Theo Sandfort

Theo Sandfort is a research scientist at the HIV center for clinical and behavioral Studies, and is associate professor of clinical sociomedical sciences in psychiatry, Columbia University. He joined the Center in 2001. Before that he was Chairman of the Interfaculty Department of Lesbian and Gay Studies at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and Director of the Research Program "Diversity, Lifestyles and Health" at the Netherlands Institute of social sexological research. Dr. Sandfort has engaged in numerous basic and applied empirical investigations in the field of sexuality and health. He is known among boylovers for his research on man/boy sexual relationships and early childhood sexuality.

Biographies

You may read another biography here: http://cupop.columbia.edu/people/theodorus-sandfort

Another biography is reproduced below:

Theo Sandfort, trained as a social psychologist, was a tenured, Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Psychology at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and Director of the Research Program “Diversity, Lifestyles and Health” at the Netherlands Institute of Social Sexological Research (NISSO). Since 2001 he is Associate Professor and Research Scientist at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies. Since his time as a graduate student Theo Sandfort has been involved in numerous basic and applied empirical investigations in the field of sexuality and health. He has worked as interviewer, research assistant, principal investigator and project leader. In terms of research methods he is skilled in both quantitative and qualitative approaches. He was involved in large as well as small-scale studies, aimed at surveying sexual behavior and attitudes, identifying determinants of health behavior, needs assessments, evaluating mass media and small-scale health interventions, and identifying the epidemiology of mental disorders. While in the Netherlands, Dr. Sandfort acquired grants from national and local Dutch government, semi-governmental agencies, non-profit organizations as well as the industry. He has successfully received funding for over twenty-five studies, the largest of which have been Psychosocial Core of the Amsterdam Gay Cohort Studies (1992-1998), Monitoring the Effects of the Mass Media Safe Sex Campaigns (1992-2001), Sexual Harassment and Minorities in the Dutch Police Force (1998-2001). Dr. Sandfort is on the Editorial Board of several academic journals, including AIDS Care, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Culture, Health and Sexuality, International Journal of Sexual Health, Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, Sexualities, Sexuality Research and Social Policy, and Tijdschrift voor Seksuologie (Dutch Journal of Sexology). He served as President of the the International Academy of Sex Research and the Dutch Society of Sexology. In 2008, he received the John Money Award from the Society of the Scientific Study of Sexuality for his research work.

Education

Catholic University, Nijmegen, Netherlands M.A. 1979 Social Psychology

Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands Ph.D. 1988 Social Sciences

Professional Experience

1977-1979 Student Assistant, Department of Social Psychology, Catholic University, Nijmegen, Netherlands

1980-1981 Research Assistant, Sociological Institute, Utrecht University, Netherlands

1981-1988 Research Assistant, Department of Clinical Psychology and Personality Theory, Utrecht University

1988-1989 Researcher, Interfaculty Department of Lesbian and Gay Studies, Utrecht University

1988-1993 Co-director of research programme social-scientific AIDS research, Utrecht University

1993-1997 Chair of Interfaculty Department of Lesbian and Gay Studies, Utrecht University

1996-2001 Director of research programme “Diversity, lifestyles and health”, Netherlands Institute of Social Sexological Research, Utrecht, Netherlands

1998-2001 Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University

2001-present Research Scientist, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY

2001-present Associate Professor, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY

2001-present Associate Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences (in Psychiatry), Departments of Psychiatry and Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY

2002-2003 President, International Academy of Sex Research

2002-present Fellow, American Psychological Association

2003-present Training Director, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY

Publications

Some of his important publications include:

Youths not always victims in man-boy sex, survey reveals, The International Journal of Human Relations. Volume 14 (1) pp. 8-9 October, 1984, Sandfort, Theodorus, & Finkelhor David, Volume 14, Issue 1, October 1984, Pagination 8 & 9, Type of Work: Discussion

"Are children always traumatized by pedophiles?", Part of the report of a forum: Sandfort & Finkelhor: A recent survey reveals that some youngsters actually enjoy sex with adults and do not feel stigmatized.

