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Pérez‐Aronsson A, Inge E, Alanbari H, Alsalamah I, Ghannoum M, Mohammad ZA, Metso FJ, Holmqvist F, Belachew J, Filén T, Hennoks FP, Sarkadi A, Warner G. Co-Design Workshops to Develop a Psychosocial Support Service Model for Refugees in Sweden Affected by Gender-Based Violence. Health Expect 2024; 27:e14177. [PMID: 39129706 PMCID: PMC11317807 DOI: 10.1111/hex.14177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) is common among refugees. Intersecting systems of oppression can increase the risk of GBV and of suffering detrimental consequences, while concurrently creating barriers to meaningful support. Despite this, refugees with lived experience of GBV are rarely involved in the development, planning and adaptation of services and policies. METHODS This article reports on a formative research process that aimed to involve public contributors (refugee victim-survivors of GBV) and relevant stakeholders in co-designing a service model aimed at improving psychosocial support in Sweden. Led by a partnership of public contributors and academic researchers, the research process consisted of iterative cycles of co-design workshops, complemented by scoping of existing literature. RESULTS The co-design process resulted in a characterisation of the psychosocial service system needs, as perceived by the survivor co-researchers and stakeholders, and a two-level empowerment and support service model. The model included (i) a community-based intervention to promote help-seeking and (ii) psychosocial group support delivered in specialist clinics. Outcomes of the project included perceived benefits for those involved, service-led direct changes and acquisition of funding for continued research on the co-designed model. CONCLUSION Improving psychosocial support for refugees in Sweden affected by GBV requires safe spaces to connect with peers and familiarise with available services, laws and rights in the society. Further, strengthened collaborations across sectors are necessary to meet the variety of needs. Co-design workshops were an effective way to initiate changes in the service delivery model for psychosocial support for refugees in Sweden affected by GBV. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS This is a participatory reflection on a participatory process. The survivor co-researchers contributed to designing and carrying out the PPI process and have co-authored this manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pérez‐Aronsson
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
- Centre for Women's Mental Health During the Reproductive Lifespan—WOMHERUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Elin Inge
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Heba Alanbari
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Iman Alsalamah
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Miras Ghannoum
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Zozan Abu Mohammad
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Frida Johansson Metso
- Swedish Red Cross Competence Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture and War TraumaStockholmSweden
| | - Frida Holmqvist
- Information SwedenCounty Administrative Boards of Västra GötalandGothenburgSweden
| | - Johanna Belachew
- Kvinnofridsmottagningen (Outpatient Clinic for Women Subjected to Violence), Uppsala University Hospital, Region Uppsala, and National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women (NCK)Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Tove Filén
- Kvinnofridsmottagningen (Outpatient Clinic for Women Subjected to Violence), Uppsala University Hospital, Region Uppsala, and National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women (NCK)Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Frida Pålsson Hennoks
- Kvinnofridsmottagningen (Outpatient Clinic for Women Subjected to Violence), Uppsala University Hospital, Region Uppsala, and National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women (NCK)Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Anna Sarkadi
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Georgina Warner
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring ScienceUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
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Wen G, Zhang Y, Nyman TJ, Jern P, Santtila P. Effects of Ginger on Disgust, Sexual Arousal, and Sexual Engagement: A Placebo-Controlled Experiment. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:658-670. [PMID: 36809190 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2175191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sexual problems are common complaints across countries and cultures, and behavioral immune system theory suggests disgust plays an essential role in sexual functioning. The current study investigated 1) if disgust induced by sexual body fluids would reduce sexual arousal, reduce the likelihood of sexual engagement, and enhance disgust toward subsequent erotic stimuli, and 2) if the administration of ginger would affect these reactions. We administered either ginger or placebo pills to a sample of 247 participants (Mage = 21.59, SD = 2.52; 122 women) and asked them to complete either behavioral approach tasks with sexual body fluids or with neutral fluids. Next, participants viewed and responded to questions concerning erotic stimuli (nude and seminude pictures of opposite-sex models). As expected, the sexual body fluids tasks induced disgust. The elevated disgust induced by sexual body fluids tasks resulted in lower sexual arousal in women, whereas ginger consumption counteracted this inhibiting effect of disgust on sexual arousal. Disgust elicited by sexual body fluids also increased disgust toward the subsequent erotic stimuli. Ginger increased sexual arousal toward the erotic stimuli in both men and women who had completed the neutral fluids tasks. Findings provide further evidence of the role of disgust in sexual problems, and, importantly, that ginger may improve the sexual function of individuals via its sexual arousal-enhancing effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangju Wen
