Adolescents and sexual risk‐taking: The interplay of constraining relationship beliefs, healthy sex attitudes, and romantic attachment insecurity

Abstract

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.

Emotional and social cognitive predictors of sexual risk indicators among adolescents in committed and noncommitted partnerships

“…Within this framework, anxious attachment is feeling overly dependent on the relationship partner to meet emotional needs, whereas avoidant attachment involves evading closeness with a romantic partner, often due to worry of losing independence or fear of rejection (Brennan et al, 1998). These dimensions of romantic attachment insecurity are linked to adolescents' sexual risk-taking, such as low condom use during intercourse (Feeney et al, 2000;Saint-Eloi Cadely et al, 2020) and cumulative sexual risk-taking (McElwain et al, 2015). Romantic attachment insecurity affects how adolescents think about themselves and their close relationships (Kerpelman et al, 2012;Pittman et al, 2011;Schachner & Shaver, 2004), which is associated with their decisions around sexual activity (Davis et al, 2004;Feeney et al, 2000;Saint-Eloi Cadely et al, 2020;Tracy et al, 2003).…”

“…Noncommitted partnerships can include being in one or more casual relationships that are not viewed as exclusive or serious, whereas committed partnerships typically are exclusive and monogamous (Olmstead, 2020; Whitton et al, 2013). Emotions and social cognitions associated with experiences in romantic and sexual relationships matter for the riskiness of adolescents' sexual engagement (Manning et al, 2006; McElwain et al, 2015; Saint‐Eloi Cadely et al, 2020), and adolescents in noncommitted sexual relationships have been shown to have higher odds of experiencing negative mental health outcomes including depression and low self‐esteem (Manning et al, 2014), as well as negative romantic experiences in young adulthood (Manning et al, 2014; S. Shulman et al, 2020). Compared with adolescents in committed romantic relationships, the risk of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections is higher when adolescents engage in sexual activity within noncommitted partnerships (Claxton & van Dulmen, 2013; Gurvey et al, 2005).…”

“…One such psychosocial factor is idealizing relationships, also referred to as constraining relationship beliefs (Arnold et al, 2013; Larson, 1992). As with insecure romantic attachment, constraining relationship beliefs rise in prominence during adolescence (Driesmans et al, 2016) and can affect sexual activity decisions (Gebhardt et al, 2003; Saint‐Eloi Cadely et al, 2020). Like adults, adolescents hold expectations for relationships and the behaviors of partners in romantic relationships (Ma et al, 2014; Montgomery, 2005).…”

“…Furthermore, casual sexual partnerships are shown to be associated with adolescents' expectations or hopes that more conventional dating relationships will emerge from such partnerships (Manning et al, 2006). Adolescents and young adults with higher levels of constraining relationship beliefs are more likely to take sex‐related risks if such risks support their idealized views of romantic relationships (Arnold et al, 2013; Saint‐Eloi Cadely et al, 2020).…”

“…This collection of risk indicators includes behaviors and conditions shown to be associated with potential negative outcomes for adolescents (Gebhardt et al, 2003; Letcher & Slesnick, 2014; Tracy et al, 2003). We examine indicators of risk separately, rather than combined, because prior research shows variability in associations among risk and protective factors with different sexual risk indicators (Saint‐Eloi Cadely et al, 2020). Across adolescents, we anticipate attachment insecurity and constraining relationship beliefs will be associated with a greater indication of sex‐related risks (Feeney et al, 2000; Gebhardt et al, 2003; Letcher & Slesnick, 2014; Olmstead, 2020), whereas healthy sex attitudes will be associated with a lower indication of such risks (Harden, 2014; McElwain et al, 2015).…”