Sense of Mission and Sexual Health Outcomes Among Young Adult Women

Abstract

Study ObjectiveTo examine the association between self-reported sense of mission and sexual health behaviors in a geographically diverse cohort of U.S. young adult females in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2007 wave of GUTS data from self-reported online or mailed surveys. Outcomes were early sex initiation and history of sexually transmitted infection (STI), which were analyzed as a binary outcome using logit link, and number of sex partners, which was analyzed as a continuous outcome. Models for number of sex partners and history of STIs were adjusted for age. ParticipantsThere were 5,624 young women aged 20 to 25 years who participate in GUTS and who answered the question on “sense of mission.” Main Outcome MeasuresAge at sexual initiation, history of STIs, and number of lifetime partners. ResultsWhen asked whether they had a sense of mission in their life, 28.1% of women strongly agreed, 54.9% agreed, and 17% disagreed. Women with a low sense of mission had higher odds of reporting a history of STI (odds ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.70), and more lifetime sexual partners (β = .83, P < .001). ConclusionsHaving a high sense of mission is associated with lower sexual risk in young women. Interventions to increase sense of mission among young women may improve sexual health outcomes.