Liberal Sexual Attitudes Research Articles

Learning About Sex from Different Sources: Implications for Sexual Attitudes, Sexual Knowledge, and Risky Sexual Behavior Among U.S. College Students.

This exploratory cross-sectional study, guided by primary socialization theory, examined relations between four primary socialization agents of sexual learning (i.e., mothers, fathers, friends/peers, and online media) and sexual attitudes, sexual knowledge, and risky sexual behavior. Latent-variable structural equation models were tested using self-report data obtained from 515 emerging adults who had spent at least 6 months attending in-person college classes. Results showed that learning about sex from mothers was associated with more conservative sexual attitudes and lower risky sexual behavior. Sexual learning from friends/peers was linked to liberal sexual attitudes and greater sexual knowledge. Learning from online media was associated with increased sexual knowledge. To account for a shift in sexual learning patterns from before to after entry to college, we created algebraic difference scores for each source of sexual information. Greater reliance on sexual learning from friends/peers in the past 6 months of college relative to before college was associated with liberal sexual attitudes and greater sexual knowledge. Additional analyses revealed different effects of learning about sex from mothers more during college than before college between those living on campus vs. commuters living at home. The discussion emphasizes the different role that each of the primary socialization agents plays for emerging adults' sexual development, including the protective role of mothers against risky sexual behavior, the impact of friends and peers on sexual attitudes and knowledge, and the shifting dynamics of socialization processes during college.

Strangulation During Sex Among Undergraduate Students in Australia: Toward Understanding Participation, Harms, and Education

Abstract Background Strangulation is becoming a more common sexual practice despite its potentially fatal consequences and associated short- and long-term sequelae. This research provides a preliminary examination of participation and perception toward strangulation during sex among Australian undergraduates. Methods This study utilized a confidential, cross-sectional online survey collected in 2022–2023. Analysis included 168 undergraduate students at an Australian University and explored their awareness of the harms of strangulation, understanding of criminalization, and the impact of education on these attitudes. Results In total, 56% reported ever being strangled during sex and 51% ever strangling a partner. Seventeen percent of participants reported being strangled and 13% strangling a partner during their last sexual experience. Higher frequency, wanting, and positive perceptions of strangulation were associated with more liberal sexual attitudes. However, there were differences depending on gender. Participants generally did not perceive strangulation to be harmful and had limited knowledge about its criminalization. Lastly, a brief education intervention on strangulation harms revealed reductions in positive perceptions of strangulation that were pronounced among women. Conclusions In this convenience survey, Australian university students commonly reported previously engaging in strangulation during sex but with limited awareness of the potential consequences. Our results indicate that education on these consequences could reduce positive perceptions of strangulation, particularly among women. Policy Implications Education on strangulation harms are likely more effective than criminalization alone in improving awareness of its consequences and changing perceptions of strangulation. These findings could help guide targeted policy and education on strangulation within sexual health contexts.

Impacts of Religiosity and Spirituality on Attitudes towards Sexuality Education among Adolescents

The efficacy of school-based sexuality education (SBSE) is associated with adolescents’ attitudes towards sexuality and SBSE. Adolescents are in stage of development during which religiosity and spirituality become a source of influence on their sexual attitudes, which in turn affects their views on SBSE. Western literature suggested that higher levels of religiosity and spirituality are related to conservative sexual attitudes and negative attitude towards comprehensive SBSE. This study examined if Western findings on religiosity and spirituality were applicable to Hong Kong where the society is dominated by values of Chinese culture. A total of 818 secondary school students were recruited for this study via convenience sampling. A questionnaire containing items on demographic characteristics and measuring instruments was developed for data collection. The data revealed that students participated in this study were low in religiosity but relatively high in spirituality. Consistent with Western findings, religious affiliations were association with conservative sexual attitudes, which was accounted for by the mediation of religiosity. Lower levels of religiosity and spirituality were associated with more liberal sexual attitudes. Male students generally hold more permissive attitudes towards sexuality than female students, but female students were more liberal on issues such as abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. As reported in the West, secondary school students in Hong Kong also showed great support for SBSE. Inconsistent with Western findings, students with more conservative sexual attitudes were more supportive of SBSE. Higher levels of religiosity and spirituality were associated more positive attitudes towards SBSE. Furthermore, female students were more supportive of SBSE than male students. These incongruent findings were discussed with reference to the social context of Hong Kong.

