361-362, DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.894429 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2014.894429
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH, 51(4), 361–362, 2014 Copyright # The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality ISSN: 0022-4499 print=1559-8519 online DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.894429
ANNUAL REVIEW OF SEX RESEARCH SPECIAL ISSUE: EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION
Review Articles About Special Interest Groups: Difficult But Rewarding Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 17:09 02 August 2014
Jacques van Lankveld Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open Universiteit
Although this year’s issue of the Annual Review of Sex Research contains a relatively small number of articles, I believe the quality of these contributions will be much appreciated. All of these reviews present important understandings in relatively unexplored areas of sex research, among special groups of people, defined either by their sexual orientation or by other characteristics that set them apart from the general population. I believe writing a scholarly review on such new or underresearched topics is a multifaceted endeavor. Often the literature that can be reviewed in the chosen field of study not only is small but also comprises research of widely varying quality or single, unreplicated studies, rendering data aggregation difficult or impossible. On the other hand, such a review article, by focusing attention on the topic, and articulating both the possibilities and the knowledge gaps, can become the starting point of new research into the topic. Moreover, writing a review article is a rewarding venture for the authors, as other researchers often find these reviews extremely valuable, and review papers often generate more citations than single study reports, launching them into the top rankings of our journals. Some of the contributions to the present ARSR issue also point out important weaknesses of published sex research. Bartos¸ and colleagues, who reviewed psychological interventions to reduce sexual prejudice, provide sharp insight into one of these weaknesses. Their extensive search of the literature, employing a wide array of search techniques, yielded a relatively large proportion of unpublished studies. Much to their own surprise, one of their conclusions, after comparing published and unpublished work, was that unpublished studies tended to employ more robust investigational designs Correspondence should be addressed to Jacques van Lankveld, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open Universiteit, P.O. Box 2960, 6401 DL, Heerlen, The Netherlands. E-mail: jacques. [email protected]
than published studies did. It is interesting to consider why this might happen. The authors, appealingly, suggest that the topic of sexual prejudice might also cause researchers, especially emerging, young scientists, to refrain from submitting their research for publication. These younger researchers might suffer from ‘‘stigma by association,’’ also called ‘‘courtesy stigma’’ (Herek, 1999). Sex researchers investigating sexual minorities may be labeled, by association, as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) themselves. To avoid jeopardizing their careers these researchers might less often submit their work for publication, and this type of research may in some cases find its way into the literature only when it has received external funding with mandatory publication of the results. The same authors highlight other potential flaws of published sex research, namely the issue of participation bias in sex research, which has been addressed by other scholars too. Volunteers who participate in research on sexuality are not the same as those who do not. Bartos¸ and colleagues’ review reveals that, on the topic of sexual prejudice reduction interventions, the studies that were published employed samples that are not representative of the entire population, let alone of different cultures, countries, and continents. This should stimulate us to carefully consider, both when planning new research and when reviewing published work, what the implications are of sample characteristics for the external validity of findings. De Boer and colleagues present a systematic review in which they compared the psychometric characteristics of self-report instruments to assess sexual functioning in psychiatric patients using antipsychotics. The use of distinct instruments for special populations to investigate sexuality versus using standard instruments that are available for the general population is especially warranted when these instruments cover aspects of sexuality that are inherently different in the special population, or address these aspects in a way that is tailored to the
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 17:09 02 August 2014
VAN LANKVELD
