Young women’s sexual involvement in emerging adulthood

Abstract

Using data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life Study, this study examined the association of peer, family, attitudinal, aspirational, and attainment factors relevant to 820 young women’s (aged 18–19) number of sexual partners. Overall, this study found that perceived peer norms and early onset of sexual initiation had a positive and statistically significant association with the respondents’ number of lifetime sexual partners. While high school performance and college aspirations were inversely associated with the number of lifetime partners, their current level of educational attainment was not. Finally, racial disparities in the accrual of partners were contingent upon the respondents’ attitude to premarital abstinence and educationally related factors. Understanding risk and protective factors may help public health policy planners and health care professionals formulate a more effective ecologically based approach to mitigate sexual health risks and social repercussion related to dating for young women.

Young Women Subjected to Nonconsensual Condom Removal: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Sexual Self-Perceptions

“…Most participants self-identified as heterosexual ( n = 255, 70.06%), followed by bisexual ( n = 83, 22.8%), homosexual ( n = 7, 1.9%), and other (queer, pansexual, asexual, or undefined; n = 15, 4.1%). The proportion of sexual minorities in the current sample was greater than recent population estimates of women living in developed nations (Wilson & Shalley, 2018), although not unusual, given sexual fluidity and experimentation are often heightened in emerging adult cohorts (Paat & Markham, 2016). Most participants were currently in an exclusive relationship ( n = 256, 70.9%) and had completed a university degree ( n = 175, 48.1%).…”

“…Women are also significantly more likely than men to be at risk of sexual abuse and other forms of sexual victimization (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2018; Mellins et al, 2017). Furthermore, young women are negotiating the developmental period of emerging adulthood (Arnett, 2011), which is associated with heightened sexual activity, sexual experimentation, and sexual risk-taking behavior (Paat & Markham, 2016), and may increase their vulnerability to experiencing NCCR.…”

Trends in consuming alcoholic beverages among adolescents and young adults of school age: sexes differences

“…The use of alcohol also acts as an indicator of sexual risk due to a mechanism of collateral action which can result in a decrease and impairment in perception and control by the adolescent to undergo sexual experiences. 5 , 6 The lack of using condoms and the higher number of sexual partners is considered at-risk sexual behaviors which have the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancies among their consequences. 7 …”

Attitude and Awareness amongst Secondary School Students of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State

“…Many studies have suggested that this behavior is influenced by determinants like age, gender, level and stream of education and socioeconomic status [23,24]. It is interesting to note that poor attitude, knowledge/awareness and risky practices related to STIs are a universal phenomenon in the young adulthood [7], with females having higher risk of contracting an STD than their male peers due to differences in biology, sexual behavior, social attitudes, peer pressures, economic states and vulnerability.…”