J Dennis Fortenberry
Biographic Data
| ID | 1253706 |
|---|---|
| NAME | J Dennis Fortenberry |
| GIVEN NAMES | J Dennis |
| FAMILY NAME | Fortenberry |
| SIGNATURE | FORTENBERRY J D |
| AFFILIATIONS | Indiana University School of Medicine |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6612-176X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 97 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 354 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 97 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1992 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 9 |
Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Rough Sex Behaviors Among Adolescents Ages 14 to 17
Introduction Sexual practices commonly described as “rough sex” (e.g., choking, slapping) have become prevalent among young adults in the U.S. and internationally. Little is known about adolescents’ engagement in such behaviors. Using U.S. population data, we examined the prevalence and demographic correlates of rough sex behaviors among U.S. adolescents ages 14- to 17- years old. Method Data are from a confidential online U.S. nationally represe…
Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of “Rough Sex” Behaviors
Rough sex behaviors have become prevalent among young adults in the U.S. and internationally. However, little is known about these behaviors at the population level. Using nationally representative survey data of 9029 U.S. adults, we aimed to provide population estimates and demographic correlates of 10 such behaviors: consensual and nonconsensual hair pulling, biting, face slapping, genital slapping, light spanking, hard spanking, choking, punch…
Women’s Experiences with Exercise-Induced Orgasm
Exercise-induced arousal (EIA) and exercise-induced orgasm (EIO) have been described as occurring from engaging in exercise or physical activities that are vigorous, repetitive, or demanding of core abdominal muscles, usually apart from sexual situations and without direct genital stimulation. Few existing studies have examined EIA/EIO, and no prior studies have qualitatively explored these experiences. Thus, the purpose of this research was to u…
Sexual Self-Concept After Child Maltreatment
Conceptualizing Sexual Wellbeing
Despite increasing scientific and policy interest in sexual wellbeing, it remains poorly conceptualized. Many studies purporting to measure it instead measure related but distinct concepts, such as sexual satisfaction. This lack of conceptual clarity impedes understanding, measuring, and improving sexual wellbeing. We present qualitative research from multi-stage, mixed-methods work to develop a new measure of sexual wellbeing (Natsal-SW) for the…
Sex Out of Boredom
Developing medical professionalism in care of gender nonconforming patients
INTRODUCTION: Negative healthcare experiences persist for gender nonconforming individuals. Clinician-related factors, including lack of comfort with gender nonconforming persons and unexamined personal biases, present barriers to equitable and affirming healthcare. We explored the effects of contact with gender nonconforming individuals in preclinical medical education through a structured curricular intervention designed to build medical and hu…
Development and Validation of a Brief Measure of Sexual Wellbeing for Population Surveys
Sexual wellbeing is an important aspect of population health. Addressing and monitoring it as a distinct issue requires valid measures. Our previous conceptual work identified seven domains of sexual wellbeing: security; respect; self-esteem; resilience; forgiveness; self-determination; and comfort. Here, we describe the development and validation of a measure of sexual wellbeing reflecting these domains. Based on the analysis of 40 semi-structur…
Changes in Penile-Vaginal Intercourse Frequency and Sexual Repertoire from 2009 to 2018
Relationships between Penile-Vaginal Intercourse Frequency and Condom/Contraceptive Use from 2009 to 2018
Objectives: To examine changes over time in event-level condom/contraceptive use and the association between past year penile-vaginal intercourse frequency and event-level condom/contraceptive use. Methods: Data were from the 2009 and 2018 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, an online probability survey of U.S. adolescents and adults. Results: Use of condoms and highly effective hormonal contraceptives decreased while long-acting rever…
I have never talked to anyone to free my mind” – challenges surrounding status disclosure to adolescents contribute to their disengagement from HIV care
Complex challenges surrounding HIV status disclosure to adolescents contribute to care disengagement. There is need to enhance training and resources for HCW, and to empower caregivers to support children and adolescents before, during, and after HIV status disclosure. This should include counseling caregivers on how to provide children with developmentally-appropriate and accurate information about their health from an early age, and to support …
Sexual Modesty in Sexual Expression and Experience
Sexual modesty is the social, cultural, interpersonal, and psychological systems - defined by the tenets of Script Theory - that regulate individuals' sexual expression and experience at the social, legal, and interpersonal boundaries of acceptable/not-acceptable, private/public, and personal/social. Almost all aspects of sexual expression and experience are touched by the pervasive modesty standards for sexual communication, sexual display, sexu…
Mental health outcomes from direct and indirect exposure to firearm violence
Porn Sex versus Real Sex
What is sexual wellbeing and why does it matter for public health?
