Risky Sex: Interactions Among Ethnicity, Sexual Sensation Seeking, Sexual Inhibition, and Sexual Excitation

Abstract

Rates of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, vary across ethnic minority groups, yet few studies have evaluated sexual risk behaviors and their psychological correlates to determine if risk and protective factors vary by ethnicity. The purpose of the current study was to assess sexual sensation seeking (SSS), sexual inhibition (SIS1 and SIS2), and sexual excitation (SES) as correlates of risky sexual behaviors in 106 (55 male and 51 female) Asian Americans, African Americans, and Caucasian Americans. Results revealed that higher SSS was associated with more vaginal and anal sex partners. Further, the association between SSS and the number of anal sex partners was positive among Asian Americans and Caucasians, but non-significant among African Americans. SIS1 was positively associated with unprotected sex on the first date among Asian Americans and African Americans. However, the association was not significant for Caucasians. SIS2 was negatively associated with general unprotected sex, and SES was positively associated with the number of vaginal sex partners. Findings suggest that ethnicity plays an important moderating role in the relationship between sexual traits and risky sexual behaviors.

Heterosexual Anal Intercourse among Men in Long Beach, California

“…However, there have been discrepant results for HAI among heterosexuals. One study among heterosexuals found that SSS was associated with number of anal sex partners, but their emphasis was on ethnicity (Nguyen et al, 2012). Another study found no correlation between HAI and SSS among heterosexual men.…”

“…However, this study was conducted among a sample of mostly white college students, and the findings may not be true of other populations. Another study conducted in a sample of heterosexual sex-research volunteers found a positive correlation between SSS and number of anal sex partners among Asian Americans and Caucasians, but no association among African Americans (Nguyen et al, 2012). In this study analyses were not stratified by gender.…”

“…These three scales have been shown to have good reliability and validity in homosexual men and heterosexual men and women (Gaither & Sellbom, 2003; Kalichman et al, 1994; Kalichman & Rompa, 1995; Latimore, Fisher, & Reynolds, 2007, August). Studies have found that people who score higher on these scales also report more unprotected intercourse, more partners, and sex with anonymous partners (Hendershot, Stoner, George, & Norris, 2007; Kalichman & Rompa, 1995; Nguyen et al, 2012; Stulhofer & Bacak, 2011). One study assessed the correlation between the frequency of HAI and SSS among heterosexual men and women and found a positive correlation among women, but no significant association among men (Gaither & Sellbom, 2003).…”

Sexual Impulsivity in Hypersexual Men

“…In contrast, high scores on SIS2 have generally been significant negative predictors of high-risk sexual activity [93]. Recent studies have also shown that dual-control processes have been associated with sexual sensation seeking [94], a trait that has been defined as the need for varied, novel, and complex experiences and sensations. Sexual sensation seeking has also been linked closely with impulsive decision making and risky sexual behavior [95,96].…”

Racial-Ethnic Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors: The Role of Substance Use

“…Recent research has indicated that lower rates for Hispanics may be due to high levels of acculturation and religiosity (Smith, 2015). Asian populations have been highly understudied in the sexual risk research (Nguyen et al, 2012; So, Wong, & DeLeon, 2005) as they have one of the lowest rates of HIV infection (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2013). therefore, research on changing behavior to prevent HIV and other STDs is of great importance.…”