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.

scholarly journals A longitudinal examination of risky sexual behaviors among Canadian and Italian adolescents: Considering individual, parental, and friend characteristics

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Aude Boislard P. ◽  
François Poulin ◽  
Jeff Kiesner ◽  
Thomas J. Dishion
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Risky Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners ◽  
Italian Adolescents

In this study, two longitudinal models of early adolescent risky sexual behaviors (RSB) were compared using a pooled sample of 267 Canadian and Italian adolescents (55% females; 53% Canadians) assessed yearly from grade 8 to 10. We focused on parenting practices (monitoring, control, limit setting), adolescent problem behaviors (antisocial behaviors, substance use) and their friends' deviance (antisocial behaviors, substance use) as predictors of condom use frequency and lifetime number of sexual partners. The socialization model postulates that youths' problem behaviors and RSB are behaviors learned within the friendship network where deviancy training can occur. The selection model posits that delinquent youth tend to affiliate with each other, and that RSB is one of many behaviors that can form the basis of selection. Using structural equation modeling, this study showed that the socialization model was the most accurate to explain the emergence of RSB. A full mediation of parenting practices, passing through deviant friends and youths' problem behavior, was observed for condom use. The same process applied to number of sexual partners, but a direct effect for parenting practices was also found.

scholarly journals Associated factors and sex differences in condom non-use among adolescents: Brazilian National School Health Survey (PeNSE)

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matias Noll ◽  
Priscilla Rayanne E Silva Noll ◽  
Jéssica Menezes Gomes ◽  
José Maria Soares Júnior ◽  
Erika Aparecida Silveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
School Health ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
National School ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners

Abstract Background Condom non-use among sexually active adolescents is a major cause of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. In order to promote condom use, it is essential to understand factors associated with condom non-use. Aim Our aim was to evaluate sex differences and associated factors of condom non-use based on the nationally representative Brazilian National School Health Survey. Methods The study participants were 100,962 adolescents 13–18 years old, 9th graders from both public and private schools throughout Brazil. The following factors were considered as explanatory group variables for the outcome of condom non-use among adolescents: school and health service, sexual behavior, substance use, and self-reported body and health perception. Poisson regression model was performed. Results Of the total students, 28% (n = 28,157) had had sexual intercourse at least once. (boys, 37.1%; girls, 19.5%). Of these, 69.2% had used condoms the last time they had intercourse (girls: 68%; boys: 69.9%). The variables associated with condom non-use for both sexes were not having accessed a health service or approached a health professional for health-related care; not having received pregnancy prevention counseling or guidance on AIDS or STI prevention at school; early sexual initiation; no additional contraception method; substance use; feeling alone; not being satisfied with their own body; feeling fat or thin; and poor self-reported health. The number of sexual partners was also associated with condom non-use; however, contrasting behavior was indicated between sexes. A higher number of sexual partners indicated less use of condoms among girls, while for boys, a higher number of sexual partners indicated higher condom use. Conclusion High condom non-use appears to be associated with lack of health care access and sexual health education, poor sexual practices, substance use, and poor self-perception, indicating areas for health promotion programs.

scholarly journals Number of Sexual Partners and Associations with Initiation and Intensity of Substance Use

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 869-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg ◽  
Melissa J. Krauss ◽  
Edward L. Spitznagel ◽  
Mario Schootman ◽  
Linda B. Cottler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners

scholarly journals Low use of condom and high STI incidence among men who have sex with men in PrEP programs

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0245925
Author(s):  
Oskar Ayerdi Aguirrebengoa ◽  
Mar Vera García ◽  
Daniel Arias Ramírez ◽  
Natalia Gil García ◽  
Teresa Puerta López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Condom Use ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Risk Compensation ◽  
Preexposure Prophylaxis ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Very High