Predicting Risky Sexual Behavior Among College Students Through Machine Learning Approaches: Cross-sectional Analysis of Individual Data From 1264 Universities in 31 Provinces in China

Risky sexual behavior (RSB), the most direct risk factor for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), is common among college students. Thus, identifying relevant risk factors and predicting RSB are important to intervene and prevent RSB among college students. We aim to establish a predictive model for RSB among college students to facilitate timely intervention and the prevention of RSB to help limit STI contraction. We included a total of 8794 heterosexual Chinese students who self-reported engaging in sexual intercourse from November 2019 to February 2020. We identified RSB among those students and attributed it to 4 dimensions: whether contraception was used, whether the contraceptive method was safe, whether students engaged in casual sex or sex with multiple partners, and integrated RSB (which combined the first 3 dimensions). Overall, 126 predictors were included in this study, including demographic characteristics, daily habits, physical and mental health, relationship status, sexual knowledge, sexual education, sexual attitude, and previous sexual experience. For each type of RSB, we compared 8 machine learning (ML) models: multiple logistic regression (MLR), naive Bayes (BYS), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), deep learning (DL), and the ensemble model. The optimal model for both RSB prediction and risk factor identification was selected based on a set of validation indicators. An MLR model was applied to investigate the association between RSB and identified risk factors through ML methods. In total, 5328 (60.59%) students were found to have previously engaged in RSB. Among them, 3682 (41.87%) did not use contraception every time they had sexual intercourse, 3602 (40.96%) had previously used an ineffective or unsafe contraceptive method, and 1157 (13.16%) had engaged in casual sex or sex with multiple partners. XGBoost achieved the optimal predictive performance on all 4 types of RSB, with the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) reaching 0.78, 0.72, 0.94, and 0.80 for contraceptive use, safe contraceptive method use, engagement in casual sex or with multiple partners, and integrated RSB, respectively. By ensuring the stability of various validation indicators, the 12 most predictive variables were then selected using XGBoost, including the participants' relationship status, sexual knowledge, sexual attitude, and previous sexual experience. Through MLR, RSB was found to be significantly associated with less sexual knowledge, more liberal sexual attitudes, single relationship status, and increased sexual experience. RSB is prevalent among college students. The XGBoost model is an effective approach to predict RSB and identify corresponding risk factors. This study presented an opportunity to promote sexual and reproductive health through ML models, which can help targeted interventions aimed at different subgroups and the precise surveillance and prevention of RSB among college students through risk probability prediction.

Difference in the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Only-Child Students and Students With Siblings, According to Sex and Region: Findings From the National College Student Survey.

ObjectiveThe differences in sexual knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, seeking behaviors for sex-related knowledge, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among only-child students and students with siblings in China, was examined for sex- and region- specific effects.Research Design and MethodsData on 49,569 students from the 2019 National College Student Survey on Sexual and Reproductive Health, conducted across 31 provinces in mainland China was utilized. Multivariable regression and stratified analyses were employed to analyze the differences in sexual and reproductive health between only-child students and students with siblings.ResultsOnly-child students reported higher sexual knowledge, more liberal sexual attitudes, and fewer adverse SRH outcomes compared to those with siblings. Results were found to be influenced by sex and hometown region after controlling for socio-economic factors, parent-child relationship, and sexuality education.ConclusionsFemale students with siblings who resided in rural regions were more likely to have poorer SRH compared to male only-child students who resided in urban regions. Comprehensive sexual education for students should aim to better include females and students from rural areas both offline and online, and public healthcare should offer subsidized consultations and contraceptives.

Sexual consent attitudes and behaviour: Associations with sexual health education, sexual consent education, and sexual attitudes

Because many young adults do not consistently give and receive explicit consent in their sexual relationships, it is important to identify factors associated with sexual consent attitudes and behaviour. In this study, we assessed the extent to which sexual health education, sexual consent education, sexual attitudes, and perceptions of social norms were associated with sexual consent attitudes and behaviour. Participants were 196 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 25 enrolled at an eastern Canadian university. At the bivariate level, we found evidence for the importance of sexual consent education by parents, sexual attitudes, and perceptions of social norms with respect to sexual consent attitudes and behaviour. Multiple regression analyses showed that more positive perceptions of social norms, more liberal sexual attitudes, and more sexual consent education from parents were uniquely associated with lower negative attitudes towards sexual consent and more consistent use of explicit sexual consent. More positive perceptions of social norms and less sexual experience were uniquely associated with more positive sexual consent attitudes. Only perception of social norms was uniquely associated with less use of an indirect behavioural approach to establishing consent. The results are interpreted in terms of their implications for enhancing sexual consent attitudes and behaviour among young people.

