Correlates of Precoital Behaviors, Intentions, and Sexual Initiation Among Thai Adolescents

Abstract

This paper examines the risk and protective factors associated with sexual behaviors among Thai youth ages 13-14 (N=420) living in Bangkok, Thailand. Cross-sectional data were collected using a random sample of households methodology. Three outcomes were assessed: (1) intention to engage in sexual intercourse, (2) pre-coital behaviors, and (3) sexual initiation. Bivariate analysis indicated that parental disapproval of sex, exposure to pornographic at East Tennessee State University on May 30, 2015 jea.sagepub.com Downloaded from Atwood et al. 365media, refusal self-efficacy and having a boyfriend/girlfriend had the strongest relationships with all three outcomes. Multivariate analyses found that parental disapproval of sex and exposure to pornographic media (internet or TV) were significantly associated with all three outcomes. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend was associated with pre-coital behaviors and intentions and sexual refusal self efficacy was correlated with pre-coital behaviors only. The potential competing influences of parent disapproval and exposure to pornographic media on adolescent sexual behaviors should be considered when adapting HIV prevention interventions for Thai youth.

Factors influencing sexual risk behaviors among adolescents: A community‐based participatory study

“…Within the family, parental approval of sex was positively correlated with engaging in pre‐coital behaviors, while parental monitoring was negatively associated with sexual behaviors. Atwood et al () showed that parental disapproval of sex was correlated with reduced pre‐coital behaviors and lower frequency of sex among Thai adolescents. Similarly, a longitudinal study by Wang et al () revealed that parental monitoring was negatively associated with engaging in sexual risk behaviors among adolescents at baseline and in the following 3 years.…”

“…Of the original 8 items, 3 items were deleted, 1 was used to assess participants' religious beliefs, and 4 were modified to assess participants' religious practices 4 responses, ranging from "not important/ never" to "most important/practice almost daily". Scores ranged from 0 to 15, with higher scores indicating higher religious beliefs and practices Atwood et al (2012) 5 (α = .77) How often do you practice connection to your spiritual or religious beliefs?…”

“…Interpersonal factors, including communication with parents, peers, and partners, were both protective and potential risk factors for engaging in high‐risk behaviors among adolescents. Within the family context, parent–adolescent communication (Harris et al, ), parental monitoring (Rhucharoenpornpanich et al, ), and parental disapproval of sex (Atwood et al, ) prevented sexual risk behaviors, while authoritarian parenting style increased risky sexual behaviors among adolescents (Schuster, Mermelstein, & Wakschlag, ). In adolescence, peers play a crucial part in shaping adolescents' attitudes toward sex and sexual risk behaviors, and perceived peer norms toward sexual behaviors were a strong predictor of sexual behavior intent (Chen, Neilands, Chan, & Lightfoot, ) and engaging in sexual risk behaviors (Bingenheimer, Asante, & Ahiadeke, ).…”

“…In order to explain sexual risk behaviors among adolescents, all possible contributing factors have been divided into individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors (Diclemente, Santelli, & Crosby, 2009). At the individual level, a lack of knowledge about sexual risk behavior prevention (Alimoradi, Kariman, Simbar, & Ahmadi, 2017;Chamratrithirong & Kaiser, 2012), low participation in religious practices, low sexual self-efficacy (Atwood et al, 2012), and increased age (Alimoradi et al, 2017) were found to be associated with the initiation of sexual risk behaviors. Higher age was also a significant predictor of sexual intercourse (Kang et al, 2013), having multiple partners (Jackson et al, 2012), and inconsistent condom use (Harris, Sutherland, & Hutchinson, 2013).…”

“…Interpersonal factors, including communication with parents, peers, and partners, were both protective and potential risk factors for engaging in high-risk behaviors among adolescents. Within the family context, parent-adolescent communication (Harris et al, 2013), parental monitoring (Rhucharoenpornpanich et al, 2010), and parental disapproval of sex (Atwood et al, 2012) prevented sexual risk behaviors, while authoritarian parenting style increased risky sexual behaviors among adolescents (Schuster, Mermelstein, & Wakschlag, 2013).…”