Brief report: Sexual sensation seeking and its relationship to risky sexual behaviour among African-American adolescent females

Joshua S. Spitalnick; Ralph J. DiClemente; Gina M. Wingood; Richard A. Crosby; Robin R. Milhausen; Jessica M. Sales; Frances McCarty; Eve Rose; Sinead N. Younge

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.10.002

Brief report: Sexual sensation seeking and its relationship to risky sexual behaviour among African-American adolescent females

Joshua S. Spitalnick, Ralph J. DiClemente, Gina M. Wingood, Richard A. Crosby, Robin R. Milhausen, Jessica M. Sales, Frances McCarty, Eve Rose, Sinead N. Younge

Global Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The relationship between sexual sensation seeking and sexual risk taking has been investigated among adult populations. There are limited data, however, regarding this relationship for adolescents. Since African-American adolescent females continue to be disproportionately diagnosed with STDs, including HIV, we examined this association among a clinic-based sample of African-American adolescent females (N=715) enrolled in an STD/HIV prevention intervention. Participants (ages 15-21) endorsing higher levels of sexual sensation seeking reported higher levels of sexual risk-taking behaviours (e.g. frequency of vaginal intercourse, number of sexual partners, and poorer condom use). Results remained significant after controlling for known covariates associated with sexual risk-taking behaviours. Results are consistent with the adult literature and highlight the need for future investigations examining sexual sensation seeking among adolescents. These results, though preliminary, could be used to better inform prevention interventions and clinicians/health educators who provide direct services to adolescents.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	165-173
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Adolescence
Volume	30
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.10.002
State	Published - Feb 2007

Keywords

Adolescence
African American
Condom use
Female
Risky sex
STD/HIV
Sexual sensation seeking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Social Psychology
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.10.002

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title = "Brief report: Sexual sensation seeking and its relationship to risky sexual behaviour among African-American adolescent females",

abstract = "The relationship between sexual sensation seeking and sexual risk taking has been investigated among adult populations. There are limited data, however, regarding this relationship for adolescents. Since African-American adolescent females continue to be disproportionately diagnosed with STDs, including HIV, we examined this association among a clinic-based sample of African-American adolescent females (N=715) enrolled in an STD/HIV prevention intervention. Participants (ages 15-21) endorsing higher levels of sexual sensation seeking reported higher levels of sexual risk-taking behaviours (e.g. frequency of vaginal intercourse, number of sexual partners, and poorer condom use). Results remained significant after controlling for known covariates associated with sexual risk-taking behaviours. Results are consistent with the adult literature and highlight the need for future investigations examining sexual sensation seeking among adolescents. These results, though preliminary, could be used to better inform prevention interventions and clinicians/health educators who provide direct services to adolescents.",

keywords = "Adolescence, African American, Condom use, Female, Risky sex, STD/HIV, Sexual sensation seeking",

author = "Spitalnick, {Joshua S.} and DiClemente, {Ralph J.} and Wingood, {Gina M.} and Crosby, {Richard A.} and Milhausen, {Robin R.} and Sales, {Jessica M.} and Frances McCarty and Eve Rose and Younge, {Sinead N.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH61210) to the second author. ",

year = "2007",

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AU - Crosby, Richard A.

AU - Milhausen, Robin R.

AU - Sales, Jessica M.

AU - McCarty, Frances

AU - Rose, Eve

AU - Younge, Sinead N.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH61210) to the second author.

PY - 2007/2

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N2 - The relationship between sexual sensation seeking and sexual risk taking has been investigated among adult populations. There are limited data, however, regarding this relationship for adolescents. Since African-American adolescent females continue to be disproportionately diagnosed with STDs, including HIV, we examined this association among a clinic-based sample of African-American adolescent females (N=715) enrolled in an STD/HIV prevention intervention. Participants (ages 15-21) endorsing higher levels of sexual sensation seeking reported higher levels of sexual risk-taking behaviours (e.g. frequency of vaginal intercourse, number of sexual partners, and poorer condom use). Results remained significant after controlling for known covariates associated with sexual risk-taking behaviours. Results are consistent with the adult literature and highlight the need for future investigations examining sexual sensation seeking among adolescents. These results, though preliminary, could be used to better inform prevention interventions and clinicians/health educators who provide direct services to adolescents.

AB - The relationship between sexual sensation seeking and sexual risk taking has been investigated among adult populations. There are limited data, however, regarding this relationship for adolescents. Since African-American adolescent females continue to be disproportionately diagnosed with STDs, including HIV, we examined this association among a clinic-based sample of African-American adolescent females (N=715) enrolled in an STD/HIV prevention intervention. Participants (ages 15-21) endorsing higher levels of sexual sensation seeking reported higher levels of sexual risk-taking behaviours (e.g. frequency of vaginal intercourse, number of sexual partners, and poorer condom use). Results remained significant after controlling for known covariates associated with sexual risk-taking behaviours. Results are consistent with the adult literature and highlight the need for future investigations examining sexual sensation seeking among adolescents. These results, though preliminary, could be used to better inform prevention interventions and clinicians/health educators who provide direct services to adolescents.

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Brief report: Sexual sensation seeking and its relationship to risky sexual behaviour among African-American adolescent females

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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