Examining the link between sexual self-concept and sexual communication among adolescents

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21454541
AutoresReina Evans-Paulson (0000-0001-7397-6969, Innovation Research & Training, Durham, NC, autor correspondente), Laura Widman (0000-0001-8117-5467, North Carolina State University), Julia Brasileiro (0000-0001-6936-6965, North Carolina State University), Anne J Maheux (0000-0003-1308-5798, University of Delaware), Sophia Choukas-Bradley (0000-0002-9973-8747, University of Delaware)
Ano2021
Volume69
Fascículo5
Páginas525-543
Data de publicação2021-10-20
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoCommunication Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0146-3373 • E-ISSN: 1746-4102
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01463373.2021.1969585
PMID34707323
OpenAlexW3197977152
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas6
Referências citadas49

The purpose of this study was to move beyond a sexual risk framework to investigate the possible associations among three sex-positive constructs for adolescents: their sexual self-concept (i.e., their positive/negative feelings about themselves as sexual beings), their sexual communication with romantic/sexual partners, and their sexual communication self-efficacy. We also examined differences in these constructs by sexual intercourse experience and gender. Participants were 171 adolescents who had been in a dating or sexual relationship in the past year (Mage = 16.32 years; 64.3% girls). Compared to girls, boys had more positive sexual self-concepts but less self-efficacy to communicate with their partners about sex. Adolescents who reported having had sexual intercourse had more positive sexual self-concepts as well as more frequent partner sexual communication compared to adolescents without sexual intercourse experience. Adolescents with a more positive sexual self-concept had higher sexual communication self-efficacy and reported more frequent sexual communication. In addition, sexual communication self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between sexual self-concept and sexual communication. Results highlight the connection between sexual self-concept and sexual communication and contribute to a growing body of work on the positive aspects of adolescent sexuality

Developmental psychology · Feeling · Human sexuality · Population · Romance · Sexual attraction · Sexual behavior · Sexual intercourse · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology