Cliteracy for him: effectiveness of bibliotherapy for heterosexual men’s sexual functioning

The Sexual Communication Scale (SeCS)

Many measures of comfort and frequency of sexual communication between partners are limited in gender/sex and sexual orientation inclusivity, how constructs are measured, and for whom. We conducted two studies to investigate a revised and extended version of the Female Partner's Communication During Sexual Activity Scale: the Sexual Communication Scale (SeCS). We revised the gender/sex language to improve inclusion and added items to assess frequency and comfort with sexual communication. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis (n = 578) supported a three-factor structure (Frequency of bidirectional communication, α = .96; Ease of own communication, α = .90; Ease of partner's communication, α = .83). In Study 2, a confirmatory factor analysis (n = 1479) further supported the three-factor structure. Specifically, the three-factor model provided a reasonably good fit (χ2 (44) = 511.35, p < .001, CFI = .97, GFI = .95, AGFI = .91, SRMR = .00, RMSEA = .08). In both studies, we found small or no differences in men and women's comfort and frequency of sexual communication. The results provide initial support that the SeCS is an internally consistent, multidimensional gender/sex inclusive tool for future research on sexual communication.

Does Clitoral Knowledge Translate into Orgasm? The Interplay Between Clitoral Knowledge, Gendered Sexual Scripts, and Orgasm Experience

Despite some efforts to enhance clitoral knowledge to increase women's sexual pleasure, a gendered orgasm gap persists. We aimed to provide contemporary data on people's knowledge about the clitoris and investigate its association with the experience of sexual pleasure. Heterosexual participants (n = 573; 64.2% women) took a quiz on clitoral knowledge and answered sexuality-related questions. Participants answered only 50% of the nine quiz items correctly. Clitoral knowledge predicted sexual pleasure and orgasm in women, mediated via reduced endorsement of gendered sexual scripts. Our results highlight the importance of clitoral knowledge and its interplay with societal barriers for the experience of pleasure.