NCSH in the News
‘Scarousal’ Explains Why Fear Can Turn You On – Men’s Health
Fear can heighten sexual arousal because the body’s fight-or-flight response mirrors physical signs of being turned on, causing some people to misread fear as desire or “scarousal.” Justin Lehmiller, of NCSH member the Kinsey Institute, is quoted.
NCSH’S COLLABORATION WITH AARP: “IN THE MOOD”
NCSH is providing experts for AARP’s advice column, available to AARP members (via a paywall), reaching up to 15 million people monthly. The most recent articles include:
How to Date When You Hate Your 50+ Body – AARP
Body-image shame can limit dating, but experts say most partners won’t care nearly as much as you do. They recommend interrupting negative self-talk, using body-affirming mirror work, and sharing this insecurity when discussing intimacy preferences. NCSH arranged interviews with Sari Cooper and Tameca Harris-Jackson.
I Wish My Husband Was More Social – AARP
Experts say an introverted partner’s staying home is about recharging, not rejection. They recommend clear communication and compromise: agree on a few shared outings and go places solo with confidence.
Top 10 In the Mood Columns: The Sex and Relationship Topics You Loved – AARP
AARP’s In the Mood rounds up its 10 most-read sex-and-relationship advice columns of 2025, some of which NCSH lined up experts for.
Other News This Week
US Now Supports Self-Swab HPV Test. Get The Details – USA Today
Women ages 30-65 at average risk of cervical cancer will be able to perform HPV tests at home using self-collected vaginal samples.
What is Heteroflexibility? It’s the Highest-Growing Sexuality on Feeld. – Mashable
“Heteroflexible,” the dating app Feeld’s fastest-growing label in 2025, describes people who see themselves as mostly straight but are open to some same-sex attraction or experiences.
2026 Could See End of Child Marriage in Another State – Newsweek
Wisconsin could become the latest and 17th state in the U.S. to ban child marriage.
Ten Years After It Ended Its ‘One-Child’ Policy, China’s Push for More Babies Isn’t Winning Its Citizens Over – CNN World
A decade after China ended its one-child policy, birth rates are still falling as young couples cite high childcare costs, weak eldercare support, economic insecurity, and gender expectations.
