Different Strokes for Different Folks? Examining a New Measure for Age-Relative Sexual Attitudes

Recent research suggests increasingly permissive attitudes towards sexual activity in later life. Harboring more conservative beliefs especially as one reaches older age, however, may translate into how one views and navigates sexual health changes. A sample of participants (N = 706; Mage = 52.72 years, SD = 9.57, range = 36-79; 60.8% male) was recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to complete a survey on sexual beliefs about age and aging. Participants completed two versions of the Relative Sexual Attitudes Scale (RASA), wherein they were prompted to consider either “someone their own age” or “an older person” in response to items assessing sexual attitudes. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the original five-factor structure, reduce the total items from 31 to 25, and establish measurement equivalence for the 36-54 year-old and 55+ year-old samples. Through a series of profile analyses investigating each subscale, scores did not significantly differ between the two prompts, although significant age-group differences were found with the 36-54 year-old age group reporting more open attitudes than the 55+ year-old age group across all subscales, except the traditional mores subscale. Sexual attitude subscale scores also differed by gender, engagement in partnered sexual activity, and whether one had spoken to a health professional about their sexual health in the past year. The findings support use of the RASA for adults 36 and older and highlight applications to understanding differences in sexual health into later life.

Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour of university students: Findings of a Beijing-Based Survey in 2010-2011

Background Although several studies have attempted investigating sex-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among young people in China, deeper insights were still needed to further understand how this population could be supported to make healthy and safe sexual choices. Against this background, this study used a large set of secondary data to examine associations among sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour. Methods A cross-sectional study was employed to explore the associations among SRH knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour with a publicly available survey data among the 1196 university students from freshmen to Ph.D. candidates. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the university students by gender. Associations of sociodemographic factors with sources and categories of SRH knowledge, categories of contraceptive knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior were explored with Poisson regressions and logistic regressions, respectively. The mediating effects of sociodemographic factors on the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behavior, observed sexual attitudes on the associations of SRH knowledge with sexual behavior, and latent sexual attitudes on the relationship between SRH knowledge and sexual behavior were analyzed in order. Results Descriptive analysis showed that the sample was dominated by age group (18 to 24 years), undergraduates, females, limited contraceptive knowledge, unfavorable sexual attitudes, and insufficient knowledge sources. Regression analyses showed that sociodemographic factors had significant associations with SRH knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior. Subsequently, the mediating effects of sociodemographic factors on the associations of SRH knowledge and sexual attitudes with sexual behavior were confirmed. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, the effects of sexual attitudes on the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behaviour could be verified. Structural equation modeling indicated that the linear sequence of sources and categories of SRH knowledge → sexual attitudes → sexual behaviour model and the triangle mediating effects of sexual behaviour → sexual attitudes → SRH knowledge model existed. Conclusions Sociodemographic factors and observed sexual attitudes mediated the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behaviour. The sequence relationship: sources and categories of SRH knowledge → sexual attitudes → sexual behavior and the mediating relationship: sexual behavior → sexual attitude → sources and categories of SRH knowledge & sexual behavior → sources and categories of SRH knowledge and sexual behavior → sexual attitude → categories of contraceptive knowledge & sexual behavior → categories of contraceptive knowledge were confirmed in the sample. This study also identified an urgent need for the university students to access to SRH comprehensive knowledge.

Sexual Attitudes and Associated Factors of Risky Sexual Behaviors Among University Students

IntroductionRisky sexual behaviors, because of its adverse health consequences, are a serious problem in the health care system. Adequate awareness of reproductive health in young people is important because they are in the early years of fertility and engaging in risky sexual behaviors are more probable. This study aimed to evaluate the sexual attitude and associated factors of risky sexual behaviors among girls and boys and the difference of sexual norms by gender among university students.MethodsA university-based study with a cross-sectional survey conducted for nine months in 2019. A total of 800 university students were studied by a random sampling technique, using a self-administered structured questionnaire derived from World Health Organization illustrative questionnaire to assess sexual attitudes among adolescents and young adultsResultsMost of the respondents were female and single. Girls were more religious, more frequently visited the cinemas, and were more likely to discuss sex-matters with family members compared to boys. There was no significant difference in the total score of sexual attitude in girls and boys, and both genders had negative attitudes toward risky sexual behavior (42/72). Those who go to parties, bars, or movies were more probable to have risky sexual behavior. Being a religious person is an essential predictor of having less risky behavior (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = 0.96,3.41).ConclusionBeing religious was a protective factor for engaging in risky sexual behavior. More interventions in schools and universities need to educate students to enhance awareness about the consequences of RSB and reduce the rate of it.

Peer Attachment, Fathering, Social Media Use and Perception of Premarital Sexual Attitude among Teenagers

This study aimed to analyze the links among peer attachment, fathering, social media use, and the perception of premarital sexual among adolescents. Two hundred and four high school (SMA) students and 114 Vocational High School (SMK) students voluntarily participated in this online survey. Results showed fathering was negatively associated with the perception of premarital sex among adolescents in which participants with positive experiences in fathering would report low score in perception of premarital sexual. On the other hand, social media use was significantly linked to the high score of perception of premarital sexual. Regression analysis indicated participants’ dating experience, lack of fathering experience and high social media use to be predictors for the perception of premarital sex among adolecscent.