Objective Since the recent introduction of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), several studies have reported a decrease in the use of condoms and a rise in STIs among users. This rise in risk behavior associated with the advent of PrEP is known as “risk compensation.” The aim of this study is to measure clinical and behavioral changes associated with the introduction of PrEP by analyzing condom use for anal intercourse, number of sexual partners, sexualized drug use and STI incidence. Methods We performed a retrospective descriptive study of PrEP users followed every 3months over a 2-year period spanning 2017–2019 in a referral clinic specializing in STI/HIV in Madrid, Spain. One hundred ten men who have sex with men and transgender women underwent regular screening for STIs and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral data were gathered for all subjects studied. Results The risk compensation observed in this study consisted primarily of a lower rate of condom use, while the number of sexual partners and recreational drug consumption remained stable. We observed a very high incidence of STIs in this sample, particularly rectal gonorrhea and chlamydia. The factors shown to be independently associated with the presence of an STI on multivariate analysis were age below 30 years and over 10 sexual partners/month. Conclusion The incidence of STI acquisition was higher than expected, indicating a need for strategies to minimize this impact, particularly among younger individuals with a higher number of sexual partners.

scholarly journals How Do Californians Define Safe Sex?

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel M. Moskowitz ◽  
Assunta Ritieni ◽  
Maya Tholandi ◽  
Qiang Xia
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Safe Sex ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
The Past ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Policies And Programs

Objectives: We examined definitions of “safe sex” among adults in California, and assessed whether definitions varied by sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behavior. Methods: We analyzed crosssectional data from the “AIDS Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors (KABB) Survey,” a statewide telephone survey of California adults conducted in 2000. Results: The four most common definitions of safe sex were condom use (68.0%), abstinence (31.1%), monogamy (28.4%), and safe partner (18.7%). Definitions were associated with sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, and number of sexual partners in the past 12 months. Conclusions: Most adults defined safe sex in terms of condom use either alone or in conjunction with other methods. Individuals’ definitions were complex and varied across sociodemographic groups which suggest the need for policies and programs which reflect this diversity.

Testing objectification theory with Chinese undergraduate women and men

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Zheng ◽  
Qingqing Sun
Keyword(s):  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Depressed Mood ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Body Surveillance ◽  
Undergraduate Women ◽  
Appearance Anxiety

We tested the applicability of objectification theory to the prediction of disordered eating and depressed mood among Chinese undergraduate students. Participants (N = 430) completed measures of body surveillance, body shame, appearance anxiety, level of internal awareness, flow, disordered eating, and depressed mood. Results of structural equation modeling revealed the model of objectification theory provided a poor fit to the data for both genders, but 2 exploratory models with good fit were generated after subsequent modification to the model. For women, body shame and appearance anxiety mediated the relationships among body surveillance, disordered eating, and depressed mood. Furthermore, body surveillance indirectly influenced women's level of internal awareness and flow via body shame and appearance anxiety, which led to disordered eating and depressed mood. This pattern of relationships was similar for men, except for flow, which was not related to the outcome variables. We concluded that objectification theory is applicable to women and men in China.

scholarly journals High Risk Sexually Transmitted Disease Behaviour in Canada

1991 ◽  
Vol 2 (suppl a) ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Noni E MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Disease ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Sexual Pleasure ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners ◽  
Street Youths

High risk sexually transmitted disease (STD)/human immunodeficiency virus (HfV) transmission behaviour appears to be the norm, not the exception, for most adolescents. The perception of STD/HIV risk and actual risk do not always match. The major motivating factor for condom use evident in adolescents was fear of pregnancy, not fear of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome or STDs. Other factors influencing decreased condom use included: embarrassment about buying condoms: difficulty discussing condoms with a prospective partner; use of oral contraceptives; belief that condoms interfere with sexual pleasure; low HIV knowledge; and, for women, a large number of sexual partners. Overall. females reported having had more STDs than males. Prostitutes, both male and female, reported the highest rates (45% and 68%, respectively). Of the street youths studied, 16% reported having at least one prior STD diagnosis, compared to 9% of school dropouts and 5% of first year college students. The number of sexual partners and participation in anal intercourse strongly inlluenced the reported STD rate for street youths. STD/HIV risk reduction educational programs must be targeted and adapted to the cultural and social needs and resources of the different adolescent groups, particularly street youth, who are clearly a 'core' group for adolescent STD.

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