• https://www.ipce.info/library/journal-article/youths-not-always-victims-man-boy-se

Boys On Their Contacts with Men: A Study Of Sexually Expressed Friendships
While a lecturer in psychology at the State University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, he interviewed 25 boys ranging in age from 10 to 16 who were currently involved in sexual relationships with adult men, and in 1984 he published a report of the interviews.

• The book may be read here: https://www.ipce.info/host/sandfort_87/

You may read a description of and criticism of his study here:

• https://groups.google.com/forum/?_escaped_fragment_=msg/soc.motss/AYVed9zXG6Q/dpLmQzR639MJ#!msg/soc.motss/AYVed9zXG6Q/dpLmQzR639MJ

Three of the interviews from the book that he conducted with the boys are available:

• "Three Interviews from the research of Theo Sandfort" Scroll down to pages 18-31.

http://exitinterview.biz/rarities/pan/n12/pan12.pdf

Another article, "Experience World of Children in Paedophile Relations," by Drs Theo Sandfort (scroll down the .PDF file to pages 10-14):

• http://exitinterview.biz/rarities/pan/n5/pan5.pdf

His most recent book is Childhood Sexuality: Normal Sexual Behavior and Development, 145 pages, Published May 19th 2014 by Routledge (first published January 1st 2013). The book is currently in print and may be bought as a softcover, hardcover, or e-book.

The book description from Goodreads:

• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18538476-childhood-sexuality#

What is normal sexual behavior in a child? Childhood sexuality is an often neglected field in sex research. There is very little literature about what one might call normal child sexual behavior. The existing literature on child sexuality gives the impression that the only way in which children figure in sexological research is as objects of sexual abuse. The child, as a subject learning about sexuality and capable of experiencing sexual pleasures, doesn't seem to exist in scholarly papers.

Childhood Sexuality: Normal Behavior and Development does not focus on sexual abuse but instead deals with what can be described as normal sexual behavior and development in children under age 12. This valuable book offers information about the relationship between age and sexual development, both mental and physical, in both males and females.

Childhood Sexuality: Normal Behavior and Development explores several issues, including: what children ages two to six think or know about sexuality the ways that children learn about sexuality and procreation the process of body discovery among children what normal sexual behaviors to expect in children of various ages the importance of growing up in a positive environment the differences in sexual development between children of the same age and gender ways to get honest answers from children and parents about sexuality.

Comprehensive and enlightening, Childhood Sexuality examines the difficulties of gathering this information from children and gives insight into questions that need to be answered in the future. This guide delivers a diverse look at the complex and intriguing topic of normal child sexuality and the progress that is being made in this area of research. "

Childhood Sexuality is comprised of 7 studies of sexual development in children under 12. In addition, the book also discusses children's understandings of love and romance.

A listing of his English publications may be found here:

• https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/588038.Theo_Sandfort

Other publications (some duplicates, sorry) follow:

Vroome, E.M.M. de, Paalman, M.E.M., Dingelstad, A.A.M., Kolker, L., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Increase safe sex among the young and nonmonogamous: knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding safe 'sex and condom use in The Netherlands from 1987 to 1993. Patient Education and Counseling, 24:279-288, 1994.

Wit, J.B.F. de, Teunis, N., Griensven, G.J.P. van, Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Behavioral risk reduction strategies to prevent HIV infection among homosexual men: A Grounded Theory Approach. AIDS Education and Prevention, 6:493-505, 1994.

Bosga, M.B., VVit, J.B.F. de, Vroome, E.M.M. de, Houweling, H., Schop, W., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Differences in perception of risk for HIV infection with steady and non-steady partners among homosexual men. AIDS Education and Prevention, 7:103-115, 1995.

Kerkhof, M.P.N., Zwart, 0. de, Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Dilemma in HIV/AIDS prevention for gay men. In: D. Friedrich and W. Heckmann (Eds.), AIDS in Europe The behavioural aspect. Vol. 3: Frameworks of behaviour modification (pp. 179-184). Berlin: Ed. Sigma, 1995.