The effect of parental divorce on the sexual life and marital well-being of offspring in China

Over the past few decades, the increasing divorce rate has been one of the most prominent behavioral changes influencing Chinese families and the nurturing and socialization of children. Research has found that parental divorce exerts only a limited negative impact on children's socioeconomic achievement in China relative to that in Western societies. However, few studies have explored the long-term consequences of parental divorce on children's demographic outcomes in China. Therefore, how parental divorce influences the timing of offspring's first sexual intercourse and marriage, as well as its impact on their sexual and marital well-being, were investigated in this study. Based on findings obtained using data from the Chinese Private Life Survey, children from divorced families were more likely to initiate sexual intercourse at younger ages than those from intact families, although the two groups entered their first marriage at similar ages. Regarding sexual and marital well-being, married men and women who experienced parental divorce during childhood were less satisfied with their current marriage and marital sex and exhibited a higher level of divorce proneness and more sexual dysfunction symptoms than those from intact families. The effect of parental divorce on marital well-being was also largely mediated by the onset of sexual intercourse at a younger age. Having more years of premarital sexual experience was associated with lower sexual satisfaction, more sexual dysfunction symptoms, and more liberal sexual attitudes and behaviors. The worsening of sexual life also further undermined marital well-being.

Liberal sexual morality, religion, and attitudes toward abortion in Turkey

AbstractThe present study examines the association between sexual morality, religion, and attitudes toward the practice of abortion in Turkey. Drawing upon data from the 2008–2010 European Value Survey in the case of Turkey, several hypotheses were tested concerning the role of liberal sexual relations and many aspects of religion on abortion attitudes. Findings reveal that support of liberal sexual relations demonstrates the strongest justification for abortion. As a religious determinant, prayer practice indicates the most robust opposition to the practice of abortion. Additional religious factors, personal religious identity, and personal faith were also found to be significantly associated with antiabortion attitudes. The findings are discussed and have implications for future research on attitudes toward abortion.

Sociological dimensions of marital satisfaction in Romania.

We are living nowadays in a social paradigm characterized by a high degree of fluidity. From professional career to leisure, from family patterns to neighborhood relationships, from cultural consumption to domestic technology, almost all the components of social reality have changed during recent decades. A given couple's experience is not insulated from these dynamics, or at least from the pressure that new trends constantly put on it. How can functional relationships be preserved in a continuously changing world? What possibilities are there for couples to sustain viable relationships in the face of all the waves of change, involving as they do new content, new rules, and, in many cases, new values? This paper sets out to analyze how the main factors related to marital life interact and what their impact is on individual satisfaction in the dyadic experience. To this end we planned and applied a sociological survey to a national sample (N = 455 participants, error limit 4.7) using a questionnaire focusing on an evaluation of dyadic life experience that included the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). The major finding is that more liberal sexual attitudes and people's high view of the importance of money are the strongest predictors of a low-quality dyadic experience. The patterns observed also raise the possibility that positive perception of the parental model may serve to compensate for a couple's relatively shorter period of marital experience.

Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors Among College Students in Lusaka, Zambia

Risky sexual behaviors are important factors driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although Zambia experiences a high HIV prevalence, especially among youth, there is a dearth of information regarding risky sexual behaviors among young adults. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of risky sexual behaviors among college students in Lusaka, Zambia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2017 among 427 college students at the University of Zambia. Participants reported their sexual behaviors, sexual attitudes, and lifestyle using self-administered questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression models were employed to assess potential determinants of risky sexual behaviors. Among the 205 students who reported ever having sex, 148 (72.2%) engaged in risky sexual behaviors in the last 12months. Participants who were older (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.12-1.51), engaged in low physical activity (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.05-4.84), and reported liberal sexual attitudes (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.47) were more likely to engage in any risky sexual behavior, while frequent alcohol use (OR 8.38, 95% CI 4.60-15.27) and suicide attempts (OR 6.42, 95% CI 2.03-20.29) predicted multiple risky sexual behaviors. In conclusion, this study indicates that Zambian college students' risky sexual behaviors are associated with multiple behavioral health risks. Future research should consider using a multiple-behavior change intervention.

Association of Parenting with Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors of College Students in India

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between parenting and sexual attitudes and behaviors of college students in India. Both physical sexual behaviors and online sexual behaviors were examined. A sub-sample of Indian college students aged 18–25 years (n = 159; 32% female) recruited online for survey completion were the focus of this study. Two path models were performed to explore how sexual attitudes and behaviors were associated with perceived parental solicitation, trust, and warmth. Maternal and paternal influences were tested in separate models. Mothering was more strongly associated with daughters’ sexual behaviors while fathering was associated with sons. College students with liberal sexual attitudes reported engaging in more physical and online sexual behaviors. As Indian youth experience a more globalizing coming of age than previous generations, they require an extended period of parental support and involvement. Findings in the current study suggest that young adults are receptive to parental influence with warm and trusting parent–child relationships playing a significant role in shaping college students’ sexual behaviors.

