- Email: [email protected]
PL-19 Romance, Rapture, Rift, Repeat: The Trials and Tribulations of Intimate Relationships of Young People
e216
23rd Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health
ages. The next steps might involve follow-up to and documentation of national and regional adaptation processes including the evaluation and scale-up of pilot programmes. There is hope that these new development processes will lead to greater amounts of exchange and sharing between countries putting to good use the valuable experience that was compiled in these four documents. Keywords: sexuality education, young people, norm-setting Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: The author led the development of the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education at UNESCO.
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory consequences for tissues throughout the body. The oxytocin system is influenced by early experience, and oxytocin can epigenetically alter the expression of its own receptors. The capacity of oxytocin to regulate these systems helps to explain the pervasive adaptive consequences of social experiences for emotional and physical health across the lifespan. Knowledge of the pathways through which oxytocin and vasopressin act offers a new perspective on the healing power of love. Keywords: love, oxytocin, vasopressin Source of Funding: National Institutes of Health, P01 HD 075750. Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None.
PL-16
PL-18
SEX EDUCATION BY COMICS. A LIGHT MEDIUM FOR HEAVY ISSUES Tommi PAALANEN Sexpo Foundation, Finland; World Association for Sexual Health / Sexual Rights Committee
BOUNDLESS AS THE SEA: NEW DIRECTIONS IN THE STUDY OF SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS Erick JANSSEN Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium
Sexpo Foundation has been involved with sex education of young people since the 60’s. It has always challenged and supplemented official sexual health education by straightforwardness and dealing with topics that have been deemed inappropriate in different times. Sexpo’s sex ed activities are based on first hand experiences about youth sex culture via direct educational activities, sexuality counselling services for young people, and youth consultation group. The Together Project by Sexpo uses comic strips and accompanying sex ed materials to deal with topical issues in youth sex culture. The project was realised in 2016, and produced 8 strips and linked materials in 3 languages and plain language. The strips were scripted collaboratively by a team of sex educators, the artist, Maria Björklund, and the youth consultation group. They have been published in print and e-versions, and they are shareable by Creative Commons licence. Issues present in the comics and sex ed materials are negotiation during sex, communicating feelings, gender and relationship diversity, sexual practices like anal sex and BDSM, and discrimination. The comic strips have been very popular: thousands of copies have been distributed, and the website has seen 90000 visitors in six months. They have received only positive feedback from young people and educators, even if some of the topics are somewhat controversial in comparison to mainstream sex education. Most important feedback has been that the comics help to start conversations about topics that would have otherwise been difficult to initiate. Comics is a good format for conveying messages, inspiring discussion and initiating sex ed sessions with young people. They are easy to share, and quick to read. Even heavier topics can be dealt with humor and ease. However, they cannot convey complex messages, which warrants multi-platform communication, distributing accompanying materials, and supporting educators in using the comics. Keywords: sex education, young people, sex culture Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None.
PL-17 THE HEALING POWER OF LOVE: AN OXYTOCIN HYPOTHESIS Sue CARTER Kinsey Institute and Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States Introduction: This presentation will discuss the hormonal and neural mechanisms that support the beneficial and healing effects of loving relationships. Love is deeply biological. Love also has profound effects on our mental and physical state, pervading every aspect of our lives. Without loving relationships or in isolation, humans fail to flourish, even if all of their other basic needs are met. As such, love is clearly not just an emotion. Approach: Research in animals including humans is now revealing the basic biology of love. Comparisons among species and across various paradigms provides an overview of the mechanisms underlying the evolution and development of social behavior. Of particular importance is the neuropeptide, oxytocin and related molecules, including vasopressin, which provide biological substrates for love. Findings and Discussion: Oxytocin and vasopressin engage in a dynamic dance, which helps to explain the consequences of the presence or absence of relationships. These ancient hormones and their receptors are capable of regulating the capacity for a sense of safety, which in turn allows social cognition, social bonding, social support, growth and restoration. Oxytocin also regulates the functions of the autonomic nervous system, with effects on vagal and sympathetic pathways. Oxytocin is protective against stress, and with direct
Over two decades of research have convincingly established that sexual satisfaction is associated with relationship satisfaction. Despite the support for this association, our understanding of how (and for whom) sexual aspects of the relationship positively or negatively impact relationship quality is still limited. In recent years, we have witnessed an increased interest, of both relationship and sex researchers, in dyadic sexual processes and their relevance to explaining the link between sexual and relationship satisfaction. In this talk, I will present new findings of research on sexuality in close relationships. Research on the role of individual differences and couple similarity (e.g., in attachment and sexual responsivity), on couple interactions and communication patterns, and on the role of selfand other-oriented sexual motives will be discussed. Keywords: sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, dyadic processes Source of Funding: Research Foundation e Flanders (FWO) & Research Council KU Leuven (C1). Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None.