Sexual health has provided a guiding framework for addressing sexuality in public health for several decades. Although the WHO definition of sexual health is revolutionary in acknowledging positive sexuality, public health approaches remain focused on risk and adverse outcomes. The long-standing conflation of sexual health and sexual wellbeing has affected our ability to address everyday sexual issues. This Viewpoint provides a way forward to res…
Two-year prevalence rates of mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses among repeat arrestees
The World Association for Sexual Health’s Declaration on Sexual Pleasure
This article provides technical guidance on the content, meaning, and application of the World Association of Sexual Health (WAS) Declaration on Sexual Pleasure to various stakeholders and practitioners working in the area of sexuality, sexual health, and sexual rights. A growing body of work shows that sexual pleasure is integral to broader health, mental health, sexual health, well-being and rights and indeed can lead to improvements in health.…
Trauma-Informed Sex Positive Approaches to Sexual Pleasure
This paper develops a trauma-informed sex-positive framework as a public health, clinical, and research approach to sexual experience over the life course. The framework centers trauma-informed sex positivity as the linkage for sexual pleasure (along with sexual wellbeing and sexual health) to the social, cultural, and legal concepts of sexual justice. By providing a conceptual distinction of sexual pleasure from sexual wellbeing and sexual healt…
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Dissemination
Pleasure During Adolescents’ Most Recent Partnered Sexual Experience
The Prevalence of Using Pornography for Information About How to Have Sex
Exercise-Induced Orgasm and Its Association with Sleep Orgasms and Orgasms During Partnered Sex
Prior incarceration associated with missed HIV care visits among young people living with HIV in the US
Maintenance in HIV care is important to achieve optimal personal health and HIV viral load suppression for young people living with HIV (PLWH). We assessed the relationship between incarceration and missed visits in a longitudinal data cohort of PLWH (n = 910), ages 12–24, from 14 adolescent trial network sites across the US. The time from study entry to missed visits was modeled using Cox proportional hazards models. The cohort was mostly male (…
Sexual identity development and sexual well-being
Why Pleasure Matters
Much work on sexual health has emphasized adverse outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections/HIV, unintended pregnancy, and sexual violence. Although these objectives are of continued importance, they reflect a global tendency to focus on negative sexual health outcomes. Far less prominent in health promotion, policy, and programing is a sustained recognition that sexual pleasure is an important aspect of sexuality. This commentary centers …
A Psychometric Comparison of Three Scales and a Single-Item Measure to Assess Sexual Satisfaction
This study was designed to systematically compare and contrast the psychometric properties of three scales developed to measure sexual satisfaction and a single-item measure of sexual satisfaction. The Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS), Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX), and the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale-Short (NSSS-S) were compared to one another and to a single-item measure of sexual satisfaction. Conceptualization of the const…
Early Initiation of Sexual Intercourse
Longitudinal data were used to examine the relationship of psychosocial unconventionality—rejection of societal norms and a propensity to engage in nonconforming behavior—to early initiation of sexual intercourse in an urban sample of 1,330 White, Hispanic, and African-American male and female middle-school and high-school students. Measures of unconventionality were taken from the social-psychological framework of Problem-Behavior Theory. Analys…
Relationships of Stigma and Shame to Gonorrhea and HIV Screening
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between stigma and shame associated with seeking treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and undergoing testing for gonorrhea and HIV. Methods. Participants were 847 males and 1126 females (mean age: 24.9 years) in 7 cities. Two scales assessed STD-related stigma and STD-related shame. Results. Rates of stigma and shame were higher among participants without a gonorr…
Partner‐specific relationship characteristics and condom use among young people with sexually transmitted diseases
This study describes associations of partner‐specific relationship characteristics with consistent condom use among 297 young people (ages 13–24) with sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Relationship‐specific variables were relationship quality, reasons for sex, relationship duration, duration of sexual relationship, coital frequency, “established” versus “new” sexual partner, cohabitation, children, sexual coercion, and drug or alcohol use asso…
Gender Differences in the Association Between Perceived Discrimination and Adolescent Smoking
