Help-seeking behaviors of people with sexual problems

Arch Sex Behav. 1990 Jun;19(3):235-50. doi: 10.1007/BF01541549.

Abstract

Help-seeking activities associated with the sexual problems of community respondents (N = 503) were studied. Major findings include (i) a majority of respondents reported some form of social help-seeking from predominantly informal rather than professional helpers; (ii) a significant increase over early adulthood in the likelihood of reporting a dyadic sexual problem was evidenced, however there was no parallel change in help-seeking behaviors with age; (iii) help-seeking from intimates was associated with obtaining help from other informal contacts; (iv) help-seeking from extrafamilial, but not familial, supports was found to covary with income, and (v) a "normative" sequence to help-seeking behaviors was identified. Also discussed is the present work's relevance to research on human immunodeficiency virus transmission.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Psychotherapy
  • Self-Help Groups
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / psychology*
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / therapy
  • Socioeconomic Factors