Sexual satisfaction across the life span

My research on sexual satisfaction focuses on self-report measures that reflect individuals’ perceived entitlement and deservingness in the sexual domain. I am currently developing methodological assessments that can reflect meaningful group differences, change over the life course, and developmental trajectories for use in clinical and research settings. My particular interest in this area concerns the impact that limited sexual rights in the social and political domains have when individuals are asked to appraise the quality of their sexual lives, particularly for women and sexual minorities.

Adolescent sexuality: Trajectories of sexual health & development

I have a number of on-going studies concerning adolescent sexual development. I am interested in how adolescents develop expectations for sexual experiences and how these expectations develop over time. In this research program, I use semi-structured interviews, surveys, Q methods, and data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) as a means to assess what and how young people learn about their sexuality.

Sexual health and cancer survivorship 

In collaboration with Jennifer Griggs, M.D., Sallie Foley, M.S.W., and Laurel Northouse, R.N., Ph.D., I am Principal Investigator of a study at the University of Michigan that aims to understand the intimacy and sexual quality of life concerns of women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Using a combination of novel and mixed methods, this study aims to address existing gaps in the literature by pursuing four specific aims: 1) evaluate the psychological and physiological dimensions of sexual quality of life for women with metastatic breast cancer; 2) examine the limitations of standardized measures of sexual function for this population; 3) identify patients and their partners’ information needs concerning sexual quality of life; and 4) assess the feasibility of this type of study with this population.

In collaboration with Tracey Revenson, Ph.D. (The Graduate Center, CUNY), I am Co-Investigator of an NCI-funded study which examines how female sexual health is defined and measured in research studies among cancer survivors. This study uses an innovative method of item-content analysis developed for this study which allows us to assess the range and type of data that are collected, how these data are analyzed, and how these findings inform clinical practice. The aim of the study is to document item-gaps which are important content areas that are not yet measured adequately.

Hate from the perspective of the hater

In collaboration with Susan Opotow (John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY), I have two on-going studies concerning the development of hate from the perspective the hater. These studies use archival courtroom testimony and case study material of first-hand accounts of hating in the context of hate crimes. Both of these studies further develop the theory of hating we developed in 2007 (Opotow & McClelland, 2007).