Self-Objectification and Condom Use Self-Efficacy in Women University Students

Abstract

This study investigated the roles of indicators of the self-objectification process in women's condom use self-efficacy. Data were collected from 595 college women. Self-objectification variables were assessed with measures of internalization of cultural standards of beauty, body surveillance, and body shame. Participants also completed measures of perceived control over sexual activity, acceptance of sexuality, and condom use self-efficacy. Measurement and structural invariance were supported, indicating that the measurement model and hypothesized structural model did not differ across participants who were or were not sexually active. Structural equation modeling results were consistent with hypotheses and prior evidence indicating that body surveillance partially mediated the link between internalization of cultural standards of beauty and body shame. Results also indicated that body shame was associated with lower condom use self-efficacy both directly and indirectly through the partial mediation of perceived control over sexual activity; acceptance of sexuality was not a significant mediator of this link but was associated directly with greater condom use self-efficacy. These results connect the substantial literature on the self-objectification process with women's condom use self-efficacy. Specifically, these results point to interrupting the self-objectification process and reducing body shame as well as to enhancing acceptance of sexuality and control over sexual activity as potentially fruitful targets for interventions to promote women's condom use self-efficacy.

Percepción de autoeficacia, asertividad sexual y uso del condón en jóvenes colombianos

“…En este estudio, tomando como referencia los datos de los análisis de correlación y de regresión lineal, la percepción de autoeficacia y la asertividad sexual se relacionaron de manera significativa con la práctica sexual protegida (con el uso del condón en una relación sexual), lo que coincide con otros estudios previos tanto en contextos no latinoamericanos (Farmer & Meston, 2006;Grossman et al, 2008;Heeren et al, 2009;Leddy et al, 2015;Parent & Moradi, 2015;Schmid et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2014) latinoamericanos (Álvarez et al, 2014;Matera, 2014;Uribe et al, 2013;Uribe et al, 2015;Valencia & Canaval, 2012). Sin embargo, es importante mencionar que en este estudio tanto hombres como mujeres reportaron que no siempre usan el condón antes de la penetración, es decir, no siempre se usa correctamente, por tanto es importante considerar esta variable en estudios posteriores.…”

“…Con relación a lo anterior, se ha reportado que modelos sociocognitivos acerca del uso del condón y otras conductas sexuales protegidas explican mejor su uso o la resistencia al mismo por parte de los jóvenes, pues a pesar de poseer amplia información acerca de las consecuencias de las conductas sexuales de riesgo, las siguen manteniendo (Charnigo et al 2010;Villegas et al 2016;Díaz-Loving, et al 2015;Espada & Moradi. 2015;Leddy et al 2015;Parent et al 2015;Uribe et al 2015;Teva et al 2014).…”

“…En estudios recientes en esta línea se ha mostrado que los factores que más se asocian al uso del condón son la comunicación con la pareja, la autoeficacia, la habilidad de uso y la asertividad (Farmer & Meston, 2006;Grossman et al, 2008;Heeren, Jemmott, Mandeya & Tyler, 2009;Parent & Moradi, 2015;Schmid, Leonard, Ritchie & Gwads, 2015;Zhang, Zhang & Chock, 2014). E, incluso, en investigaciones similares se concluye que para contrarrestar las normas masculinas hegemónicas que promueven la toma de riesgos sexuales entre los hombres y la subordinación de las mujeres, la comunicación sexual y la autoeficacia son un punto de apoyo clave para el aumento del uso consistente del preservativo (Leddy, Chakravarty, Dladla, De Bruyn, & Darbes , 2015).…”

Body image self-consciousness and sexting among heterosexual and non-exclusively heterosexual individuals

“…Appearance-dissatisfied individuals and those who report greater body image self-consciousness during sexual relations, on the other hand, are more likely to report greater sexual anxiety, decreased desire to have sex, sexual avoidance and less enjoyment with their sex life (Cash et al, 2004; Wiederman, 2000). These individuals are also more prone to experience sexual coercion (Ramsey and Hoyt, 2015), lower sexual assertiveness and feel less confident to negotiate safe sex (Blashill and Safren, 2015; Parent and Moradi, 2015; Wiederman, 2000).…”

“…Therefore, body image insecurities may be exacerbated in specific contexts, for example, during sexual activities, and hence may influence one’s willingness and involvement in sending sexts. Furthermore, individuals with negative body image, who have been found to be less likely to engage in sexual activity and exhibit diminished sexual assertiveness (Blashill and Safren, 2015; Parent and Moradi, 2015; Ramsey and Hoyt, 2015), may also be more prone to sexting when they actually do not want to. Currently, there is limited research investigating body image and sexting among heterosexual and non-exclusively heterosexual orientation groups, especially in the context of consensual but unwanted or coerced sexting.…”