Correlates and Predictors of Risky Sexual Practices Among a Multi-Racial/Ethnic Sample of University Students

Abstract

In this research we identify the correlates and predictors of risky sexual behaviors among an ethnically diverse sample of college students attending a large state university in the southeastern US (N = 338). Nine risk and 5 protective factors served as independent predictive factors in the analyses. The dependent variable was risky sexual behaviors scale score. Six of the 9 risk factors and 4 of the 5 protective factors were significantly correlated with scores on the risky sexual behaviors scale. Regression analyses identified 6 significant predictors of risky sexual practices: number of partners in last 6 months; religious values; condom attitudes; age at first sex; binging on alcohol; and residential locus. These terms explained 29.4% of the total variance in risky sexual behavior scores. Implications for prevention programs and future research are discussed.

College Students' Sexual Health: Investigating the Role of Peer Communication

“…It might even be helpful to have students attend programs with at least one other person that they consider a friend. Sexual health programs and future research studies should incorporate the differences among racial and ethnic groups as well, as such behaviors and the discussion of those behaviors vary across cultures (e.g., Crosby et al, 2002;Fields, 2002;Langer, Warheit, & McDonald, 2001).…”

Determinants of risky sexual behaviours among secondary school students in Delta State Nigeria

“…if one has high self-esteem, he/she is more likely to feel invincible and thus feel more free to engage in high-risk sexual behaviours) (Hagenhoff, Lowe, Hovell, & Rugg, 1997). The last school suggests that there is no association between self-esteem and sexual behaviour (Langer, Warheit, & McDonald, 2001;Small & Luster, 1994). Smith (2001) stated that adolescents who are isolated or rejected by peer group suffer a loss of self-esteem and other emotional distress and at risk of a wide range of risky behaviour of which sexual risk is prominent.…”

HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and behaviour of FET college students: Implications for sexual health promotion

“…Gordon (1996) contends that both the knowledge of an individual and the ability to draw upon that knowledge affects decision-making. Furthermore, literature, although inconclusive, suggests that a link between intrapersonal factors such as self-concept and self-efficacy and sexual decision-making exists (Burns & Dillon, 2005;Mashegoane, Moalusi, Ngoepe & Peltzer, 2004;Langer, Warheit & McDonald, 2001;Hollar & Snizek, 1996).…”