The Sexual Attitudes of Iranian Students

Background: Sexual attitudes are a central concept in the study of sexuality and may largely influence the decision-making of the youth to engage in premarital sexual relations. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the sexual attitudes (permissive/conservative) of Iranian students. Methods: This study was conducted on 280 students (170 females and 110 males) who were selected via multistage random sampling from the students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran. Data were collected using the short-form sexual attitude scale. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using the factorial analysis of variance. Results: A significant difference was observed between the male and female students in terms of sexual attitudes as the sexual attitude of the female students was conservative, while the sexual attitude of the male students was permissive. In addition, sexual attitudes differed significantly between age groups as the students aged 18 - 22 years had conservative sexual attitudes, while those aged 23 - 26 years had permissive sexual attitudes. Conclusion: The results of this survey could guide psychologists and counselors in helping students with the issues regarding premarital sex and the prevention of high-risk sexual behaviors.

Reducing Sexual Communication Anxiety of Women upon Marriage: A randomized quasi-experimental study from Iran

Background: Lack of sexual knowledge or incorrect sexual information can lead to anxiety and fear of sexual communication and subsequent sexual dysfunction in marrying women. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sexual cognition counseling on the sexual communication anxiety of women upon marriage. Methods: In this randomized quasi-experimental study 124 women upon marriage with poor sexual knowledge and attitudes, were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention and control group (62 in each group), using four randomized blocking. Data collected by Sexual Knowledge and Attitude (SKAS) and Sexual Communication Anxiety questionnaires. In the experimental group, five counseling sessions were held with the aim of promoting women sexual knowledge and attitude. Control group women did not receive any intervention. Results: The mean scores of sexual knowledge and sexual attitude of women in the experimental group were significantly increased from 30.02 ± 9.09 and 32.34 ± 6.09 to 34.35 ± 10.23 and 34.53 ± 6.92 after intervention respectively (p <0.05). The mean scores of sexual communication anxiety in the intervention group showed a significant decrease from 42.23 ± 10.63 to 40.47 ± 10.94 after the intervention (p <0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that increase of knowledge and improvement of sexual attitude can reduce the sexual communication anxiety of women upon marriage. Designing and implementing the effective interventions with the purpose of promoting the sexual knowledge in women and amending the false attitudes and beliefs may take some effective steps to protect and promote the sexual health in women, then the couples. This research was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20120215009014N238).

KECENDERUNGAN PERILAKU SEKSUAL BERESIKO DIKALANGAN MAHASISWA: KAJIAN ATAS SEXUAL ATTITUDE DAN GENDER ATTITUDE

The research aims to find out the effect of Sexual and Gender Attitude on risky sexual behavior and the tendency of its behavior among adolescents. This research is a quantitative research with survey methods and applies cross sectional approach. The respondents of this research were 99 students in Pekalongan City which selected using random sampling technique. The results show that there was a significant relationship between sexual and gender attitudes to the tendency of risky sexual behavior among adolescent students with a significance level of <0.05. In the aspect of sexual attitudes, the results obtained (tcount (3.229)> ttable (1.988) and the level of Sig (0.02 <0.05)), amounting to 64.6% of students had a permissive attitude towards sexuality issues, while the gender attitude variable obtained results (tcount (-3,986)> ttable (1,988) and Sig. (0,000 <0.05)). There were as many as 67.7% who strongly supported and 32.3% who supported the importance of equality of gender roles in various aspects. Gender attitude significantly influences risky sexual behavior. The two factors above that influence sexual behavior are at risk in adolescents, but it is also influenced by the attitudes and sexual behavior of peer and media exposure. This is due to the direct or indirect encouragement of close friends and media exposure to have risky sexual relations which causes a person to be permissive and possible to do. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat fenomena kecenderungan perilaku seksual beresiko dikalangan pasangan remaja mahasiswa, mengetahui pengaruh Sexual Attitude dan Gender Attitude terhadap perilaku seksual beresiko. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif, metode penelitian survey, dan pendekatannya adalah cross sectional. Responden sebanyak 99 orang mahasiswa di Kota Pekalongan, teknik pengambilan sampel random sampling. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada hubungan yang signifkan antara sikap terhadap seksualitas dan sikap terhadap gender perempuan dengan kecenderungan perilaku seksual beresiko di kalangan pasangan remaja mahasiswa dengan nilai taraf signifikasi< 0,05. Pada aspek sikap seksual (Sexual Attitude) diperoleh hasil (thitung (3,229) > ttabel (1,988) dan taraf nilai Sig. (0,02 < 0,05)), sebesar 64,6% mahasiswa memiliki sikap permisif terhadap persoalan seksualitas. Sedangkan pada variable sikap terhadap gender perempuan (gender attitude) diperoleh hasil (thitung (-3,986) > ttabel (1,988) dan taraf nilai Sig. (0,000 < 0,05)). Sebanyak 67,7% sangat mendukung dan 32,3% mendukung pentingnya kesetaraan peran gender perempuan dalam berbagai aspek. Sikap terhdap gender perempuan sangat berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap perilaku seksual beresiko. Selain kedua factor di atas, juga dipengaruhi oleh sikap dan perilaku seksualitas teman sebaya dan eksposur dari media. Adanya dorongan, sikap dan perilaku yang ditunjukkan oleh teman sebayanya serta eksposur media baik secara langsung maupun tidak langsung akan memicu keinginannya melakukan hubungan seksual beresiko. Pengaruh teman sebaya dan eksposur dari media inilah menyebabkan tumbuhnya sikap permisif remaja pada perilaku tersebut.