Mulder, C.L., Antoni, M.H., Emmelkamp, P.M.G., Veugelers, P.J., Sandfort, Th.G.M., Vijver, F.A.J.R. van de, Vries, M.J. de: Psychosocial group intervention and the rate of decline of immunological parameters in asymptomatic HIV infected homosexual men. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 63:185-192, 1995.

Mulder, C.L., Vroome, E.M.M. de, Griensven, G.J.P., Antoni, M.H., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Distraction as a predictor of the biological course of HIV 1 infection over a seven year period in gay men. Psychosomatic Medicine, 57:67, 1995.

Sandfort, Th.: AIDS in Europe The Behavioural Aspect: Major findings and discussion. In D. Friedrich and W. Heckmann (Eds.), AIDS in Europe The behavioural aspect. VoL 1: General aspects (pp. 251-258). Berlin: Ed. Sigma, 1995.

Sandfort, Th.G.M.: HIV/AIDS prevention and the impact of attitudes towards homosexuality and bisexuality. In G. M. Herek and B. Greene (Eds.), AIDS, psychology, and the lesbian and gay community (pp. 32-54). Thousand Oaks: Sage, 1995.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Clement, U., Knobel, J., Keet, R., Vroome, E.M.M. de: Does coping with HIV infection affect safer sexual behaviour? In D. Friedrich and W. Heckmann (Eds.), AIDS in Europe The behavioural aspect. VoL 2: Risk behaviour and its determinants (pp. 191-192). Berlin: Ed. Sigma, 1995.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Clement, U., Knobel, J., Keet, R., Vroome, E.M.M. de: Sexualization in the coping process of HIV infected gay men. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2: 220-226, 1995.

Vroome, E.M.M. de, Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Condom promotion among gay men: The next step. In D. Friedrich and W. Heckmann (Eds.), AIDS in Europe - The behavioural aspect. Vol, 3: Frameworks of behaviour modification (pp. 193-199). Berlin: Ed. Sigma, 1995.

Zwart, O. de, Kerkhof, M.P.N., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: The structure and meanings of anal sex among gay men. In D. Friedrich and W. Heckmann (Eds.), AIDS in Europe - The behavioural aspect. Vol. 2: Risk behaviour and its determinants (pp. 107-114). Berlin: Ed. Sigma, 1995.

de Wit, J.B.F., Vroome, E.M.M. de, Sandfort, Th.G.M., Griensven, G.J.P. van: Homosexual encounters in different venues. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 8:130-134, 1997.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Bos, H., Haavio-Mannila, E., Sundet, J.M.: Sexual practices and their social profiles. In M.C. Hubert, N. Bajos, Th.G.M. Sandfort (Eds.), Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe (pp. 106-164). London: UCL Press, 1998.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Hubert, M.C. Bajos, N., Bos, H.: Sexual behaviour and HIV risk: common patterns and differences between European countries. In M.C. Hubert, N. Bajos, Th.G.M. Sandfort (Eds.). Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe (pp. 403-426) N. London: UCL Press, 1998.

Vroome, E.M.M. de, VVit, J.B.F. de, Stroebe, W., Sandfort, Th.G.M., Griensven, G.J.P van: Sexual behavior and depression among HIV-positive gay men. AIDS and Behavior, 2:137-149, 1998.

Vroome, E.M.M. de, Kok, G.J., Jager, J.C., Tielman, R.A.P., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: The adoption and maintenance of safe sex in a national cohort of gay men in the Netherlands. In Th.G.M. Sandfort (Ed.), The Dutch response to HIV. pragmatism and consensus (pp. 246-261). London: UCL Press, 1998.

Zwart, O. de, Kerkhof, M.P.N., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Anal sex and gay men: The challenge of HIV and beyond. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 10:89-102, 1998.

Zwart, O. de, Kerkhof, M.P.N., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Anal sex and gay men: The challenge of HIV and beyond. In M.T. Wright, B.R.S. Rosser, & 0. De Zwart (Eds.), New International Directions in HIV Prevention for Gay and Bisexual Men (pp 89-102). Bingham NY: Haworth Press, 1998.

