The Emotional Experience of Intercourse and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Abstract

For some of these young adults at the time of life when they are at highest risk of STD, emotional factors have higher odds ratios for STD diagnosis than the traditionally assessed behavioral variables. This underscores the need for interventions targeted to specific subgroups and for readily available mental health services.

A Momentary Sampling Study of the Affective Experience Following Coital Events in Adolescents

“…Research on the affective experience of sexual intercourse is limited and has focused largely on first coitus [5,[7][8][9][10][11]. In addition, few studies have examined positive as well as negative affective consequences of sexual intercourse.…”

“…Women's negative emotional responses to coitus, such as anxiety, guilt, and fear, may inhibit intercourse or interfere with the use of effective contraception [4]. Adolescent and young adult STI clinic patients who reported less positive (e.g., feeling good about oneself after sex half the time or less) and more negative feelings (feeling angry) after having sex were more likely to be diagnosed with an STI [5]. Of note, these emotional variables were greater predictors of STI than sexual history or frequency of condom use.…”

“…Previous studies have typically examined perceived affective consequences of sex [2], actual affective experiences of sex in general [5], or the associations of daily affect with coitus [6], and thus could not study actual affect following specific coital events. Other studies have examined only the first experience with sexual intercourse [5,[7][8][9][10][11] and thus have relied on recall of a distant event.…”

“…Other studies have examined only the first experience with sexual intercourse [5,[7][8][9][10][11] and thus have relied on recall of a distant event. The majority of studies have examined the affective experience of sexual intercourse for women, but not men [5,[7][8][9][10][11].…”

Taking a Stand: On Teaching the Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections

“…Rates of STIs within the United States exceed those of all other industrialized nations [3]. A majority of the STI cases are among youth and young adults [4][5][6][7][8], the poor and socially marginalized [3], and persons with multiple sex partners [9,10], or who engage in high risk sexual behavior [11]. Collectively, ''STIs'' refer to over 25 infectious organisms transmitted largely (but not exclusively) by intimate sexual contact.…”