Associations between discrimination and smoking differ by gender. Girls' decreased smoking in higher-discrimination settings may be a result of protective factors associated with where they spend time. Boys' increased smoking in higher-discrimination settings may reflect increased stress from gender-specific targeting by police and businesses
The Role of Sexually Explicit Material in the Sexual Development of Same-Sex-Attracted Black Adolescent Males
Condom Use as a Function of Time in New and Established Adolescent Sexual Relationships
Objectives. This study sought to describe condom use over time in new and established adolescent relationships. Methods. The outcome variable was time (in days) until first unprotected coital event. Analyses involved comparisons of Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Results. Survival functions for the 2 relationship groups were significantly different. However, by 21 days the curves had converged: 43% of new and 41%…
Individual and Social Factors Related to Mental Health Concerns Among Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States
Research has not yet explored the potential impact of social stress, biphobia, and other factors on the mental health of bisexual men. In-depth interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 75 men who engaged in bisexual behavior within the past six months. Interviewers explored potential mental health stressors and supports. Many participants reported personal and social challenges associated with bisexuality, which in turn influenced their…
The Prevalence of Using Pornography for Information About How to Have Sex
Sexual Self-Identification Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States
Parental Permission and Perceived Research Benefits in Adolescent STI Research
An understanding of why parents provide consent for adolescent participation in research on sensitive topics can inform and improve the ethical conduct and review of such research. As part of a longitudinal study of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in lower-income adolescents, we asked 134 parents why they permitted their daughter to participate, analyzing responses using qualitative methods. Over half described participation benefits, prov…
Adolescence as a culture-bound syndrome
Sexual Behaviors and Experiences Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States
The Year’s Best
Sexual satisfaction is commonly defined and discussed in physiological terms of arousal and orgasm. Yet this narrow discourse does not accommodate the complex, multidimensional, and interpersonal aspects of sexual experience. To broaden and deepen our understanding of sexual satisfaction, we employed McClelland's (2014) holistic four-factor framework of sexual satisfaction in a theoretical thematic analysis of 39 behaviorally bisexual women's des…
Longitudinal effects of health-harming and health-protective behaviors within adolescent romantic dyads
Young Women's Use of a Vaginal Microbicide Surrogate
Currently in clinical trials, microbicides have historically been promoted as a woman-controlled (although more recently woman initiated) method of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention. The contradicition that exists in this rationale is that women's bodies, specifically the genitals, have been constructed as a negotiated space within sexual interactions. This study qualitatively explored the factors influencing 40 young women's use of…
Variation in Sexual Identification Among Behaviorally Bisexual Women in the Midwestern United States
Collecting information on sexual identity is critical to ensuring the visibility of minority populations who face stigmatization and discrimination related to sexual identities. However, it is challenging to capture the nuances of sexual identity with traditional survey research methods. Using a mixed-methods approach, we gathered data on the sexual identities of 80 behaviorally bisexual women in the Midwestern United States through an online sur…
Picturing Sexual Spaces in Everyday Life
Reports of childhood sexual abuse by adolescents and young adults
The consistency of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) reporting was explored in this study. Two-hundred seventeen adolescents and young adults (ages 14-24) enrolled in urban health care clinics completed self-report questionnaires assessing CSA and other problem behaviors at enrollment and at 7 months. Results indicated that the stability of CSA self-report at two time points was poor (58% consistent nonreporters of CSA, 20% consistent reporters, 22% i…
Health care seeking behaviors related to sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents
OBJECTIVES: This study identified social, cognitive, and behavioral factors associated with how adolescents seek health care for sexually transmitted diseases. METHODS: Data for male and female adolescents (n = 208) attending a clinic specializing in sexually transmitted diseases were examined. RESULTS: Symptomatic female adolescents required greater time to obtain care than asymptomatic female adolescents or symptomatic male adolescents. Factors…
How Condom Discontinuation Occurs
