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Despite growing attention to the subject, a dearth of information exists regarding college students' perceptions and process of meaning-making related to the act of oral sex. Such perspectives and allied social sexual scripts can have considerable consequences on the sexuality and sexual health of older teens and college-aged populations. The present research serves to elucidate such perspectives and presents a profile of college students' degree of agreeing that oral sex is not sex. Over half (62.1%) of a sample of college students (N = 781) at a large southeastern university agreed that oral sex is not sex. Response rates across demographic groups are presented and factors that influence such perspectives are examined. Sexual script theory serves as the theoretical framework. Implications and limitations are explored.Keywords: oral sex, social sexual scripts, college students, script theory, sexuality, sex counseling Television talk show hosts, The Washington Post (Stepp, 2005) and Science Daily (University of California, San Francisco, 2005) have all had recent headlines related to oral sex in the older teen and college-aged populations. Because of these and other popular media sources, sex educators, parents and others have become more aware of oral sex engagement among college students and more concerned about the impacts of this engagement. Although society members are becoming concerned about this topic, limited information regarding college students' perceptions and process of meaning-making related to the act of oral sex is available in the literature. To develop sexuality education curriculum and resources targeted at young people engaging in oral sex, professionals must first identify those most likely to engage in oral sex, their process of meaning-making around this engagement and risks young people are exposed to as a function of their engagement in oral sex.In an effort to provide insight into this population's process of meaning-making related to engagement in oral sex and initial information about characteristics of college students likely to engage in oral sex, this article presents the findings of a survey conducted at a large southeastern university. An initial profile of undergraduates who agreed with the statement "Oral Sex is Not Sex" is offered and findings are analyzed through the lens of social sexual script theory to explore the process of meaning-making related to the perceptions of participants regarding oral sex. We hope this information will assist sex educators, counselors, health professionals and parents in efforts to target individuals likely to engage in oral sex to minimize risks related to oral sex in the college student population. Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide a profile of undergraduates who agreed with the assertion that oral sex is not sex and to explore the links between participant responses and sexual scripts to illuminate fully how these participants perceived oral sex engagement. This profile is important because recent research suggests that young ...

This article presents a review of the literature on counseling adults with terminal illness, particularly the literature on the nature of preparation that counselors and other professionals who attend to the needs of adults with a terminal illness require. The authors review information and findings from philosophical, psychological, practical, and spiritual works. It is evident from these readings that a personal and professional examination of making meaning of life and death is integral to the performance and personal well-being of professionals who take this caregiving role.A review of the professional literature on counseling adults with terminal illness yields fascinating information. Almost invariably, discussions about theory and practice are preceded or intertwined with philosophical discussions about death and about how it is and how it ought to be viewed by individuals and groups. It is evident from these discussions that a personal and professional examination of how counselors make meaning of life and death is integral to preparing to counsel adults who have a terminal illness.In this article, we provide a review of pertinent literature-primarily but not exclusively from the counseling field-that shows that there are parallels between the experiences and preparations of both the counselor and the client as they seek to address the client's concerns. Starting with the philosophy of life and death and the mindfulness of meaning needed by all who are facing death, we find that the potential for increased awareness is high for both client and counselor. Recognizing this potential, we suggest that integrating spirituality and interacting fully with the client and the reality of life and death are critical in the support process through the various coping phases. Mindfulness of Death and MeaningLife and death are often juxtaposed as polar opposites. Simplistically, life is viewed as a beginning and a cause for celebration, whereas death is viewed as an end to be feared and a cause for mourning. Yalom (1998), an existential psychotherapist, offered an illuminating analysis of how this polarization develops in his writings on death anxiety, or fear of death. Yalom identified

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