Mulder, C.L., Vroome, E.M.M. de, Griensven, G.J.P., Antoni, M.H., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Avoidance as a predictor of the biological course of HIV 1 infection over a seven year period in gay men. Health Psychology, 18:107-113, 1999.

Wiessing, L.G., Houweling, H., Sandfort, Th.G.M., Schop, W., Akker, R. van den, Hoogenveen, R.T.: Reaching homosexual men for HIV surveillance through a gay magazine. European Journal of Epidemiology, 15:429-437, 1999.

Bajos, N, Marquet, J., Huynen, P., Hubert, M., Sandfort, T: Research on HIV sexual risk: Social relations based approach in a cross cultural perspective. Social Science and Medicine, 50:1533-1546, 2000.

Friedrich, W.N., Sandfort, Th.G.M., Oostveen, J., Cohen Keftenis, P.T.: Cultural differences in sexual behavior: 2-6 year old Dutch and American children. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality,12:117-128, 2000.

Hasselt, N. van, Vroome, E.M.M. de, Sandfort, Th.G.M.: The public face of AIDS and STD control. STD Bulletin, 20:10-14, 2000.

Moatti, J.P., Souteyrand, Y., Prieur, A., Sandfort, Th.G.M., Aggleton, P. (Eds): AIDS in Europe. New Challenges for the Social Sciences. London: Routledge, 2000.

Sandfort, Th.: Homosexuality, psychology, and gay and lesbian studies. In: Sandfort, Th., Schuyf, J., Duyvendak, J.W., and Weeks, J. (Eds), Lesbian & Gay Studies: An Introductory, Interdisciplinary Approach. London: Sage, 2000.

Sandfort, Th.: Safe sex. In T.F. Murphy (Ed.), Reader's guide to lesbian and gay studies. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2000.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Cohen Kettenis, P.T.: Sexual behavior in Dutch and Belgian children as observed by their mothers. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 12:105-115, 2000.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Rademakers, J. (Eds): Childhood Sexuality. Normal Sexual Behavior and Development. New York: Haworth Press, 2000.

Schiltz, M.A., Sandfort, Th.G.M.: HIV positive people, risk and sexual behaviour. Social Science and Medicine, 50:1571-1588, 2000.

de Wit, J.B.F., Stroebe, W, Vroome, E.M.M. de, Sandfort, Th.G.M, Griensven, G.J.P. van: Understanding HIV preventive behaviors with casual and primary partners in homosexual men: The theory of planned behavior and the information-motivation-behavioral skills model. Psychology & Health , 15(3):325-340, 2000.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Graaf, R. de, Bijl, R.V., Schnabel, P.: Sexual orientation and psychiatric disorders: Findings from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study NEMESIS. Archives of General Psychiatry, 50(1):85-91, 2001.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., and de Keizer, M.: Sexual problems in gay men: An overview of empirical research. Annual Review of Sex Research, 12:93-120, 2001.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., de Graaf, R., and Bijl, R.V.: Same-sex sexuality and quality of life: Findings from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32:15-22, 2003.

Dodge, B., Reece, M., Cole, S.L., and Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Sexual compulsivity among heterosexual college students. Journal of Sex Research, 41:343-350, 2004.

Sandfort, Th.G.M.: Studying sexual orientation change: A methodological review of the Spitzer’s Study, "Can some gay men and lesbians change their sexual orientation?" Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy, 7:15-29, 2004.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., and Ehrhardt, A.A.: Sexual health: A useful public health paradigm or a moral imperative? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 33:181-187, 2004.

Dodge, B., Sandfort, Th.G.M., Yarber, W.L., and de Wit, J.B.F.: Sexual health across national cultures: Male college students in the United States and the Netherlands. American Journal of Health Behavior, 29:172-182, 2005.

Sandfort, Th. G. M.: Sexual orientation and gender: Stereotypes and beyond. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34(6): 595-611, 2005.

Bakker, F. C., Sandfort, Th. G.M., Vanwesenbeeck, I., van Lindert, H., and Westert, G. P.: Use of health care services higher for homosexuals and bisexuals than for heterosexuals: Findings from a Dutch population survey. Social Science & Medicine, 63:2022-2030, 2006.

de Graaf, R., Sandfort, Th. G. M., and ten Have, M.: Suicidality and sexual orientation: Differences between men and women in a general population-based sample of adults in the Netherlands. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 37(3):253-26, 2006.

Sandfort, Th. G. M., Bakker, F., Schellevis, F., Vanwesenbeeck, I., and Van Lindert, H.: Sexual orientation andmental and physical health status: Findings from a Dutch population survey. American Journal of Public Health,96(6):1119-1125, 2006.

Sandfort, Th.G.M., Bos, H., and Vet, R.: Lesbians and gay men at work: Consequences of being out. In A.M. Omoto, H.S., Kurtzman (Eds.), Sexual orientation, mental health, and substance use: Contemporary scientific perspectives.

Sandfort, Th. G. M., Brongersma, E., & Naerssen, A. van. (Eds.) (1990). Male intergenerational intimacy: Historical, socio-psychological, and legal perspectives. New York: Haworth Press.

Sandfort, Th. G. M. (1991). Bisexuality in the Netherlands; Some data from Dutch studies. In R. A. P. Tielman, A. Hendriks & M. Carballo (Eds.), Bisexuality and HIV/AIDS (pp. 73-80). Buffalo: Prometheus.

Sandfort, Th. G. M. (1995). HIV/AIDS prevention and the impact of attitudes towards homosexuality and bisexuality. In G. M. Herek & B. Greene (Eds.), AIDS, psychology, and the lesbian and gay community (pp. 32-54). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Sandfort, Th. G. M. (1997). Sampling male homosexuality. In J. Bancroft (Ed.), Researching sexual behavior: Methodological issues (pp. 261-275). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.

Hubert, M. C., Bajos, N., & Sandfort, Th. G. M. (1998) (Eds.), Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe. London: UCL Press.

Sandfort, Th. G. M. (Ed.) (1998). The Dutch response to HIV: Pragmatism and consensus. London: UCL Press.

Sandfort, Th. G. M. (1998). Homosexual and bisexual behaviour in European countries. In M. C. Hubert, N. Bajos & Th. G. M. Sandfort (Eds.), Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe (pp. 68-105). London: UCL Press.

Sandfort, Th. G. M., Bos, H., Haavio-Mannila, E., & Sundet, J. M. (1998). Sexual practices and their social profiles. In M. C. Hubert, N. Bajos & Th. G. M. Sandfort (Eds.), Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe (pp. 106-164). London: UCL Press.

Sandfort, Th. G. M., Hubert, M. C. Bajos, N., & Bos, H. (1998). Sexual behaviour and HIV risk: Common patterns and differences between European countries. In M. C. Hubert, N. Bajos & Th. G. M. Sandfort (Eds.), Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe (pp. 403-426). London: UCL Press.

Moatti, J. P., Souteyrand, Y., Prieur, A., Sandfort, Th. G. M., & Aggleton, P. (Eds.) (2000). AIDS in Europe. New Challenges for the Social Sciences. London: Routledge.

Sandfort, Th. G. M., & Rademakers, J. (Eds.) (2000). Childhood Sexuality: Normal Sexual Behavior and Development. New York: Haworth Press.

Sandfort, Th. G. M., Schuyf, J., Duyvendak, J. W., & Weeks, J. (Eds.) (2000). Lesbian & Gay Studies: An Introductory, Interdisciplinary Approach. London: Sage.

Štulhofer, A., & Sandfort Th. G. M. (Eds.)(2005). Sexuality and gender in post-communist Eastern Europe and Russia. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.

Sandfort, T. G. M. (2006). Sexual health. In S. S. Gorin & J. Arnold (Eds.), Health promotion in practice (pp. 222-253). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Dodge, B., & Sandfort, T. G. M. (2007). Mental health among bisexual individuals when compared to homosexual and heterosexual individuals: An introductory review. In B. A. Firestein (Ed.), Becoming visible. Counseling bisexuals across the lifespan (pp. 28-51). New York: Columbia University Press.

Reddy, V., Sandfort, T. G. M., & Rispel, R. (Eds.) (2009), From social silence to social science: Perspectives on same-sex sexuality, gender and HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council.