Abstract
Rates of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, vary across ethnic minority groups, yet few studies have evaluated
sexual risk behaviors and their psychological correlates to determine if risk and protective factors vary by ethnicity. The
purpose of the current study was to assess sexual sensation seeking (SSS), sexual inhibition (SIS1 and SIS2), and sexual excitation
(SES) as correlates of risky sexual behaviors in 106 (55 male and 51 female) Asian Americans, African Americans, and Caucasian
Americans. Results revealed that higher SSS was associated with more vaginal and anal sex partners. Further, the association
between SSS and the number of anal sex partners was positive among Asian Americans and Caucasians, but non-significant among
African Americans. SIS1 was positively associated with unprotected sex on the first date among Asian Americans and African
Americans. However, the association was not significant for Caucasians. SIS2 was negatively associated with general unprotected
sex, and SES was positively associated with the number of vaginal sex partners. Findings suggest that ethnicity plays an important
moderating role in the relationship between sexual traits and risky sexual behaviors.
sexual risk behaviors and their psychological correlates to determine if risk and protective factors vary by ethnicity. The
purpose of the current study was to assess sexual sensation seeking (SSS), sexual inhibition (SIS1 and SIS2), and sexual excitation
(SES) as correlates of risky sexual behaviors in 106 (55 male and 51 female) Asian Americans, African Americans, and Caucasian
Americans. Results revealed that higher SSS was associated with more vaginal and anal sex partners. Further, the association
between SSS and the number of anal sex partners was positive among Asian Americans and Caucasians, but non-significant among
African Americans. SIS1 was positively associated with unprotected sex on the first date among Asian Americans and African
Americans. However, the association was not significant for Caucasians. SIS2 was negatively associated with general unprotected
sex, and SES was positively associated with the number of vaginal sex partners. Findings suggest that ethnicity plays an important
moderating role in the relationship between sexual traits and risky sexual behaviors.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-012-9904-z
- Authors
- Hong V. Nguyen, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA
- Kelly H. Koo, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA
- Kelly Cue Davis, Department of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Jacqueline M. Otto, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA
- Christian S. Hendershot, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Rebecca L. Schacht, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA
- William H. George, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA
- Julia R. Heiman, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Jeanette Norris, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002