We have almost no data on how and when couples stop using condoms. This qualitative study investigated the process of condom discontinuation. From November 2013 to April 2014, a total of 25 women living in a college town in the Midwest, ages 18 to 25, participated in semistructured interviews centered around three domains: partner interactions, contraceptive use, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention. Analysis followed a critical qu…
Subjective Sexual Experiences of Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States
Studies concerning behaviorally bisexual men continue to focus on understanding sexual risk in according to a narrow range of sexual behaviors. Few studies have explored the subjective meanings and experiences related to bisexual men's sexual behaviors with both male and female partners. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 75 men who engaged in bisexual behavior within the past six months. Participants were asked about their …
Mental health outcomes from direct and indirect exposure to firearm violence
Porn Sex versus Real Sex
Sexual identity development and sexual well-being
Adolescence as a culture-bound syndrome
Early Initiation of Sexual Intercourse
Longitudinal data were used to examine the relationship of psychosocial unconventionality—rejection of societal norms and a propensity to engage in nonconforming behavior—to early initiation of sexual intercourse in an urban sample of 1,330 White, Hispanic, and African-American male and female middle-school and high-school students. Measures of unconventionality were taken from the social-psychological framework of Problem-Behavior Theory. Analys…
Contraceptive Behavior and Adolescent Lifestyles
Findings are presented from a study assessing the relationship of contraceptive use to adolescent problem behavior and health-protective behavior. Study data were collected in spring 1992 from 793 sexually active, unmarried high school students in a large, metropolitan school district. Respondents are 51% male and approximately 34% White, 22% Black, 40% Hispanic, 2% Asian, and 2% Native American. A latent variable measure of regular contraceptive…
Health care seeking behaviors related to sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents
OBJECTIVES: This study identified social, cognitive, and behavioral factors associated with how adolescents seek health care for sexually transmitted diseases. METHODS: Data for male and female adolescents (n = 208) attending a clinic specializing in sexually transmitted diseases were examined. RESULTS: Symptomatic female adolescents required greater time to obtain care than asymptomatic female adolescents or symptomatic male adolescents. Factors…
Partner‐specific relationship characteristics and condom use among young people with sexually transmitted diseases
This study describes associations of partner‐specific relationship characteristics with consistent condom use among 297 young people (ages 13–24) with sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Relationship‐specific variables were relationship quality, reasons for sex, relationship duration, duration of sexual relationship, coital frequency, “established” versus “new” sexual partner, cohabitation, children, sexual coercion, and drug or alcohol use asso…
Condom Use as a Function of Time in New and Established Adolescent Sexual Relationships
Objectives. This study sought to describe condom use over time in new and established adolescent relationships. Methods. The outcome variable was time (in days) until first unprotected coital event. Analyses involved comparisons of Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Results. Survival functions for the 2 relationship groups were significantly different. However, by 21 days the curves had converged: 43% of new and 41%…
Relationships of Stigma and Shame to Gonorrhea and HIV Screening
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between stigma and shame associated with seeking treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and undergoing testing for gonorrhea and HIV. Methods. Participants were 847 males and 1126 females (mean age: 24.9 years) in 7 cities. Two scales assessed STD-related stigma and STD-related shame. Results. Rates of stigma and shame were higher among participants without a gonorr…
Clinic‐based service programs for increasing responsible sexual behavior
Three general classes of clinic-based programs to increase responsible sexual behavior are considered: (a) clinic-based educational/counseling programs, (b) school clinic-based condom distribution programs, and (c) clinic-based STD/HIV screening programs. Consistent condom use may double in response to clinic-based counseling. However, consistent use seldom exceeds 50% of coital exposures. Extensive and personalized counseling interventions reduc…
Reports of childhood sexual abuse by adolescents and young adults
The consistency of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) reporting was explored in this study. Two-hundred seventeen adolescents and young adults (ages 14-24) enrolled in urban health care clinics completed self-report questionnaires assessing CSA and other problem behaviors at enrollment and at 7 months. Results indicated that the stability of CSA self-report at two time points was poor (58% consistent nonreporters of CSA, 20% consistent reporters, 22% i…
Adolescent Sex and the Rhetoric of Risk
Situational and Relational Factors Associated With Coitus During Vaginal Bleeding Among Adolescent Women