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, NYU Shanghai
| | - Yikang Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University
- NYU-ECNU Institute for Social Development, NYU Shanghai
| | | | - Patrick Jern
- Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University
| | - Pekka Santtila
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, NYU Shanghai
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Brøcker CM, Hansen OI, Rohde MC. The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on sexual assault in Western Denmark. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2024; 20:166-173. [PMID: 37505320 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00682-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
This study sets out to investigate whether the 15-month nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark had an impact on the victim demographics, location of sexual assaults, and relationship between victim and perpetrator in the Western part of Denmark compared to the 15 months prior to the lockdown initiatives. This study is a retrospective study including a total of 596 cases. Cases were identified in the database of the Department of Forensic Medicine Aarhus, including cases labeled "rape," "attempted rape," and "later reported." 315 cases were found between March 11th 2020 and June 10th 2021 (lockdown) and 281 cases were found between December 11th 2018 and March 10th 2020(pre-lockdown). Fewer victims were in the age group 15-24 during lockdown (58.4%) than pre-lockdown (71.7%). Fewer stranger rapes occurred during lockdown (11%) than pre-lockdown (19.7%). During lockdown, more sexual assault occurred at a private site (80.1%) than pre-lockdown (60%); correspondingly, fewer public sexual assaults occurred during lockdown (10.3%) than pre-lockdown (26%). No statistically significant difference was observed regarding police reporting of the assault or alcohol intake in the victim prior to assault. We found an overall change in demographics regarding sexual assaults during the lockdown period indicating the restrictions during the lockdown could have affected the patterns of sexual assault in Denmark.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie Marie Brøcker
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
| | - Ole Ingemann Hansen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Marianne Cathrine Rohde
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
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Jacobsen SA, Frostholm L, Buhmann CB, Petersen MW, Ørnbøl E, Dantoft TM, Bjerregaard AA, Eplov LF, Carstensen TBW. Are Sexual Assaults Related to Functional Somatic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6947. [PMID: 37887685 PMCID: PMC10606494 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20206947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of sexual assaults (SAs) are being reported. This study investigated associations between SA and FSD, conceptualized as bodily distress syndrome (BDS), and five functional somatic syndromes (FSSs): chronic widespread pain (CWP), irritable bowel (IB), chronic fatigue (CF), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), and whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). Participants (n = 7493) from the population-based cohort Danish Study of Functional Disorders (DanFunD) completed questionnaires on FSD, emotional distress, SA, and sociodemographics. Risk ratios (RRs) for each FSD and emotional distress were calculated in nine models with SA as the primary exposure using generalized linear models with binomial family and log link and were adjusted for other potential risk factors. The results showed that SA was associated with single-organ FSD (RR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.22-1.87), multi-organ FSD (RR = 3.51; 95% CI = 1.89-6.49), CWP (RR = 1.28; 95% CI = 0.83-1.98), IB (RR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.30-3.07), CF (RR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.42-2.32), WAD (RR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.37-5.03), MCS (RR = 3.04; 95% CI = 1.79-5.17), emotional distress (RR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.21-2.54), and health anxiety (RR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.10-2.46). Overall, SA victims experienced significantly more somatic symptoms than individuals not exposed to SA. Adjusting for physical and emotional abuse did not change the observed associations. Our results suggest a large impact of SA on the overall somatic and mental health of SA victims. Due to the cross-sectional study design, further studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Abildgaard Jacobsen
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; (L.F.); (M.W.P.); (E.Ø.); (T.B.W.C.)
| | - Lisbeth Frostholm
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; (L.F.); (M.W.P.); (E.Ø.); (T.B.W.C.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Marie Weinreich Petersen
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; (L.F.); (M.W.P.); (E.Ø.); (T.B.W.C.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Eva Ørnbøl
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; (L.F.); (M.W.P.); (E.Ø.); (T.B.W.C.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Thomas Meinertz Dantoft
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Capital Region of Denmark, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (T.M.D.); (A.A.B.)
| | - Anne Ahrendt Bjerregaard
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Capital Region of Denmark, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (T.M.D.); (A.A.B.)
