Risky sexual behaviours: The role of substance use, psychopathic traits, and attachment insecurity among adolescents and young adults in Quebec

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how substance use, psychopathic traits, and attachment representations explain sexual risk-taking in adolescence. Variables used to define risky sexual behaviours were age at first sexual intercourse and number of lifetime sexual partners. A sample of 1,553 adolescents and young adults completed a battery of questionnaires including measures of substance use, psychopathic traits, attachment representations, and sexual behaviours. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that, in the present sample, risky sexual behaviours were best modelled through both direct effects of avoidant attachment representations and indirect effects of psychopathic traits and abandonment anxiety through increases in substance use. This model was gender-invariant and may represent a contemporary trend toward homogenization of sexual practices among young people in Quebec.

Pathways Linking Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Sexual Risk Behaviors: The Role of Attachment Security

“…Therefore, evading contact and closeness with others is associated with a higher number of sexual partners during adolescence. This result is consistent with the limited literature exploring this topic (Lemelin et al, 2014;Szielasko et al, 2013). We also found that anxious attachment was a significant mediator of the relationship between neglect and number of sexual partners.…”

“…As these studies use relatively comparable samples, the mixed results may arise from the failure to consider gender differences. There is more agreement among studies showing that avoidantly attached individuals engage in more casual sexual behaviors (Garneau et al, 2013;Gentzler & Kerns, 2004;Paul, McManus, & Hayes, 2000) and have a greater number of sexual partners (Lemelin et al, 2014;Szielasko, Symons, & Price, 2013). Costa and Brody (2011) did not find that avoidant or anxious attachment was associated with number of sexual partners.…”

“…Next, we hypothesized that all four forms of CM would be associated with avoidant attachment, which in turn would lead to a higher number of sexual partners (hypothesis 2) (Lemelin et al, 2014;Szielasko et al, 2013). Then, we hypothesized that all four forms of CM would be associated with anxious attachment, which in turn would lead to a younger age at first intercourse for girls (hypothesis 3).…”

“…In regard to attachment anxiety, a high level has been linked with a younger age at first intercourse among girls (Bogaert & Sadava, 2002;Gentzler & Kerns, 2004); for boys, attachment anxiety is linked with an older age at first intercourse (Gentzler & Kerns, 2004). Anxious attachment is not associated with the number of sexual partners in Lemelin, Lussier, Sabourin, Brassard, and Naud (2014), while Gentzler and Kerns (2004) found that anxious attachment is associated with fewer sexual partners for boys but not for girls. Furthermore, studies of college students have concluded that no relationship exists between anxious attachment and a greater number of casual sexual behaviors (Garneau, Olmstead, Pasley, & Fincham, 2013;Gentzler & Kerns, 2004).…”

“…In regard to attachment avoidance, Tracy, Shaver, Albino, and Cooper (2003) showed that a high level of attachment avoidance was associated with an older age at first intercourse, while Lemelin et al (2014) reported an association with a younger age at first intercourse. As these studies use relatively comparable samples, the mixed results may arise from the failure to consider gender differences.…”