Sexual harassment of women in China: the role of liberal sexual attitudes

PurposeSexual liberation for women is often seen as a means of empowerment. Yet challenging the conventional Chinese beliefs of what constitutes a “good woman” might threaten men’s power, resulting in sanctioning. This study aims to uncover the link between women’s liberal sexual attitudes and an extreme form of sanctioning – sexual harassment.Design/methodology/approachUsing data fromChinese Health and Family Life Survey, structural equation modeling is applied to examine the hypothesized relationships between sexual harassment and individual and community characteristics, as well as the direct and indirect effects of liberal sexual attitudes.FindingsThe author found that a woman’s liberal sexual attitude has a positive direct effect on sexual harassment. Whether the woman resides in rural or urban areas is not directly linked to sexual harassment, yet liberal sexual attitudes among urban women mediate the effect of geographical location, leading to their greater risk of being harassed. Youthfulness and women having a paid job are risk factors for sexual harassment but self-rated attractiveness is not.Research limitations/implicationsThe results reflect a conservative societal view of women’s sexuality, even though it is often believed that China’s sexual revolution is on the way – which plausibly refers to the greater permissiveness for heterosexual men. This study thus illuminates the importance of gender egalitarianism in the process of liberalization of social and moral attitudes toward sex.Originality/valueThis study thus illuminates the importance of gender egalitarianism in the process of liberalization of social and moral attitudes toward sex.

Effects of Experimenter Contact, Setting, Inquiry Mode, and Race on Women's Self-Report of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors: An Experimental Study.

Factors related to the research context, such as inquiry mode, setting, and experimenter contact, may affect participants' comfort with and willingness to disclose certain sexual attitudes or admit to engaging in sensitive sexual behaviors. In this study, 255 female undergraduates (42.7 % non-White) completed a survey containing measures of sexual behavior and attitudes. The level of experimenter contact (high vs. low contact), setting (in lab vs. out of lab), and inquiry mode (pencil-and-paper vs. computer) were manipulated and participants were randomly assigned to conditions. We hypothesized that low-contact, out-of-lab, computer conditions would be associated with more liberal sexual attitudes and higher rates of reported sexual behaviors than high-contact, in-lab, and paper-and-pencil conditions, respectively. Further, we hypothesized that effects would be moderated by race, such that differences would be greater for non-White participants because of concerns that reporting socially undesirable behavior might fuel racial stereotypes. For attitudinal measures, White participants endorsed more liberal attitudes toward sex in high-contact conditions and non-White participants endorsed more liberal attitudes in low-contact conditions. For behavioral measures, non-White participants reported more behaviors on pencil-and-paper surveys than on computers. White participants demonstrated no significant mode-related differences or reported more sexual behaviors in computer conditions than paper-and-pencil conditions. Overall, results suggest that experimenter contact and mode significantly impact sexual self-report and this impact is often moderated by race.

Circumcision: Is it worth it for 21st-century Australian boys?

Circumcision: Is it worth it for 21st-century Australian boys?

Predictors of premarital sexual activity among unmarried youth in Vientiane, Lao PDR: The role of parent–youth interactions and peer influence

Research indicates that adolescents in low-income countries have an early sexual debut and engage in risky sexual behaviours. Few studies in low-income countries however, have explored the factors that influence young people's sexual behaviours. This study examined individual, family and peer-level factors associated with premarital sexual behaviours in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with unmarried youth aged 18 to 24 years (N = 1200) in Vientiane Capital City. Logistic regression models, controlling for confounding variables, were employed to test for the contribution of factors influencing premarital sexual activity. Most respondents held positive attitudes towards premarital sex, with males having more liberal attitudes than females (mean score of 2.68 vs. 2.32, p < 0.001). Prevalence of premarital sexual activity was higher among males than females (44.7% and 19.2%, respectively). Predictors of premarital sex for males were age, sexual attitudes, perceived parental expectations regarding sex, dating and peer influence. For females, predictors were father's level of education, parent-youth sexual communication, peer influence and liberal sexual attitudes. The results highlight the role of parent-youth interaction and peer influence. The results suggest the need for a range of strategies at the individual, peer and family level, as well as a gender-specific focus.

