Social self-efficacy and sexual communication among adolescents in the United States: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Sexual communication between partners is associated with safer sex behaviours, including condom use among adolescents. Several studies have found a relationship between negative psychological constructs (e.g. depression, anxiety) and poor sexual communication; however, scant research exists regarding positive psychological constructs and their potential to promote effective sexual communication among adolescents. This study examined the association between a positive construct, social self-efficacy – a person’s belief in their ability to successfully manage social relationships – and three components of sexual communication: sexual assertiveness, self-efficacy for communication, and frequency of sexual communication with dating partners. Methods: Data were collected in a cross-sectional survey from 222 high school girls in a rural school district in the south-eastern United States (Mage = 15.2; 38% White, 29% Latina, 24% Black; 50% were in a dating relationship in the past 3 months). Variables were measured with Likert-type scales. Bivariate correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Results: Social self-efficacy was significantly positively associated with sexual assertiveness and sexual communication self-efficacy for all girls, and there was a positive trend in the relationship between social self-efficacy and communication frequency among the subsample of girls who had a dating partner. The significant relationship with sexual assertiveness (β = 0.22, s.e. = 0.07, P = 0.001) and sexual communication self-efficacy (β = 0.17, s.e. = 0.04, P = 0.013) remained when controlling for sexual activity status. Conclusions: Strengthening social self-efficacy may enhance girls’ sexual communication and assertiveness skills. Future studies are needed to confirm the causal and temporal nature of these associations.

The effect of stoma self‐efficacy of people with stoma on their sexual function and satisfaction

“…The mentioned research carried out with adolescents indicates that there was a significant positive relationship between social self‐efficacy and sexual assertiveness and sexual communication self‐efficacy for all women. The conclusion of that research emphasized that sexual communication and assertiveness skills can be improved through reinforcement of social self‐efficacy [29].…”

“…In the light of this information, it is believed that social self-efficacy of people with stoma has an effect on their levels of sexual dysfunction and sexual satisfaction, affecting the stages of initiating and maintaining sexual sharing as a key social component of partner women. The conclusion of that research emphasized that sexual communication and assertiveness skills can be improved through reinforcement of social self-efficacy [29].…”

“It was protected, except, it wasn’t [with] a condom": a mixed-methods study of BBVs/STIs protective practices among International University Students in Sydney, Australia

“…Thus, while young people may know BBVs/STIs can be prevented through abstinence, partner fidelity or condom use [ 59 – 61 ], self-perceived ability to adopt any of these behaviours is also important. Moreover, though efficacy belief is positively associated with sexual communication [ 62 ], talking about sex as a young person may be seen as a taboo in many conservative cultures [ 2 , 11 , 42 ]. This may partly explain the reason why international students who come from conservative cultures have limited sexual health knowledge, efficacy beliefs, and confidence to discuss sexual health concerns or access sexual health services in Australia [ 2 , 3 , 48 , 49 , 63 , 64 ].…”

Internalized homophobia and sexual risk behavior in men who have sex with men: The mediational role of sexual self-concept

“…The hypothesis in the following study proposes that selfstigma toward sexuality has a negative impact on sexual selfconcept (Herek et al, 2015). This damage, in turn, would make people more prone to engage in risky sexual behaviors by decreasing the levels of sexual assertiveness to reject such behaviors (Ménard and Offman, 2009;Javier et al, 2018;Shafer et al, 2018;Van de Bongardt and de Graaf, 2020;Brasileiro et al, 2021). Therefore, this research aims to examine, through a mediation model, the mechanism of action of internalized homophobia on SRB, involving the indirect effects (i.e., mediation) of sexual self-concept in Chilean MSM.…”