TY - JOUR
T1 - Adolescents and sexual risk-taking
T2 - The interplay of constraining relationship beliefs, healthy sex attitudes, and romantic attachment insecurity
AU - Saint-Eloi Cadely, Hans
AU - Finnegan, Vanessa
AU - Spears, Erica C.
AU - Kerpelman, Jennifer L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported through grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation ( 90OJ2017 ) and the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/Children's Trust Fund ( CFFS 2006-301 ).
Funding Information:
This study was supported through grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation (90OJ2017) and the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/Children's Trust Fund (CFFS 2006-301).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents
PY - 2020/10
Y1 - 2020/10
N2 - Introduction: Although sexual exploration during adolescence may be perceived as normative, many adolescents who are sexually active are likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors detrimental to their well-being. The present study examined the influence of insecure attachment (anxious and avoidant dimensions), healthy sex attitudes, and constraining relationship beliefs on the following sexual risk indicators: age at first sex, number of sexual partners, condom use, length of time knowing sexual partners, seriousness of relationship, and frequency of sex. Methods: Cross-sectional data from two cohorts recruited one year apart for a five-year project were analyzed. Adolescents were public high school students from a Southern state in the USA (cohort 1: N = 878, 51.1% females, M = 16.50 years old; cohort 2: N = 759, 46.9% females, M = 15.78 years old). Results: Across both cohorts, healthy sex attitudes were related to having sex for the first time at an older age, having less sexual partners in a lifetime, and knowing one's sexual partner longer. High scores on the avoidant attachment dimension were related to less commitment to the relationship. This dimension also was related to holding lower scores on healthy sex attitudes, which in turn was related to having more sexual partners and knowing one's sexual partner for a shorter time. Although not replicated, higher endorsement of constraining relationship beliefs was associated with inconsistent condom use and greater sex frequency. Conclusion: Findings suggests that attachment insecurity, healthy sex attitudes, and constraining relationship beliefs work together to influence adolescent sexual risks.
AB - Introduction: Although sexual exploration during adolescence may be perceived as normative, many adolescents who are sexually active are likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors detrimental to their well-being. The present study examined the influence of insecure attachment (anxious and avoidant dimensions), healthy sex attitudes, and constraining relationship beliefs on the following sexual risk indicators: age at first sex, number of sexual partners, condom use, length of time knowing sexual partners, seriousness of relationship, and frequency of sex. Methods: Cross-sectional data from two cohorts recruited one year apart for a five-year project were analyzed. Adolescents were public high school students from a Southern state in the USA (cohort 1: N = 878, 51.1% females, M = 16.50 years old; cohort 2: N = 759, 46.9% females, M = 15.78 years old). Results: Across both cohorts, healthy sex attitudes were related to having sex for the first time at an older age, having less sexual partners in a lifetime, and knowing one's sexual partner longer. High scores on the avoidant attachment dimension were related to less commitment to the relationship. This dimension also was related to holding lower scores on healthy sex attitudes, which in turn was related to having more sexual partners and knowing one's sexual partner for a shorter time. Although not replicated, higher endorsement of constraining relationship beliefs was associated with inconsistent condom use and greater sex frequency. Conclusion: Findings suggests that attachment insecurity, healthy sex attitudes, and constraining relationship beliefs work together to influence adolescent sexual risks.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Constraining relationship beliefs
KW - Healthy sex attitudes
KW - Insecure attachment
KW - Sexual risk indicators
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091917523&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.08.010
DO - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.08.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 32916596
AN - SCOPUS:85091917523
SN - 0140-1971
VL - 84
SP - 136
EP - 148
JO - Journal of Adolescence
JF - Journal of Adolescence
ER -