The aim of this study is to describe some characteristics of the sexual behavior of adolescents in Spain and to compare these characteristics according to gender, using a cross-sectional survey. Participants were 1.279 male and female adolescents who reported having had sexual intercourse. A questionnaire about sexual behavior was applied at their high schools and during school hours. Data were collected between 2006 and 2007. Mean age at the onset of sexual intercourse was 14.8 years in males and 15.0 years in females. Males and females were different according to the type of partner at the last sexual intercourse: 63.0% of males had a steady partner compared to 90.5% of females (p<0.01). The mean number of sexual partners during the last 12 months was higher in males than in females (M = 2.1 and M = 1.5 partners, for males and females, respectively, p<0.01). 50.0% of males had sexual intercourse under the effects of drugs versus 39.3% of females (p<0.01). STD and HIV prevention programs should be designed considering the differences according to adolescents’ sex.

The goal of this work is to determine whether relationship power in couples and sexual double standard can predict the risk of sexually transmitted infections/human immunodeficiency virus (STI/HIV) as a function of cultural and gender differences. The sample was made up of 689 adolescents living in Spain, of both sexes, aged between 14 and 19 years, who were sexually active in the past six months and who had a stable partner. Of them, 58.9% were native Spaniards and 41.1% were immigrants of Latin American origin. The results show that origin, age, double standard and the control over decision-making in the couple can predict the risk of STI/HIV; thus, the immigrants, the older participants, those who scored higher in double standard, and those with less control over decision-making were at higher risk of STI/HIV. With regard to gender, the males displayed more double standard and more control over decision-making, and the females displayed higher control over the relationship. The need to adapt STI/HIV prevention programs to the cultural and gender inequality differences in the couple is commented on in the discussion.

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Differences in HIV risk behaviours according to sociodemographic variables are shown. Therefore, taking into account sociodemographic factors in sexual education programs focused on adolescents seems to be necessary.

The aim of this study was to describe some characteristics of vaginal, anal and oral sexual behavior in Spanish adolescents. It was a cross-sectional descriptive population study conducted using a probabilistic sample survey. The sample was composed of 4,612 male and female adolescents, of whom 1,686 reported having penetrative sexual experience. Sample size was established with a 97% confidence level and a 3% estimation error. Data collection took place in secondary education schools. Mean age of vaginal sex initiation was 15 years. Compared to females, males reported an earlier age of anal and oral sex initiation and a larger number of vaginal and anal sexual partners. Males also reported a higher frequency of penetrative sexual relations under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. A higher percentage of females than males reported not using a condom in their first anal sexual experience. This study provides a current overview of the sexual behavior of adolescents that can be useful for the design of future programs aimed at preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The goal of this study was to analyze how worry about sexually-transmitted infections (STI) and HIV influences attitudes and self-efficacy towards condom use, HIV-related knowledge, HIV-perceived susceptibility and HIV-misconceptions in a multicultural sample in Spain. The sample was composed of 3,051 adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years old who lived in Spain. Of these, 67.7% were native Spaniards and the remaining 32.3% were Latin American immigrants. Results showed that worry about STI and HIV has a direct influence on condom use self-efficacy and HIV-knowledge and HIV-perceived susceptibility. Native Spanish adolescents showed higher positive attitudes towards condom use, greater HIV-knowledge and HIV-perceived susceptibility, and lower negative attitudes towards condoms use and HIV-misconceptions than Latin American adolescents. In the discussion, the importance of worry about STI and HIV is highlighted as a mediator variable that can predict risky sexual behavior and is related to cultural origin.

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influencia en el número de tesis doctorales que se defienden. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio es analizar si existe relación entre las normativas de los estudios de postgrado y el número de tesis doctorales leídas en función del número de funcionarios doctores en cada universidad pública española en el periodo 2000-2007. Se analizaron las normativas que rigen los estudios de postgrado de todas las universidades públicas españolas, a la vez que se clasificó a éstas en tres grupos en función de su productividad en tesis doctorales. Los resultados muestran que las universidades cuentan con gran autonomía para regular sus estudios, pero respetando el marco que establece el Real Decreto 1393/2007, que regula los estudios universitarios oficiales en España. En la discusión se resalta la importancia de las normativas de doctorado, junto a otros factores, en la productividad científica en tesis doctorales de cada universidad. Palabras clave: Normativas, estudios de doctorado, universidades públicas, productividad, tesis doctorales.