The Relationship Between College Women’s Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Activity: The Mediating Role of Body Image

ABSTRACT. This study examined the relationship between sexual attitudes and engagement in sexual activity among a sample of 401 college women. In addition, we investigated the potential role of body image as a mediator of this relationship. Online surveys included self-report measures of sexual attitudes ranging from liberal to conservative, body image satisfaction, and frequency of sexual activity. Results indicated that more liberal sexual attitudes were directly linked with more frequent sexual activity. Whereas mediation was not evident, indirect effects existed such that more liberal sexual attitudes were associated with higher body image satisfaction, which, in turn, was associated with increased sexual activity. Clearly, sexual attitudes and body image are important cognitive factors that affect women's sexual activity, yet each influence alone is not enough to explain the complex process that leads to sexual behavior. Although cross-sectional in nature, our findings suggest that body image and sexual attitudes may work together as a process to affect women's sexual activity.

남자대학생의 성의식과 성태도

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between sexual consciousness and attitude among male university students. Methods: Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires from 235 male university students at two universities located in Busan. SPSS 12.0 using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and correlation coefficient was used for data analysis. Results: In the area of sexual consciousness, sexual male chauvinism appeared to be strongest in the area of gender (<TEX>$2.60{\pm}0.57$</TEX>). In the area of sexual attitude, abortion appeared to be the most opened area (<TEX>$2.36{\pm}0.54$</TEX>) among all areas. Religion, pleasure attitude, premarital virginity, sex admissibility and homosexuality were found to be factors affecting overall sexual consciousness. On the other hand, religion, sexuality, and gender appeared to be the factors that affected overall sexual attitude. In addition, the result of this study demonstrated a positive correlation between sexual consciousness and attitude. Conclusion: Development of various sex education programs reflecting the liberal sexual attitudes of university students, and provision of opportunities for establishment of healthy sexual consciousness and sexual attitude among university students accordingly are needed.

The Effects of Male Attractiveness and Sexual Attitudes on Women’s Risk Perception

This study examined the effects of male attractiveness, sexual attitudes, and victimization history on women's ratings of sexual risk. Women with more liberal sexual attitudes rated vignettes as less sexually risky than women with more conservative sexual attitudes. There was an interaction between situational risk and attractiveness, suggesting the relationship between attractiveness and sexual risk ratings varies across high and low situational risk. Findings emphasize the importance of using high and low risk situations to evaluate sexual risk perception and of investigating variables that may moderate women's risk perception.

Sexual Attitudes Mediate the Relationship Between Sexual Victimization History and Women’s Response Effectiveness

This study evaluated the effects of a sexual victimization history, sexual attitudes, and psychopathology on the effectiveness of women's responses to high- and low-risk dating and social situations. Two hundred fifteen undergraduate women listened to a description of each situation, viewed a clip of an actor making a verbal request, and provided a videotaped, verbal response to each situation. Participants then completed measures assessing their victimization history, sexual attitudes, and symptoms of psychopathology. Finally, participants viewed their responses and rated how effective each response was at decreasing their risk for having an unwanted sexual experience, defined as one in which they would be verbally or physically coerced into having sexual contact of any kind with a man. Experts in the sexual violence research area also rated the effectiveness of participants' responses using the same instructions. Results revealed that sexual attitudes mediated the relationship between victimization history and the effectiveness of participants' responses to high- and low-risk situations. Specifically, more severe victimization experiences were linked to more liberal sexual attitudes, which, in turn, were related to responses that were rated by experts as less effective in decreasing risk of sexual victimization.

Exploring the Sexual Attitudes of Physician Assistant Students: Implications for Obtaining a Sexual History

This study examined the sexual attitudes of physician assistant (PA) students and assessed their effect on obtaining a sexual history. Students enrolled in New York Institute of Technology and Touro College Manhattan Campus PA programs completed the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory-Attitudes Subscale (DSFI-AS). Demographic data included age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, and yes/no question regarding whether the participant considers him/herself religious. Mean score was 23.3 +/- 14.0 indicating liberal sexual attitudes. Sixty-four percent (n = 114) were liberal, 35.4% (n = 63) neutral, and 0.6% (n = 1) conservative. Mean scores were 23.29 +/- 13.6 for females and 23.33 +/- 15.4 for males (P>.05); 24.8 +/- 13.4 for Caucasians and 18.0 +/- 15.1 for all other ethnicities (P<.05); and 18.9 +/- 13.6 for religious and 28.44 +/- 12.8 for nonreligious participants (P<.05). Two factors related significantly with sexual attitudes: ethnicity and relationship with religion. It's imperative that students examine their sexual attitudes and recognize the effect this may have on patient care.