Research interests
My research interests are in the areas of sexual and reproductive health. My current research focuses on five main areas:
1. Interventions to improve uptake of, and experiences of, condom use
2. Sexual health in older adults
3. Innovative sex education interventions for adolescents
4. Sexual problems in women
5. Condom use errors and problems
I have published articles on the following topics: the relationship between the menstrual cycle and changes in mood and sexuality; menstrual synchrony; methodological issues in recall data on sexual behavior, gender differences in sexuality; the relationship between mood and sexuality; sexual arousal in women, contraception and sexuality, asexuality, microbicides; and intimate partner violence; older adults’ sexual health; behavioural interventions to improve uptake of condom use.
I am a member of the Condom Use Research Team (CURT), a multidisciplinary research team involving The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention (RCAP), and researchers from Canada and the U.S.
Current collaborations:
- Dr. Anastasia Eleftheriou, Technologos Research and Innovation Services
- Professor Richard Crosby, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky
- Dr Robin Milhausen, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph)
- Professor Stephanie Sanders, The Kinsey Institute and Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University
- Professor William Yarber, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University and the Rural Center for AIDS/STD prevention
- Professor BenteTræen, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
- Professor Katherine Brown, University of Hertfordshire
- Dr Katie Newby, University of Hertfordshire
- Dr Tom Nadarzynski, University of Westminster
- Professor Aleksandar Štulhofer, University of Zagreb
Research project(s)
Evaluating the Home-based Intervention Strategy (HIS-UK) to reduce new Chlamydia infection among young men aged 16-25 years by promoting correct and consistent condom use: What is the cost effectiveness of two different delivery models (face-to-face and digital delivery)? (NIHR project)
Innovative educational intervention for safe sexual and reproductive health. (Strategic partnerships for youth, Erasmus+ project)
Marital Quality, Sexual Behavior and Reproductive Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic (Kinsey Institute Condom Use Research Team project)
Feasibility study of the Home-based Exercises for Responsible Sex (HERS) intervention to promote correct and consistent condom use among young women (Medical Research Council project)
Healthy sexual aging – A mixed method study of sexual problems and well-being in older adults across Europe (Norwegian Research Council)
Research group
Centre for Clinical and Community Applications of Health Psychology (CCCAHP)
Affiliate research group
Centre for Sexual Health Research (CSHR)
Research project(s)
Randomised controlled superiority trial with three-parallel groups (two intervention and one control arm, 1:1:1 allocation), with an internal pilot, to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a behavioural intervention to reduce Chlamydia infection among men aged 16-25 years.
Sexual and reproductive health education is one of the objectives of EU Action Plan for Sexual and Reproductive Health dedicated to the need to establish and strengthen formal and informal evidence-informed comprehensive sex education pointing to the development of competency training and aids for teachers, educators and health professionals.
Professor Cynthia GrahamBuilding 44 Highfield Campus University of Southampton SO17 1BJ
Room Number: 44/3073
