Academic Journal
Barriers to the assessment of patients' sexuality and sexual health among psychotherapists: A mixed-methods study.
| Τίτλος: | Barriers to the assessment of patients' sexuality and sexual health among psychotherapists: A mixed-methods study. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | López L; Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: luana.lopez@shk.medicalschool-hamburg.de., Schweizer K; Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: katinka.schweizer@medicalschool-hamburg.de., Martyniuk U; Department of Arts Therapies and Social Work, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: urszula.martyniuk@medicalschool-hamburg.de., Schröder J; Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: johanna.schroeder@medicalschool-hamburg.de. |
| Πηγή: | Patient education and counseling [Patient Educ Couns] 2026 Oct; Vol. 151, pp. 109754. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 28. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Ireland NLM ID: 8406280 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-5134 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07383991 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Patient Educ Couns Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Limerick : Elsevier Original Publication: Princeton, N.J. : Excerpta Medica, c1983- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Sexuality*/psychology , Psychotherapists*/psychology , Sexual Health* , Psychotherapy*, Humans ; Female ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Germany ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Professional-Patient Relations ; Attitude of Health Personnel |
| Περίληψη: | Objectives: Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of well-being, yet sexual problems remain highly prevalent and are rarely addressed in psychotherapy. This study examined psychotherapist- and patient-related factors preventing psychotherapists from addressing sexuality and sexual health in psychotherapy. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anonymous data from 220 licensed psychotherapists and psychotherapists in training in Germany were collected online. Psychotherapist characteristics associated with more or less frequent sexual health assessment were analysed using t-tests, linear regression, and Pearson correlations. Responses to open-text questions regarding perceived patient-related barriers were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: No significant gender differences were found among psychotherapists, t(216) = -0.44, d = -0.08, p = .329, in addressing sexual health. Psychotherapists working in urban areas (d = -0.31, p = .010) and those with psychodynamic orientation (d = 0.30, p = .015) addressed sexual health more frequently. Older age (f2 = 0.03, p = .019), more years of professional experience (f2 = 0.02, p = .014), and greater subjective knowledge about sexuality (r = .31, p < .001), was associated with higher engagement in sexual health assessment. Thematic analysis revealed 19 patient characteristics (e.g., gender constellations, therapeutic relationship dynamics, patient emotional reactions) perceived as barriers. Conclusions: Younger age, lesser work experience, and lesser knowledge about sexuality are associated with lesser assessment of patients' sexuality and sexual health by psychotherapists. Urban and psychodynamic therapists assess sexuality and sexual health more often. Various patient characteristics and interaction dynamics are perceived as sexual communication barriers by psychotherapists. Practice Implications: Sexuality education based on the identified barriers is necessary to strengthen psychotherapists' competence and confidence in adressing sexuality in psychotherapy, which can improve health care significantly. (Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Assessment; Psychotherapy; Sexual Health; Sexuality |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260706 Date Completed: 20260731 Latest Revision: 20260731 |
| Update Code: | 20260801 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109754 |
| PMID: | 42407237 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
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