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Sexuality Research and Social Policy

Published in:

24-10-2022

Cluster Analysis Method Reveals Gender Attitudes in Sociosexual Orientation of a Southern Italy Population During the COVID-19 Lockdown

Authors: Maria Grazia Vaccaro, Giulia Izzo, Alessia Sarica, Sandro La Vignera, Antonio Aversa

Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy | Issue 3/2023

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Abstract

Introduction

The COVID-19 epidemic and its lockdown dramatically impacted the general well-being of the population and affected sociosexual experiences, thus modifying sexual behavior, desire, and well-being. Clustering analysis has not yet been applied to research and data investigating sociosexuality. The cluster analysis method could be a valid support for clinicians in investigating the condition of a population with respect to problems related to sociosexuality. The aim of the present study was to analyze the different perceptions of the sociosexual experiences in southern population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We enrolled 734 (450 female) participants with a carried out anonymous web-based survey from the 16th of April 2020 to the 3rd June of 2020. The revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) is a self-report test assessing three theoretically meaningful facets of sociosexual orientation (behavior, attitude, and desire).

Results

We found eleven clusters, and the findings showed, for the first time, an intra- and inter-diagnostic heterogeneity in the sexual profile of participants. Theoretically, we identified subtype clusters whose sexual attitude was to avoid sexual promiscuity with significant gender differences. Women show a greater propensity for attitude and desire facet than men.

Conclusions

Our new method of unsupervised learning could represent a reliable tool to support socio-cultural analysis studies on issues influenced by cultural mechanisms in a quick and explanatory way, as in the case of sexual orientation and attitude differences between men and women.

Social and Policy Implications

Understanding these gaps is fundamental for policy makers, managers of social networks, those who deal with engaged couples and families, and sexuality starting from the very youngest adolescents. We claim to devise a strategy to measure how much a sexist culture implicitly and explicitly limits the freedom of sexual expression and how this can affect psycho-sexual well-being in a society.

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Title: Cluster Analysis Method Reveals Gender Attitudes in Sociosexual Orientation of a Southern Italy Population During the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Maria Grazia Vaccaro
Giulia Izzo
Alessia Sarica
Sandro La Vignera
Antonio Aversa
Publication date: 24-10-2022
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy / Issue 3/2023
Print ISSN: 1868-9884
Electronic ISSN: 1553-6610
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00771-2

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Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Social and Policy Implications

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