Title:
Predictors of risky sexual behavior in emerging adults
Author:
Abigail P. Bowen
Thesis Advisor:
Rachel L. Grover
Committee Member:
Carolyn M. Barry
Committee Member:
Matthew W. Kirkhart
Committee Member:
Stephen E. Fowl
Committee Member:
Jason M. Prenoveau
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2017
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
One of the major developmental tasks of emerging adulthood is refinement of the identity structure, including the sexual identity. Though some exploration is necessary to establish a sexual identity, risky sexual behaviors (RSB) are associated with negative outcomes. Many factors are related to RSB in emerging adults, and previous investigations have emphasized contributing psychological factors, including but not limited to attachment style, personality and underlying psychosocial sexual motives. The literature also suggests that alcohol use behaviors are likely associated with RSB, though the exact relationship is unclear. Previous studies typically test a sole variable as a predictor of RSB. The present study aimed to address this limitation by including multiple predictors of RSB (attachment style, sensation seeking, and psychosocial sexual motives) and alcohol use as a mediator to more comprehensively examine the associations between predictors and RSB. Results indicated that sensation seeking and all of the sexual motives (Enhancement, Self-Affirmation, Coping and Peer-Approval) were significantly and positively associated with RSB. Attachment style was not associated with RSB. It was predicted that alcohol use would mediate the relationship between RSB, sensation seeking and the sexual motives. Results of the mediation analyses were significant for sensation seeking and all motives, and confirmed this hypothesis. It was predicted that sensation seeking and each sexual motive would explain a significant and unique portion of the variance in RSB when included in the model; however, only sensation seeking, enhancement and coping motives were significant independent predictors of RSB. The implications of these findings on intervention strategies are addressed. Possible directions for future research projects are also considered.
Degree:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
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Identifier:
BowenAP-18
