Temperament, Context and Sexual Risk among College Students

Victoria Von Sadovszky

doi:10.1155/2011/504571

Abstract

Much is known about predictors of risky sexual behaviors in young adults. Little is known; however, about the contribution of temperament and how temperament interacts with context to influence sexual risk intentions and actual behaviors. Since intentions are closely linked to behavior, knowing how temperament influences these decisions is important in planning interventions. The purpose of this quasiexperimental study was to examine the effect of gender, temperament, and context on sexual risk intentions and behaviors among college students (N = 145). Although individual components of temperament were associated with sexual risk intentions, temperament did not predict sexual risk intentions in a safer or risky context or actual behaviors. There were also no differences by gender. In this study, temperament did not interact with context to influence sexual risk intentions or behaviors. According to these results, interventions promoting safer sexual behaviors may not have to be tailored to individuals with different temperament styles.

Highlights

In the United States, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health concern
Affect was positively correlated with sexual risk intentions in the safer context (r = .19, P < .05), indicating that those higher in negative affect had higher sexual risk intentions in the safer context
Temperament components warrant further study with respect to more specific actual sexual risk behaviors such as condom use, alcohol/drug use prior to sexual activities, and sex with high-risk partners to determine if they qualify as high-risk temperament characteristics

Summary

Introduction

In the United States, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health concern. There are an estimated 19 million new cases annually which costs the U.S health care system $16.4 billion each year [1]. More concerning is the physical and psychological effects of these infections. Having an STI is predictive of having higher levels of psychological distress [3] and emotional responses such as fear, denial, confusion, sadness, and anger [4]. These emotions can inhibit disclosure of viral STIs (Herpes and Human Papillomavirus) to new sexual partners [5]. STIs are contracted through a sexual risk behaviors, and much is known about these behaviors

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Conclusion