scholarly journals Influence of sexual sensation-seeking on factors associated with risky sexual behaviour among African-American female adolescents

Sexual Health ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiarney D. Ritchwood ◽  
Dolly C. Penn ◽  
Ralph J. DiClemente ◽  
Eve S. Rose ◽  
Jessica M. Sales
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
African American Females ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
African American Female ◽  
Partner Communication ◽  
Sexual Sensation Seeking

Background The identification of antecedents to sexual risk among youth is critical to the development and dissemination of multilevel interventions. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of sexual sensation-seeking on partner age, partner communication, and the sexual attitudes and behaviours of African-American female youth. Methods: This study examined survey data collected by audio computer-assisted self-interviews from 701 young African-American females between 14 and 20 years of age. The survey consisted of items designed to measure adolescents’ sexual risk and preventive behaviours. Results: The results of this study suggest that sexual sensation-seeking is associated with condom use among adolescent African-American females. For adolescents who reported greater sexual sensation-seeking, lower levels of sexual happiness were associated with a decreased likelihood of condom use at last intercourse (β = 1.01, P ≤ 0.05). For those reporting lower levels of sexual sensation-seeking, greater sexual enjoyment was associated with a greater likelihood of condom use at last intercourse (β = 0.93, P ≤ 0.01). Adolescents with younger sexual partners and lower levels of sexual sensation-seeking reported a higher proportion of condom use in the past 6 months (β = 0.70, P = 0.01). Higher partner communication self-efficacy and decreasing levels of sexual sensation-seeking were associated with fewer lifetime sexual partners (β = –0.54, P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Future research should address the impact of these variables on adolescent relationship dynamics and sexual decision-making.

Self-Esteem and Theoretical Mediators of Safer Sex Among African American Female Adolescents: Implications for Sexual Risk Reduction Interventions

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura F. Salazar ◽  
Richard A. Crosby ◽  
Ralph J. DiClemente ◽  
Gina M. Wingood ◽  
Celia M. Lescano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
African American Female ◽  
Sexual Risk Reduction ◽  
African American Female Adolescents

Theories of health behavior posit that change is accomplished by modifying factors deemed as mediators. A set of mediators from several theoretical models used in sexual risk reduction programs was assessed among a sample of 522 African American female adolescents. The goal was to determine whether self-esteem was associated with sexually transmitted disease (STD), pregnancy, and the set of theoretical mediators controlling for covariates. Bivariate analyses showed no relationship between self-esteem and STD or pregnancy; multivariate regression analysis revealed a significant relation between self-esteem and the set of mediators. Girls higher in self-esteem were more likely to hold positive condom attitudes, felt more efficacious in negotiating condom use, had more frequent communication with sex partners and parents, perceived fewer barriers to using condoms, and were less fearful of negotiating condom use. Self-esteem should be considered when designing and evaluating sexual risk reduction programs for this population.

scholarly journals Influence of sexual arousability on partner communication mediators of condom use among African American female adolescents

Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Swartzendurber ◽  
Sarah H. Murray ◽  
Jessica M. Sales ◽  
Robin R. Milhausen ◽  
Stephanie A. Sanders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Sexual Communication ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
African American Female ◽  
Partner Communication ◽  
Sexual Arousability ◽  
Communication Frequency

Background Ample evidence shows that partner sexual communication is related to condom use. Although communication about safer sex may often occur when sexual arousal is high, no studies have examined arousability, one’s propensity for sexual arousal and partner sexual communication. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between sexual arousability and partner-related mediators of condom use among African American female adolescents, who have disproportionate risk for HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Methods: The study analysed self-reported baseline data from 701 African American females aged 14–20 years participating in a HIV/STI trial. Linear regression models examined associations between arousability and partner-related mediators of condom use (partner sexual communication self-efficacy, partner sexual communication frequency, sex refusal self-efficacy and condom use self-efficacy), controlling for age, impulsivity and relationship power. Results: Greater arousability was significantly associated with reduced levels of each partner communication outcome assessed (partner sexual communication self-efficacy, partner sexual communication frequency and sex refusal self-efficacy) but was not associated with condom use self-efficacy. Conclusions: Arousal and other positive aspects of sex have largely been ignored by HIV/STI prevention efforts, which primarily focus on individual behaviour. A population-level sexual health approach focusing on sexual wellbeing may reduce stigma, facilitate partner sexual communication and be more effective at reducing HIV/STI rates than traditional approaches.

The Role of Objectification in College Women’s Substance Misuse and Sexual Risk

2021 ◽  
pp. 263207702110543
Author(s):  
Melissa M. Ertl ◽  
Jacob S. Sawyer ◽  
Jessica L. Martin ◽  
Rachel E. Brenner
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
College Student ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Body Surveillance ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners

Sexism and objectification present major challenges for mental and physical health among women. Scholars have called for research to identify mechanisms that underlie these associations as well as to delineate factors to target in prevention and intervention efforts. This study aimed to build on central tenets of objectification theory through its examination of sexist experiences in relation to body surveillance, body shame, depressive symptoms, and the health risk behaviors of substance use (i.e., alcohol and drug misuse) and sexual risk (i.e., condom use and number of sexual partners) among a large sample of college student women. We also examined whether body surveillance, body shame, and depressive symptoms would mediate theorized pathways extended to substance use and sexual risk. A sample of 505 full-time college student women ages 18–26 completed an online survey that assessed their health and behaviors. We used structural equation modeling to test mediation hypotheses. Results largely supported hypotheses, extended objectification theory to sexual risk, and expanded upon past research on objectification in relation to substance use. Notably, results of this study provided a more nuanced knowledge of how objectification may lead to increases in sexual risk when assessed by number of sexual partners (but not condom use). Further research is warranted to understand potential explanatory pathways between sexism, objectification, and sexual risk. Findings can inform prevention and intervention efforts to target body surveillance, body shame, and depressive symptoms to attempt to reduce the burden of sexist experiences on women’s health.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document