Abstract
Sexual self-perceptions are important aspects of sexuality, which can undergo significant change during adolescence and early
adulthood. The purpose of this study was to describe these changes among girls (N = 251; ages 16–25) over one year, and to examine associations of sexual self-perceptions (sexual subjectivity) with age, sexual behavior, and romantic status. Sexual body-esteem, perceptions of entitlement to desire and pleasure, sexual
efficacy, and sexual self-reflection were investigated as elements of sexual subjectivity. All sexual subjectivity elements
were higher among girls who had more sexual experience and/or had steady romantic partners during the study. Perception of
entitlement to desire and pleasure increased over time, whereas sexual body-esteem showed the most stability and had minimal
associations with sexual or romantic experiences. The greatest increases in sexual subjectivity were found among girls who
began the study with the least sociosexual experience and self-reflection also increased for girls who had first coitus after
the start of the study. Overall, girls who had sexual intercourse the earliest (before age 16) had the highest sexual subjectivity,
but sexual subjectivity increased the most among girls without coital experience or who had more recent first coitus.
adulthood. The purpose of this study was to describe these changes among girls (N = 251; ages 16–25) over one year, and to examine associations of sexual self-perceptions (sexual subjectivity) with age, sexual behavior, and romantic status. Sexual body-esteem, perceptions of entitlement to desire and pleasure, sexual
efficacy, and sexual self-reflection were investigated as elements of sexual subjectivity. All sexual subjectivity elements
were higher among girls who had more sexual experience and/or had steady romantic partners during the study. Perception of
entitlement to desire and pleasure increased over time, whereas sexual body-esteem showed the most stability and had minimal
associations with sexual or romantic experiences. The greatest increases in sexual subjectivity were found among girls who
began the study with the least sociosexual experience and self-reflection also increased for girls who had first coitus after
the start of the study. Overall, girls who had sexual intercourse the earliest (before age 16) had the highest sexual subjectivity,
but sexual subjectivity increased the most among girls without coital experience or who had more recent first coitus.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9751-3
- Authors
- Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Griffith Health Institute and School of Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
- Wendy H. Ducat, Griffith Health Institute and School of Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
- Marie-Aude Boislard-Pepin, Griffith Health Institute and School of Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002