target group’s needs. This is the case in psychotic patients who chronically use antipsychotic medication. Postsynaptic dopamine antagonism and elevated levels of prolactin are known to affect different phases of the sexual response and result in high prevalence rates of sexual dysfunction in this patient group (Knegtering et al., 2008). Because psychotic patients have been found to underreport the sexual problems they experience, the use of screening questionnaires can help caregivers identify such problems and offer help. Grov and colleagues review how gay and bisexual men have used the Internet for various sexuality-related purposes and how this online behavior has evolved since the 1990s, when the Internet started becoming part of daily life. In parallel, they demonstrate how researchers of the sexuality of gay and bisexual men have adapted their methods during this period. They conclude gay and bisexual men were ‘‘early adopters’’ who rapidly learned to navigate the Internet for sexual purposes: to seek sexual health information but also to find sex and dating partners and to use the opportunities for cybersex and pornography. Likewise, sex researchers have adapted to the Internet. Grov and colleagues discuss how sex researchers have been proficient in considering the feasibility, acceptability, and the ethical aspects of using the Internet for scientific exploration and for the delivery of interventions. Since the introduction of the 7-point Kinsey scale of sexual orientation (Kinsey, Pomeroy, & Martin, 1948), among sex researchers sexual orientation has mostly
362
been thought of as a dimensional construct. Individuals can—theoretically—occupy a position at every possible point of the continuum, running from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual. However, research efforts have been focused more on the extremes of the continuum and, to a lesser degree, on the intermediate areas where bisexuality can be thought to exist. Vrangalova and Savin-Williams reviewed the existing evidence about psychological and behavioral characteristics of ‘‘mostly heterosexuals,’’ a group that is ‘‘characterized by a small amount of same-sex sexuality.’’ Evidence suggests this segment differs from heterosexuals and bisexuals with respect not only to worse mental and physical health outcomes, including internalizing problems, body dissatisfaction, eating problems, and sexual and reproductive health problems, but also to greater health risk behaviors, including illicit drug use and sexual risk behavior.
References Herek, G. M. (1999). AIDS and stigma. American Behavioral Scientist, 42, 1106–1116. Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Oxford, UK: W. B. Saunders. Knegtering, H., van den Bosch, R., Castelein, S., Bruggeman, R., Sytema, S., & van Os, J. (2008). Are sexual side effects of prolactin-raising antipsychotics reducible to serum prolactin? Psychoneuroendocrinology, 33, 711–717.
The Journal of Sex Research Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjsr20
Review Articles About Special Interest Groups: Difficult But Rewarding Jacques van Lankveld
a
a
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , Open Universiteit Published online: 22 Apr 2014.
To cite this article: Jacques van Lankveld (2014) Review Articles About Special Interest Groups: Difficult But Rewarding, The Journal of Sex Research, 51:4, 361-362, DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.894429 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2014.894429
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH, 51(4), 361–362, 2014 Copyright # The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality ISSN: 0022-4499 print=1559-8519 online DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.894429
ANNUAL REVIEW OF SEX RESEARCH SPECIAL ISSUE: EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION
Review Articles About Special Interest Groups: Difficult But Rewarding Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 17:09 02 August 2014
Jacques van Lankveld Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open Universiteit
Although this year’s issue of the Annual Review of Sex Research contains a relatively small number of articles, I believe the quality of these contributions will be much appreciated. All of these reviews present important understandings in relatively unexplored areas of sex research, among special groups of people, defined either by their sexual orientation or by other characteristics that set them apart from the general population. I believe writing a scholarly review on such new or underresearched topics is a multifaceted endeavor. Often the literature that can be reviewed in the chosen field of study not only is small but also comprises research of widely varying quality or single, unreplicated studies, rendering data aggregation difficult or impossible. On the other hand, such a review article, by focusing attention on the topic, and articulating both the possibilities and the knowledge gaps, can become the starting point of new research into the topic. Moreover, writing a review article is a rewarding venture for the authors, as other researchers often find these reviews extremely valuable, and review papers often generate more citations than single study reports, launching them into the top rankings of our journals. Some of the contributions to the present ARSR issue also point out important weaknesses of published sex research. Bartos¸ and colleagues, who reviewed psychological interventions to reduce sexual prejudice, provide sharp insight into one of these weaknesses. Their extensive search of the literature, employing a wide array of search techniques, yielded a relatively large proportion of unpublished studies. Much to their own surprise, one of their conclusions, after comparing published and unpublished work, was that unpublished studies tended to employ more robust investigational designs Correspondence should be addressed to Jacques van Lankveld, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open Universiteit, P.O. Box 2960, 6401 DL, Heerlen, The Netherlands. E-mail: jacques. [email protected]
