Mental health articles

Oral, Anal, and Penile–Vaginal Intercourse Among 18- to 21-year-olds, approximately 75% report having received or given oral sex (Mosher, Chandra, & Jones, 2005). Oft en treated casually, oral sex is increasingly embraced as a substitute for penile–vaginal intercourse that satisfi es (mostly) male sexual demands while maintaining virginity. Unfortunately, the potential for contracting an STI […]

Hooking Up and Anonymous Sex Once considered a moral transgression, especially for women, single sexual encounters with a stranger or brief acquaintance are increasingly common among college students. Th ough defi nitions vary considerably, “hooking up”typically involves two people attending a party and sharing a mutual attraction, fl irting, and advancing to unplanned kissing, petting, […]

Sexual Impetus, Abstinence, and Virginity Sexual activity may be used to individuate from parents or distinguish oneself from community or religious norms. Some young people engage in sexual behavior because they erroneously believe that their peers are behaving similarly; others do so simply out of curiosity. Many use sex for emotional regulation and may increase […]

sexual fantasizing in males and females Sexual fantasizing, especially during masturbation, is widespread and is an important tool for gaining insight into sexual preferences, rehearsing anticipated sexual behavior, and developing a sexual identity. For some, though, fantasies reveal disturbing aspects of themselves. When students conceal fantasies they consider shameful, they fail to properly contextualize their […]