Asexuality: a content analysis of sex therapy journals

ABSTRACT

Despite recent progress in society’s understanding of sexuality as a nuanced, highly individualised concept, asexuality is a continually under-researched and misunderstood sexual identity and community. Via content analysis, the authors examined 41 publications in nine leading journals in the sex therapy field to assess how asexuality has been represented in literature over the past decade. The purpose of the review was to determine if this literature acknowledges the spectrum of asexual identities, whether asexuality and aromanticism are conflated terms, and whether asexuality is pathologized. The review determined that 41.5% of publications did not note the heterogeneity of identities under the asexuality umbrella, 12.2% conflated the terms asexuality and aromanticism, and 0% pathologized asexuality. Implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Asexuality
• literature review
• aromantic
• grey spectrum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gwendolyn Brown

Gwendolyn Brown is a writer and psychotherapist located in Jacksonville, Florida. She works at a private psychiatric practice in Fernandina Beach, providing both individual and group therapy. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Stetson University in 2014 with a B.A. in History. She obtained her M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Florida in 2020. During her graduate studies, she worked at a variety of mental health settings, including community clinics and UNF’s counseling program, PERCH. In response to the stressful impact of COVID-19, she co-created an online mental health support to provide psychoeducation resources to the Florida community. In addition to CBT-based therapeutic approaches, she is interested in gaining expertise in DBT, grief work, and psychodrama group interventions.

Andreea Cheva

Andreea Cheva is currently a Registered Clinical Mental Health Counselor Intern working towards licensure in the state of Florida. She received both her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology as well as her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Florida and hopes to one day pursue further academic endeavors. In the meantime, her main clinical interests are bridging the gap between criminal justice and mental health as well as the ways in which continuously-developing social media is affecting people worldwide.

Megan Fraser

Megan Fraser received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Florida in 2020. She is a Registered Intern working toward licensure with St. Johns County School District. She works as a clinical mental health counselor with children and families using a primarily humanistic approach. She believes that children, adolescents, and families flourish when given the space to explore their thoughts and emotions in an accepting environment. Megan also has a background as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), and embrace working with clients of all ages and abilities.

Robert J. Zeglin

Robert Zeglin, PhD, NCC, CST, LMHC (he/him) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Nationally Board Certified Counselor. He is an Associate Professor of and the Program Director for Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of North Florida. His area of research is human sexuality, particularly human sexuality counselor competencies, HIV/AIDS, sexual health and wellness, and LGBTQ health. Dr. Z is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education. In addition to teaching and research, he continues his clinical work, seeing clients at the Jacksonville Center for Sexual Health.