than published studies did. It is interesting to consider why this might happen. The authors, appealingly, suggest that the topic of sexual prejudice might also cause researchers, especially emerging, young scientists, to refrain from submitting their research for publication. These younger researchers might suffer from ‘‘stigma by association,’’ also called ‘‘courtesy stigma’’ (Herek, 1999). Sex researchers investigating sexual minorities may be labeled, by association, as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) themselves. To avoid jeopardizing their careers these researchers might less often submit their work for publication, and this type of research may in some cases find its way into the literature only when it has received external funding with mandatory publication of the results. The same authors highlight other potential flaws of published sex research, namely the issue of participation bias in sex research, which has been addressed by other scholars too. Volunteers who participate in research on sexuality are not the same as those who do not. Bartos¸ and colleagues’ review reveals that, on the topic of sexual prejudice reduction interventions, the studies that were published employed samples that are not representative of the entire population, let alone of different cultures, countries, and continents. This should stimulate us to carefully consider, both when planning new research and when reviewing published work, what the implications are of sample characteristics for the external validity of findings. De Boer and colleagues present a systematic review in which they compared the psychometric characteristics of self-report instruments to assess sexual functioning in psychiatric patients using antipsychotics. The use of distinct instruments for special populations to investigate sexuality versus using standard instruments that are available for the general population is especially warranted when these instruments cover aspects of sexuality that are inherently different in the special population, or address these aspects in a way that is tailored to the
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 17:09 02 August 2014
VAN LANKVELD
target group’s needs. This is the case in psychotic patients who chronically use antipsychotic medication. Postsynaptic dopamine antagonism and elevated levels of prolactin are known to affect different phases of the sexual response and result in high prevalence rates of sexual dysfunction in this patient group (Knegtering et al., 2008). Because psychotic patients have been found to underreport the sexual problems they experience, the use of screening questionnaires can help caregivers identify such problems and offer help. Grov and colleagues review how gay and bisexual men have used the Internet for various sexuality-related purposes and how this online behavior has evolved since the 1990s, when the Internet started becoming part of daily life. In parallel, they demonstrate how researchers of the sexuality of gay and bisexual men have adapted their methods during this period. They conclude gay and bisexual men were ‘‘early adopters’’ who rapidly learned to navigate the Internet for sexual purposes: to seek sexual health information but also to find sex and dating partners and to use the opportunities for cybersex and pornography. Likewise, sex researchers have adapted to the Internet. Grov and colleagues discuss how sex researchers have been proficient in considering the feasibility, acceptability, and the ethical aspects of using the Internet for scientific exploration and for the delivery of interventions. Since the introduction of the 7-point Kinsey scale of sexual orientation (Kinsey, Pomeroy, & Martin, 1948), among sex researchers sexual orientation has mostly
362
been thought of as a dimensional construct. Individuals can—theoretically—occupy a position at every possible point of the continuum, running from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual. However, research efforts have been focused more on the extremes of the continuum and, to a lesser degree, on the intermediate areas where bisexuality can be thought to exist. Vrangalova and Savin-Williams reviewed the existing evidence about psychological and behavioral characteristics of ‘‘mostly heterosexuals,’’ a group that is ‘‘characterized by a small amount of same-sex sexuality.’’ Evidence suggests this segment differs from heterosexuals and bisexuals with respect not only to worse mental and physical health outcomes, including internalizing problems, body dissatisfaction, eating problems, and sexual and reproductive health problems, but also to greater health risk behaviors, including illicit drug use and sexual risk behavior.
References Herek, G. M. (1999). AIDS and stigma. American Behavioral Scientist, 42, 1106–1116. Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Oxford, UK: W. B. Saunders. Knegtering, H., van den Bosch, R., Castelein, S., Bruggeman, R., Sytema, S., & van Os, J. (2008). Are sexual side effects of prolactin-raising antipsychotics reducible to serum prolactin? Psychoneuroendocrinology, 33, 711–717.
