Background
Young multiethnic college women (YMCW) are at risk for STDs and HIV secondary to high-risk
sexual behaviors that are related to developmental issues such as invincibility, low
perceived risk, and substance use.
Method
One hundred YMCW on a southern California university campus completed surveys that
examined variables that impacted their sexual risk.
Results
The study yielded many significantly correlated variables. Women with low perceived
risk, lower use of drugs and alcohol, and who had parental involvement had lower sexual
behavior risk. Women that were sexually assertive, had intentions to use condoms,
and did not use substances used condoms more often. Older students in advanced grades
who had steady partners used substances less and had decreased sexual risk, however,
they experienced partner resistance to condoms, which canceled out any reduced risk.
In a multiple regression analysis, condom use intention and substance use predicted
condom use, perceived risk and substance use predicted sexual behavior risk. White
women had significantly higher substance use, perceived sexual risk, and sexual behavior
risk than did Latinas and African Americans.
Conclusions
Despite their assertiveness and intentions, many participants had multiple sexual
partners, and 64% of the YMCW were inconsistent condom users. Despite knowing the
elevated risks, 52% used drugs and alcohol during sex. Negative attitudes (61%) about
condoms were also demonstrated as a key factor in the lack of condom use.
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Article info
Footnotes
This is from a study completed in 2004 and sponsored in part by a Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Grant, California State University, Dominguez Hills 2004.
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