PL-19 ROMANCE, RAPTURE, RIFT, REPEAT: THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE Lucia O’SULLIVAN Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada The intimate lives of adolescents and young adults are frequently depicted as radically different from those of any earlier generation. Their relationships are indeed influenced heavily by the dramatic uptake of new technologies and stresses unique to this era. However, they also reveal many patterns consistent with traditional challenges faced by young people trying to establish sexual and romantic connections. In this invited talk, I review a program of research addressing both of these conflicting dimensions. My review includes studies of the influence of computer-mediated technology on communication and connection with sexual and romantic partners, as well as the many uses that young people make of sexually explicit media from arousal and distraction to learning about sex. I will also present findings from a series of studies addressing the powerful weight of romantic expectations about intimate relationships, beliefs that are perpetuated in large part by media depictions of love, passion, and romance, and I will present some work on interpersonal dynamics, such as infidelity, poaching, and stalking, that make navigating their relationships especially difficult. This talk will end with a review of recent research addressing the aftermath of breakups for young people, and a discussion of next areas of research. The primary objective is to leave the audience with new insights into experiences and trajectories that young people share, as well as to generate appreciation of the unique contingencies that they are tackling. Keywords: romantic relationships, young adults, intimacy Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: CIHR, SSHRC, NBHRF.
PL-20 WOMEN, YOUNG PEOPLE, LGBTQI GROUPS, POLICY ADVOCACY Dorothy AKEN’OVA INCRESE, Nigeria The need for clearly articulated policies that provide a guide for interventions targeting sexual health and rights of women, young people and the LGBTQI groups is pivotal
J Sex Med 2017;14:e211ee350
23rd Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health
ages. The next steps might involve follow-up to and documentation of national and regional adaptation processes including the evaluation and scale-up of pilot programmes. There is hope that these new development processes will lead to greater amounts of exchange and sharing between countries putting to good use the valuable experience that was compiled in these four documents. Keywords: sexuality education, young people, norm-setting Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: The author led the development of the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education at UNESCO.
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory consequences for tissues throughout the body. The oxytocin system is influenced by early experience, and oxytocin can epigenetically alter the expression of its own receptors. The capacity of oxytocin to regulate these systems helps to explain the pervasive adaptive consequences of social experiences for emotional and physical health across the lifespan. Knowledge of the pathways through which oxytocin and vasopressin act offers a new perspective on the healing power of love. Keywords: love, oxytocin, vasopressin Source of Funding: National Institutes of Health, P01 HD 075750. Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None.
PL-16
PL-18
SEX EDUCATION BY COMICS. A LIGHT MEDIUM FOR HEAVY ISSUES Tommi PAALANEN Sexpo Foundation, Finland; World Association for Sexual Health / Sexual Rights Committee
BOUNDLESS AS THE SEA: NEW DIRECTIONS IN THE STUDY OF SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS Erick JANSSEN Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium
Sexpo Foundation has been involved with sex education of young people since the 60’s. It has always challenged and supplemented official sexual health education by straightforwardness and dealing with topics that have been deemed inappropriate in different times. Sexpo’s sex ed activities are based on first hand experiences about youth sex culture via direct educational activities, sexuality counselling services for young people, and youth consultation group. The Together Project by Sexpo uses comic strips and accompanying sex ed materials to deal with topical issues in youth sex culture. The project was realised in 2016, and produced 8 strips and linked materials in 3 languages and plain language. The strips were scripted collaboratively by a team of sex educators, the artist, Maria Björklund, and the youth consultation group. They have been published in print and e-versions, and they are shareable by Creative Commons licence. Issues present in the comics and sex ed materials are negotiation during sex, communicating feelings, gender and relationship diversity, sexual practices like anal sex and BDSM, and discrimination. The comic strips have been very popular: thousands of copies have been distributed, and the website has seen 90000 visitors in six months. They have received only positive feedback from young people and educators, even if some of the topics are somewhat controversial in comparison to mainstream sex education. Most important feedback has been that the comics help to start conversations about topics that would have otherwise been difficult to initiate. Comics is a good format for conveying messages, inspiring discussion and initiating sex ed sessions with young people. They are easy to share, and quick to read. Even heavier topics can be dealt with humor and ease. However, they cannot convey complex messages, which warrants multi-platform communication, distributing accompanying materials, and supporting educators in using the comics. Keywords: sex education, young people, sex culture Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None.
