Browsing by Subject "Gender differences"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Feelin’ Myself: The Sexual Double Standard and Perceived Sexualities of Hypothetical Men and Women Engaging in Masturbation
    (2018) Haus, Katherine
    Despite the well documented benefits, women report masturbating less frequently than do men. This gender difference may be a behavioral response to the Sexual Double Standard (SDS; the tendency to judge women’s sexual behavior more severely than men’s) in which women participate in masturbation less than men due to fears of social repercussions. However, no research has examined the SDS with respect to masturbation. Therefore, this study investigated (1) endorsement of the SDS when evaluating hypothetical targets engaging in masturbation, (2) gender differences in self-reported frequency of masturbation, and (3) whether relationship status influenced the SDS and frequency of masturbation. US adults have been recruited and randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes describing a hypothetical man/woman engaging in masturbation (while also manipulating relationship status). Participants then rated the target’s morality and completed a demographic questionnaire. Preliminary results revealed that women masturbators were perceived as being more moral than were men. Although relationship status did not influence endorsement of the SDS, it did influence gender differences in self-reported frequency of masturbation, in which single men reported masturbating more frequently than did men in committed relationships (relationship status did not influence women’s masturbatory habits). Contrary to our expectations, these findings indicate the existence of a reverse SDS when judging others and that these judgments do not appear to impact behavior, in which men reported masturbating more frequently than did women (particularly when single). It is unclear why men were judged more harshly than women, however, these results may be a reaction to the current prominence of men’s sexual misconduct in the media and the tendency to judge their sexual behavior more harshly as a result. As it is well-known that men masturbate more than do women, it is also possible that participants judged male targets more severely in accordance with their perceived masturbatory frequency in accordance with existing stigma.
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    "The Freshman Fifteen" and Beyond: A Meta-Analysis
    (2016-05) Lammert, Hannah R
    The rising rates of overweight and obesity have led to concerns about the increased risk for developing several negative health consequences. Poor eating habits and lack of sufficient levels of physical activity contribute to an increase in adiposity and body weight. Not surprisingly, the transition to college is associated with a variety of lifestyle changes that may contribute to additional weight gain, such as poor sleep, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, and increased sedentary behavior. Many individual studies have commented on and attempted to examine the phenomenon known as the "Freshman 15". The present meta-analysis intends to discern the patterns related to body weight and adiposity changes over the first year of college. In addition, this study examines these changes from the beginning of freshman year to the end of senior year of college, as well as potential moderators of weight gain and body composition changes. We conducted a search on seven electronic databases, resulting in 55 studies for inclusion in the metaanalysis. An overall mean weight gain of 0.74 kg (1.63 lbs) was found for freshman year and 0.90 kg (1.98 lbs) for the end of senior year. Increases in BMI, percent body fat, absolute fat mass, and waist circumference, and a decrease in fat-free mass were observed for both freshman year and senior year of college. Significant differences between males and females were found in weight and BMI change. Body composition changes in college are concerning because of the potential negative health behaviors and patterns that are carried into adulthood. Focus should be paid not only to the freshman year of college but also throughout students' experiences with college.
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    Pre-performance routines among club volleyball players: the relationship between routines and Accuracy in serving
    (2014-05) Billing, Lauren
    Pre-performance routines (PPR) have been shown to enhance athletes' abilities to concentrate on the skill at hand, control arousal levels, and improve performance. Current research on PPRs has examined a small variety of sports, most notably basketball and golf, in the context of closed skill execution. Furthermore, a majority of studies have examined PPRs at practice or scrimmage situations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between PPRs and the closed skill of serving in volleyball during competition. Gender differences and the relationship between PPRs and competitive anxiety (CA) was also explored. Participants were recruited from two club volleyball organizations at an NCAA Division I university in the Midwestern United States. Video recording were taken of each participant's behaviors prior to completing a serve at regional intercollegiate tournaments to assess PPRs. Additionally, two versions of the Competitive State Anxiety Scale II- directional (CSAI-2(d)) were administered to evaluate the relationship between PPRs and CA. Results indicated that there was no effect of PPRs on serving accuracy. In regard to CA, there was no relationship between CA and PPR maintenance. Women demonstrated a higher maintenance of behavioral serve PPRs, though their serving percentage was not statistically different from the men. These findings indicate that the use of strict PPRs, though effective in some sports, may not have the same effectiveness across sports. Additional research is needed to assess the effectiveness of PPRs on closed skill accuracy for other sports.