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'Sexual interaction or a solitary action: Young Swedish men's ideal images of sexual situations in relationships and in one-night stands

Elmerstig, Eva ; Wijma, Barbro ; Sandell, Kerstin LU and Berterö, Carina (2014) In Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare 5(3). p.149-155
Abstract
Objective

It seems that traditional gender norms influence young women's and men's sexuality differently. However, little attention has been paid to ideal images of sexual situations. This study identifies young heterosexual men's ideal images of sexual situations and their expectations of themselves in sexual situations.



Study design

The present study employs a qualitative design. Twelve Swedish men (aged 16–20) participated in individual in-depth qualitative interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the constant comparative method from grounded theory.



Results

Our study revealed that the young men's conceptions of normal sexual situations were... (More)
Objective

It seems that traditional gender norms influence young women's and men's sexuality differently. However, little attention has been paid to ideal images of sexual situations. This study identifies young heterosexual men's ideal images of sexual situations and their expectations of themselves in sexual situations.



Study design

The present study employs a qualitative design. Twelve Swedish men (aged 16–20) participated in individual in-depth qualitative interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the constant comparative method from grounded theory.



Results

Our study revealed that the young men's conceptions of normal sexual situations were divided into two parts: sexual situations in relationships, and sexual situations in one-night stands. Their ideal image, “a balanced state of emotional and physical pleasure”, was influenced by the presence/absence of intimacy, the partner's response, and their own performance. The greatest opportunities to experience intimacy and the partner's response were found during sexual situations in relationships. In one-night stands, the men wanted to make a good impression by performing well, and behaved according to masculine stereotypes.



Conclusion

Stereotyped masculinity norms regulate young heterosexual men's sexuality, particularly in one-night stands. Sexual health promotion should emphasize the presence of these masculinity norms, which probably involve costs in relation to young men's sexual wellbeing. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescence, Constant comparative analysis/method, Masculinity, Sexuality, Young men
in
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
volume
5
issue
3
pages
149 - 155
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:25200977
  • wos:000342889200011
  • scopus:84908216062
  • pmid:25200977
ISSN
1877-5764
DOI
10.1016/j.srhc.2014.06.001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
First published Online, 06 June 2014
id
fae747a4-09c3-48c9-8817-1ce71e8e5303 (old id 4616337)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:04:58
date last changed
2022-03-12 19:42:18
@article{fae747a4-09c3-48c9-8817-1ce71e8e5303,
  abstract     = {{Objective<br/><br>
It seems that traditional gender norms influence young women's and men's sexuality differently. However, little attention has been paid to ideal images of sexual situations. This study identifies young heterosexual men's ideal images of sexual situations and their expectations of themselves in sexual situations.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Study design<br/><br>
The present study employs a qualitative design. Twelve Swedish men (aged 16–20) participated in individual in-depth qualitative interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the constant comparative method from grounded theory.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Results<br/><br>
Our study revealed that the young men's conceptions of normal sexual situations were divided into two parts: sexual situations in relationships, and sexual situations in one-night stands. Their ideal image, “a balanced state of emotional and physical pleasure”, was influenced by the presence/absence of intimacy, the partner's response, and their own performance. The greatest opportunities to experience intimacy and the partner's response were found during sexual situations in relationships. In one-night stands, the men wanted to make a good impression by performing well, and behaved according to masculine stereotypes.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Conclusion<br/><br>
Stereotyped masculinity norms regulate young heterosexual men's sexuality, particularly in one-night stands. Sexual health promotion should emphasize the presence of these masculinity norms, which probably involve costs in relation to young men's sexual wellbeing.}},
  author       = {{Elmerstig, Eva and Wijma, Barbro and Sandell, Kerstin and Berterö, Carina}},
  issn         = {{1877-5764}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescence; Constant comparative analysis/method; Masculinity; Sexuality; Young men}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{149--155}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare}},
  title        = {{'Sexual interaction or a solitary action: Young Swedish men's ideal images of sexual situations in relationships and in one-night stands}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2014.06.001}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.srhc.2014.06.001}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}