Rafael Ballester-Arnal

Prof. Rafael Ballester-Arnal

University Jaume I. Castellón
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

25Years (2002-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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20 November 2017 in Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
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Journal Article
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MGMaría Dolores Gil-Llario
María Dolores Gil-Llario
VMVicente Morell-Mengual
Vicente Morell-Mengual
Rafael Ballester-ArnalRafael Ballester-Arnal
Rafael Ballester-Arnal
IDI. Díaz‐Rodríguez
I. Díaz‐Rodríguez

1 August 2020 in Addictive Behaviors
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Journal Article
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Rafael Ballester-ArnalRafael Ballester-Arnal
Rafael Ballester-Arnal
JCJesús Castro-Calvo
Jesús Castro-Calvo
CGC. Giménez-García
C. Giménez-García
BGBeatriz Gil-Juliá
Beatriz Gil-Juliá
MGMaría Dolores Gil-Llario
María Dolores Gil-Llario

14 May 2022 in Sexuality Research and Social Policy
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Journal Article
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Rafael Ballester-ArnalRafael Ballester-Arnal
Rafael Ballester-Arnal
MGMarta García-Barba
Marta García-Barba
JCJesús Castro-Calvo
Jesús Castro-Calvo
CGCristina Giménez-García
Cristina Giménez-García
MGMaría Dolores Gil-Llario
María Dolores Gil-Llario
Introduction: Pornography consumption has increased exponentially in recent decades. Most studies conducted so far are focused on adult samples (typically, between 18 and 30 years old), limiting the generalizability of their results. This study aims to create a taxonomy that groups various pornographic contents and thus explore different aspects of its use (e.g., preference for different pornographic content, excessive and problematic use) in people at different life stages. Methods: Between 2016 and 2019, 8,040 individuals (71.3% men) between 12 and 85 years old (M = 33.25, SD = 14.31) completed a battery that explores pathological and non-pathological pornography use. Participants were distributed into five age groups (< 18 years old, between 18–25, 26–40, 41–60, and > 60) to perform the different analyses (ANOVA and chi-square tests for the differences between the groups, EFA for the analyses of categories of pornographic content, and hierarchical linear regressions to identify the factors related to problematic use). Results: Pornography use was highly prevalent (> 85%) in all age groups. Using a data-driven approach, we found that the pornographic content explored in this research can be classified within four categories. Using this taxonomy, we found differences according to the age for most of the pornographic content explored (e.g., sexual intercourse with opposite-sex partners [71.6–84.5% in males and 70.2–89.5% in females]). Finally, we found that age conditions the way in which preference for different pornographic content increases the risk of excessive and problematic use. Conclusions: Pornography consumption is frequent in different age groups, although it varies depending on age and content. In addition, some particular pornographic contents were identified that increase the risk of developing an addiction in different developmental stages. Policy Implications: This study provides a preliminary foundation for identifying the unique characteristics of pornography use in different age groups as well as content related to increased problematic use.

22 June 2023 in Journal of Behavioral Addictions
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BBBeáta Bőthe
Beáta Bőthe
MKMónika Koós
Mónika Koós
LNLéna Nagy
Léna Nagy
SKShane W Kraus
Shane W Kraus
ZDZsolt Demetrovics
Zsolt Demetrovics
MVMarie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel
Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel
Background and aims: Despite its inclusion in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, there is a virtual paucity of high-quality scientific evidence about compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), especially in underrepresented and underserved populations. Therefore, we comprehensively examined CSBD across 42 countries, genders, and sexual orientations, and validated the original (CSBD-19) and short (CSBD-7) versions of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Scale to provide standardized, state-of-the-art screening tools for research and clinical practice.Method: Using data from the International Sex Survey (N = 82,243; Mage = 32.39 years, SD = 12.52), we evaluated the psychometric properties of the CSBD-19 and CSBD-7 and compared CSBD across 42 countries, three genders, eight sexual orientations, and individuals with low vs. high risk of experiencing CSBD.Results: A total of 4.8% of the participants were at high risk of experiencing CSBD. Country- and gender-based differences were observed, while no sexual-orientation-based differences were present in CSBD levels. Only 14% of individuals with CSBD have ever sought treatment for this disorder, with an additional 33% not having sought treatment because of various reasons. Both versions of the scale demonstrated excellent validity and reliability.Discussion and conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of CSBD in underrepresented and underserved populations and facilitates its identification in diverse populations by providing freely accessible ICD-11-based screening tools in 26 languages. The findings may also serve as a crucial building block to stimulate research into evidence-based, culturally sensitive prevention and intervention strategies for CSBD that are currently missing from the literature.

16 November 2020 in Sexuality Research and Social Policy
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Rafael Ballester-ArnalRafael Ballester-Arnal
Rafael Ballester-Arnal
JNJuan E. Nebot-Garcia
Juan E. Nebot-Garcia
EREstefanía Ruiz-Palomino
Estefanía Ruiz-Palomino
CGCristina Giménez-García
Cristina Giménez-García
MGMaría Dolores Gil-Llario
María Dolores Gil-Llario

1 December 2015 in BMC Public Health
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Journal Article
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JEJosé Pedro Espada
José Pedro Espada
Alexandra MoralesAlexandra Morales
Alexandra Morales
Alejandro Guillén-RiquelmeAlejandro Guillén-Riquelme
Alejandro Guillén-Riquelme
Rafael Ballester-ArnalRafael Ballester-Arnal
Rafael Ballester-Arnal
MOMireia Orgilés
Mireia Orgilés
The theory of planned behavior (TPB), socio-cognitive model (SCM), and information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model are effective in predicting condom use. However, the adequacy of these three theoretical models in predicting the frequency of condom use (FCU) among young people has not been compared. This cross-sectional study tested the applicability and suitability of these three models in predicting the FCU, and analyzed the relationships among the postulated constructs. Sexually experienced adolescents (n = 410) aged 13–18 completed a survey assessing the TPB, SCM, and IMB model constructs. Participants were students recruited from 18 high schools, randomly selected from the north, south, east, and southeast of Spain. A structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was applied to test TPB, SCM and IBM and constructs relationships of each model using R. The results of SEM demonstrated that behavioral skills predict behavior via motivation as hypothesized by the IMB model, but not directly via knowledge about condom use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Cognitive factors, such knowledge about condom use and STIs as well as condom use self-efficacy, directly predicted the FCU when modeled as per the SCM. According to the TPB, condom use intention was the best predictor of the FCU, and condom use intention was predicted by attitudes toward condom use and subjective norms related to condom use, but perceived control was not directly or indirectly related to the FCU. Based on the data, the TPB becomes the best-fit model for predicting the FCU among young people compared to the SCM and IMB model. From a statistical perspective, the TPB seems to be the most suitable model for predicting the FCU among young people compared to the other models. Overall, key direct predictors of the FCU in adolescents included condom use intention, behavioral skills and cognitive factors, such as STIs knowledge and condom use self-efficacy. The next step should be to test integrative models that include personal, contextual, environmental, and social factors.