Menstruation is a normal, developmental event anchored in contradictory value systems. Although it demarcates a transition to womanhood, it is often associated with negative sentiments such as shame, camouflage and discomfort. Certain behavioral expectations, including avoiding sexual intercourse, also accompany menstruation. Research has generally suggested that sex does decrease during menstruation. However, not all sexual activity is suppresse…
The Influence of Hormonal Contraception on Mood and Sexual Interest among Adolescents
Understanding Variation in Normative Childhood Sexual Behavior
The sexual behavior of children is understudied and not well understood. Applying a social constructionist perspective to childhood sexual behavior, the present study investigates familial factors that influence the normal expression of such behavior. Analysis of data from primary caregivers of preadolescent African American children shows that childhood sexual behavior varies in accordance with the sexual beliefs and customs of the family. The f…
An Article and Commentaries on the Sexualization of Girls
The position paper on the sexualization of girls released by the American Psychological Association (APA; 2007) contained a scientifically sound summary of the short-term and long-term harms that m
Young Women's Use of a Vaginal Microbicide Surrogate
Currently in clinical trials, microbicides have historically been promoted as a woman-controlled (although more recently woman initiated) method of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention. The contradicition that exists in this rationale is that women's bodies, specifically the genitals, have been constructed as a negotiated space within sexual interactions. This study qualitatively explored the factors influencing 40 young women's use of…
Condom Use Rates in a National Probability Sample of Males and Females Ages 14 to 94 in the United States
Sexual Behaviors, Condom Use, and Sexual Health of Americans Over 50
Sexual Behavior in the United States
Prevalence and Predictors of Testicular Self-Exam Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Men in the United States
Men's gender roles and norms may influence their sexual behaviors and sexual health care practices in numerous specific ways and contexts. Health professionals encourage men's performance of testicular self-exams (TSE), yet estimates of monthly TSE from convenience samples range from 2% to 10%. In this population-based study of 655 U.S. men aged 18 to 44 years, TSE prevalence during the past month was 40.3% and was predicted by geographic locatio…
Heterosexual Anal Sexuality and Anal Sex Behaviors
Little research addresses the role of anal sexuality and anal sexual behaviors as a widely practiced but relatively less frequent element of a heterosexual sexual repertoire. However, the importance of anal sex in sexual health is increasingly well-defined by epidemiological and clinical studies. This article reviews existing data on a range of heterosexual anal sex practices and provides conceptual and methodological recommendations for new rese…
Parental Permission and Perceived Research Benefits in Adolescent STI Research
An understanding of why parents provide consent for adolescent participation in research on sensitive topics can inform and improve the ethical conduct and review of such research. As part of a longitudinal study of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in lower-income adolescents, we asked 134 parents why they permitted their daughter to participate, analyzing responses using qualitative methods. Over half described participation benefits, prov…
Characteristics Associated with Sex After Periods Of Abstinence Among Sexually Experienced Young Women
To provide targeted and timely sexual health counseling, clinicians may want to ask adolescents not only whether they are sexually active but also when they last had sex
Young Women’s Use of a Microbicide Surrogate
Gender Differences in the Association Between Perceived Discrimination and Adolescent Smoking
Associations between discrimination and smoking differ by gender. Girls' decreased smoking in higher-discrimination settings may be a result of protective factors associated with where they spend time. Boys' increased smoking in higher-discrimination settings may reflect increased stress from gender-specific targeting by police and businesses
The developmental association of sexual self‐concept with sexual behavior among adolescent women
Developing a sexual self‐concept is an important developmental task of adolescence; however, little empirical evidence describes this development, nor how these changes are related to development in sexual behavior. Using longitudinal cohort data from adolescent women, we invoked latent growth curve analysis to: (1) examine reciprocal development in sexual self‐concept (sexual openness, sexual esteem and sexual anxiety) over a four year time fram…
Psychology (78 works) · Medicine (73 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (54 works) · Population (46 works) · Clinical Psychology (43 works) · Developmental psychology (42 works) · Demography (35 works) · Family medicine (35 works) · Social Psychology (35 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (30 works)