Online Sexual Activity: Cross-National Comparison Between United States and Peruvian College Students

Abstract

The current generation of college students commonly uses the Internet for myriad sexually-related purposes. Yet, it has been suggested that usage of the Internet for sexual purposes might lead to psychological problems. In this study, undergraduate students from a public university in the U.S. (n = 320) and Peru (n = 251) completed questionnaires addressing their online sexual activity (OSA), psychological adjustment, and family environment and communication. Results indicated that Peruvians used the Internet significantly more than U.S. students to view sexually-explicit material (SEM), find sexual partners, and search for sex-related information. Men, irrespective of nationality, used the Internet to view SEM significantly more than women. Social support, religiosity, and erotophilia were found to moderate the relations between nationality and OSA. In absolute terms, both national groups, on average, engaged in OSA a relatively low number of hours each week. Further, no differences were found in maladjustment between those who engage in OSA and those who do not, suggesting that concerns over OSA are probably unwarranted.

Relationship Status as an Influence on Cybersex Activity: Cybersex, Youth, and Steady Partner

“…Even if most of the recreational cybersex users do not usually report the negative consequences (Cooper, Delmonico, & Burg, 2000;Velezmoro, Negy, & Livia, 2011), this may, for individuals who are in a relationship, cause serious damage, such as marital deterioration, partner distress, or divorce (Barak & Fisher, 2002). Schneider, Weiss, and Samenow (2012) found 35 cybersex 80 users' partners who reported the negative effect of sexual Internet use by their partners.…”

Psychosocial Determinants of Internet Sex Addiction: The Moderating Role of Gender

“…Badacze podkreślają, że ryzyko uzależnienia od seksu internetowego jest wysokie w okresie wczesnej dorosłości, zwłaszcza wśród studentów, którzy bardzo intensywnie korzystają z sieci oraz jej możliwości, w tym z erotyki sieciowej (Izdebski 2010;Lo, Wei 2005;Velezmoro, Negy, Livia 2012). Badania prowadzone w Szwecji wśród młodych internautów (N=1913) pokazały, że 5% kobiet i 13% mężczyzn ujawnia pewne problemy związane z nałogowym korzystaniem z seksu internetowego, natomiast około 2% kobiet i 5% mężczyzn wskazywało na poważne nasilenie objawów uzależnienia od seksu internetowego (Ross, Månsson, Daneback 2012).…”

Parental Influence on Their Adult Children’s Sexual Values: A Multi-National Comparison Between the United States, Spain, Costa Rica, and Peru

“…As such, we contend that youth are better served when the adults in their lives acknowledge the fact that sex is a natural part of life (Klein, 2006). Parent-child discussions that convey favorable and healthy attitudes about sex and are based on medically accurate information likely afford adolescents and young adults the liberty to explore appropriately their sexuality (Bruckner & Bearman, 2005; Velezmoro, Negy, & Livia, 2012). That notwithstanding, like most pleasurable human activities (e.g., eating, driving a car, etc.…”

“…Specifically, data were obtained from the United States, Spain, Costa Rica, and Peru. Cross-national studies of this nature provide a broader perspective on the diversity, or universality, of both parental communication of sexual values and young adults' sexual values (Velezmoro et al, 2012).…”

“…They were religiosity and family environment. Religiosity has been linked fairly extensively with people's sexual values (Meier, 2003;Velezmoro et al, 2012;Wallace & Williams, 1997). More specifically, although adherents vary in their interpretations and practices, Christianity generally promulgates restrictive views of most forms of sex occurring outside of heterosexual marriage (Herdt & PolenPetit, 2014;Meier, 2003;Regnerus, 2005); Christianity is the prevailing religion of the four countries of focus in this study.…”