PL-17 THE HEALING POWER OF LOVE: AN OXYTOCIN HYPOTHESIS Sue CARTER Kinsey Institute and Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States Introduction: This presentation will discuss the hormonal and neural mechanisms that support the beneficial and healing effects of loving relationships. Love is deeply biological. Love also has profound effects on our mental and physical state, pervading every aspect of our lives. Without loving relationships or in isolation, humans fail to flourish, even if all of their other basic needs are met. As such, love is clearly not just an emotion. Approach: Research in animals including humans is now revealing the basic biology of love. Comparisons among species and across various paradigms provides an overview of the mechanisms underlying the evolution and development of social behavior. Of particular importance is the neuropeptide, oxytocin and related molecules, including vasopressin, which provide biological substrates for love. Findings and Discussion: Oxytocin and vasopressin engage in a dynamic dance, which helps to explain the consequences of the presence or absence of relationships. These ancient hormones and their receptors are capable of regulating the capacity for a sense of safety, which in turn allows social cognition, social bonding, social support, growth and restoration. Oxytocin also regulates the functions of the autonomic nervous system, with effects on vagal and sympathetic pathways. Oxytocin is protective against stress, and with direct
Over two decades of research have convincingly established that sexual satisfaction is associated with relationship satisfaction. Despite the support for this association, our understanding of how (and for whom) sexual aspects of the relationship positively or negatively impact relationship quality is still limited. In recent years, we have witnessed an increased interest, of both relationship and sex researchers, in dyadic sexual processes and their relevance to explaining the link between sexual and relationship satisfaction. In this talk, I will present new findings of research on sexuality in close relationships. Research on the role of individual differences and couple similarity (e.g., in attachment and sexual responsivity), on couple interactions and communication patterns, and on the role of selfand other-oriented sexual motives will be discussed. Keywords: sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, dyadic processes Source of Funding: Research Foundation e Flanders (FWO) & Research Council KU Leuven (C1). Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None.
PL-19 ROMANCE, RAPTURE, RIFT, REPEAT: THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE Lucia O’SULLIVAN Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada The intimate lives of adolescents and young adults are frequently depicted as radically different from those of any earlier generation. Their relationships are indeed influenced heavily by the dramatic uptake of new technologies and stresses unique to this era. However, they also reveal many patterns consistent with traditional challenges faced by young people trying to establish sexual and romantic connections. In this invited talk, I review a program of research addressing both of these conflicting dimensions. My review includes studies of the influence of computer-mediated technology on communication and connection with sexual and romantic partners, as well as the many uses that young people make of sexually explicit media from arousal and distraction to learning about sex. I will also present findings from a series of studies addressing the powerful weight of romantic expectations about intimate relationships, beliefs that are perpetuated in large part by media depictions of love, passion, and romance, and I will present some work on interpersonal dynamics, such as infidelity, poaching, and stalking, that make navigating their relationships especially difficult. This talk will end with a review of recent research addressing the aftermath of breakups for young people, and a discussion of next areas of research. The primary objective is to leave the audience with new insights into experiences and trajectories that young people share, as well as to generate appreciation of the unique contingencies that they are tackling. Keywords: romantic relationships, young adults, intimacy Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: CIHR, SSHRC, NBHRF.
PL-20 WOMEN, YOUNG PEOPLE, LGBTQI GROUPS, POLICY ADVOCACY Dorothy AKEN’OVA INCRESE, Nigeria The need for clearly articulated policies that provide a guide for interventions targeting sexual health and rights of women, young people and the LGBTQI groups is pivotal
J Sex Med 2017;14:e211ee350