Sexual Risk-Taking in Adolescents; a Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-07
Author(s):  
Tiffany Field
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Spiritual Intelligence ◽  
Sexual Risk Taking ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Classroom Education ◽  
Physiological Markers ◽  
The Brain

A review of recent literature on sexual activity in adolescents revealed a prevalence range of 6-65 % in different countries that may relate to sampling different age groups as well as various types of sexual activity. Many risk factors have been researched including parental factors (e.g. parent risk behavior), peer variables (e.g. peer pressure), religiosity (e.g. spiritual intelligence), mood (e.g. depression), health-related behavior (e.g. sexting), substance use (e.g. marijuana) and physiological markers (e.g. activation of various areas of the brain on fMRI scans). The few interventions have included motivational interviewing by clinician or computer and classroom education and condom distribution. Limitations of this literature include a paucity of longitudinal studies and intervention research.

Young women's sexual risk taking behaviour: re-visiting the influences of sexual self-efficacy and sexual self-esteem

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Seal ◽  
V. Minichiello ◽  
M. Omodei
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Sexual Risk Taking ◽  
Negatively Associated

Summary: This study investigates the influences on young women's sexual risk taking of (a) attitudes such as sexual self-efficacy and sexual self-esteem and (b) personal and sexual characteristics, such as age, the age of first sexual experience, the number of sexual partners and reported overall amount of sex. Three hundred and thirty-one young women participated in this study. With respect to regular sexual relationships, the results show that risk taking behaviour is directly and positively associated with sexual self-esteem. The effect of sexual self-efficacy on risk taking in regular relationships, however, is indirect and positive, being mediated by the overall amount of sexual activity. In contrast, with respect to casual sexual relationships, risk taking behaviour is negatively associated with self-esteem and positively associated with sexual self-efficacy. In addition, sexual self-esteem influences casual risk taking indirectly and positively, the effect being mediated by the overall amount of sexual activity. The findings in relation to sexual self-esteem and sexual self-efficacy are contrary to the expectations that these variables would be negatively associated with sexual risk taking behaviours. The implications for safe sex education are discussed.

Alcohol Misuse and Adolescent Sexual Behaviors and Risk Taking

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Fergusson ◽  
Michael T. Lynskey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Sexual Risk Taking ◽  
Unprotected Intercourse ◽  
Multiple Partners

Objective. The aims of this study were to examine the associations between alcohol misuse and measures of early onset sexual activity and sexual risk-taking behaviors during adolescence and the extent to which any association between these two sets of behaviors could be explained by common risk factors that predisposed individuals to both outcomes. Method. Data were gathered during the course of a 16-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 953 New Zealand children and included: (1) self-report measures of early onset sexual activity (before the age of 16 years), multiple partners (three or more), and unprotected intercourse during the interval from 15 to 16 years; and (2) prospectively measured risk factors, including social background, childhood adversity, novelty seeking, and affiliations with delinquent peers. Results. Adolescents who reported misusing alcohol had odds of early onset sexual activity, multiple partners, and unprotected intercourse that were 6.1 to 23.0 times those of young people who did not misuse alcohol. After adjustment for common or correlated risk factors, the adjusted odds ratios between alcohol misuse and early onset sexual activity and unprotected intercourse were reduced but remained statistically significant. However, no significant association between alcohol misuse and multiple partners was found after adjustment for common or correlated risk factors. Conclusions. Much of the apparent association between alcohol misuse and teenage sexual activity and risk taking seems to arise through the influence of common family, individual, and peer factors. However, alcohol misuse may also place teenagers at greater risk of initiating early onset sexual intercourse and engaging in unprotected intercourse.

Gender identity and sexual risk-taking

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Billig ◽  
Pamela Brouillard
Keyword(s):  
Gender Identity ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Sexual Risk Taking

scholarly journals ‘Too old to test?’: A life course approach to HIV-related risk and self-testing among midlife-older adults in Malawi

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Johnson ◽  
Moses Kumwenda ◽  
Jamilah Meghji ◽  
Augustine T. Choko ◽  
Mackwellings Phiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Sexual Risk Taking ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Self Testing

Abstract Background Despite the aging HIV epidemic, increasing age can be associated with hesitancy to test. Addressing this gap is a critical policy concern and highlights the urgent need to identify the underlying factors, to improve knowledge of HIV-related risks as well as uptake of HIV testing and prevention services, in midlife-older adults. Methods We conducted five focus group discussions and 12 in-depth interviews between April 2013 and November 2016 among rural and urban Malawian midlife-older (≥30 years) men and women. Using a life-course theoretical framework we explored how age is enacted socially and its implications on HIV testing and sexual risk behaviours. We also explore the potential for HIV self-testing (HIVST) to be part of a broader strategy for engaging midlife-older adults in HIV testing, prevention and care. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurrent themes and variations. Results Midlife-older adults (30–74 years of age) associated their age with respectability and identified HIV as “a disease of youth” that would not affect them, with age protecting them against infidelity and sexual risk-taking. HIV testing was felt to be stigmatizing, challenging age norms, threatening social status, and implying “lack of wisdom”. These norms drove self-testing preferences at home or other locations deemed age and gender appropriate. Awareness of the potential for long-standing undiagnosed HIV to be carried forward from past relationships was minimal, as was understanding of treatment-as-prevention. These norms led to HIV testing being perceived as a threat to status by older adults, contributing to low levels of recent HIV testing compared to younger adults. Conclusions Characteristics associated with age-gender norms and social position encourage self-testing but drive poor HIV-risk perception and unacceptability of conventional HIV testing in midlife-older adults. There is an urgent need to provide targeted messages and services more appropriate to midlife-older adults in sub-Saharan Africa. HIVST which has often been highlighted as a tool for reaching young people, may be a valuable tool for engaging midlife-older age groups who may not otherwise test.

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