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institute, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lene Falgaard Eplov
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health—CORE (Eplov), Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Tina Birgitte Wisbech Carstensen
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; (L.F.); (M.W.P.); (E.Ø.); (T.B.W.C.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Wen G, Niu C, Zhang Y, Santtila P. Bidirectional relationship between sexual arousal and (sex-related) disgust. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285596. [PMID: 37167289 PMCID: PMC10174547 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual stimuli provoke both sexual arousal and disgust, and the coaction between these emotions determines sexually behavioral outcomes. The current research includes two experiments to explore the bidirectional relationship between sexual arousal toward erotic stimuli and disgust induced by sexual body fluids. Study 1 presented 234 participants (117 women) with sexual body (vs. neutral) fluids followed by erotic stimuli, and Study 2 presented 235 participants (117 women) with erotic (vs. neutral) videos followed by sexual body fluids (and a non-sex-related stimulus). Study 1 showed that exposure to sexual body fluids reduced sexual arousal and the likelihood of sexual engagement toward erotic stimuli in participants with high sexual disgust sensitivity but increased sexual arousal and the likelihood of sexual engagement in participants with low sexual disgust sensitivity, while Study 2 suggested that men exposed to erotic (vs. neutral) stimuli reported lower disgust, stronger sexual arousal state, and higher willingness to interact with the sexual body fluids. There was no relationship between subjective feelings of sexual arousal and disgust in these experiments, while the balance of sexual arousal and disgust toward sexual body fluids and erotic stimuli had a positive association. Also, exposure to erotic stimuli had no effect on reactions to generally disgusting stimulus, but feelings of sexual arousal toward erotic stimuli were positively associated with disgust induced by generally disgusting fluid. These findings suggest that Behavior Immune System regulates disgust to establish a balance between benefit and cost related to sex as well as provide insight into the process underlying sexual dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangju Wen
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Caoyuan Niu
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yikang Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Pekka Santtila
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Lie SØ, Bulik CM, Andreassen OA, Rø Ø, Bang L. Stressful life events among individuals with a history of eating disorders: a case-control comparison. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:501. [PMID: 34645394 PMCID: PMC8513319 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03499-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experiencing stressful life events (SLEs) can negatively impact mental health and increase risk for psychiatric disorders including eating disorders (EDs). Previous research has shown that childhood sexual abuse is associated with some EDs, but less is known about the association between other non-sexual SLEs and EDs. METHOD A case-control study of individuals with (n = 495, age mean ± SD = 29.1 ± 9.8 years) and without (n = 395, age = 30.2 ± 11.7) self-reported lifetime history of EDs was conducted to compare history of self-reported SLEs. Participants reported history of sexual (e.g., rape, other sexual assault) and non-sexual (e.g., emotional abuse, assault, bereavement) life events using an adaptation of the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire. Individuals with EDs were divided into ED subtypes along the restricting - binge eating/purging spectrum to examine subtype differences. Logistic regressions were conducted for each SLE and ED subtype to obtain odds ratios (ORs). We report p-values corrected for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Exposure to any SLE was significantly more common in individuals with EDs than in controls (OR = 2.47, p < .001). Specifically, rape, other sexual assault, and emotional abuse were significantly more common among individuals with a history of binge-eating/purging ED subtypes (ORs = 2.15-3.58, p's < .01) compared with controls. Furthermore, history of life-threatening disease and loss of a close relative/partner/friend were associated with some ED subtypes. The association between SLEs and EDs was stronger for individuals who had experienced multiple SLEs. CONCLUSION By investigating a range of different SLEs, we showed that both sexual and non-sexual SLEs were more common in individuals with a history of EDs (binge-eating/purging subtypes) than controls. Results highlight the importance of assessing a variety of past SLEs in risk assessment for different EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma Ø. Lie
- grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Regional Department for Eating Disorders, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway ,grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cynthia M. Bulik
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ,grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA ,grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway ,grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øyvind Rø
- grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Regional Department for Eating Disorders, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway ,grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lasse Bang
- grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Regional Department for Eating Disorders, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway ,grid.418193.60000 0001 1541 4204Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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