Let's talk about LGBTQ+ sex: sexual self-esteem and sexual satisfaction amongst queer emerging adults
Date
2023
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Sexual self-esteem and sexual satisfaction are two important yet understudied constructs related to sexual well-being. The bulk of existing literature in this area focuses on heterosexual individuals and thus does not capture the sexual well-being of sexuality minorities. The present study surveyed LGBTQ+ emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25 (n= 208) about their sexual self-esteem and sexual satisfaction as well as four distinct sources of sex information; insitutional, parent, peer, and media. Regression analyses found that there was a significant relationship between the two sexual well-being constructs. These results demonstrate that LGBTQ+ individuals with lower levels of sexual self-esteem may experience lower levels of sexual satisfaction and vice versa. Additionally, results indicated that sample members learned the most about various sex and sexuality topics from peer and media sources. This finding illuminates existing media research which suggests that LGBTQ+ emerging adults learn a great deal about sex and sexuality topics when they confide in their peers and seek out LGBTQ+ media products. By focusing on members of the LGBTQ+ community, this thesis offers new insights about the sexual well-being of this sexuality minority group.
Description
Keywords
Sexual well-being, Health, LGBTQ+, Minority group, Media sources, Well-being