Older adolescents' engagement in casual sex: Impact of risk perception and psychosocial motivations

Ruth Andrea Levinson, James Jaccard, Lu Ann Beamer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The relationship between attitudes for casual sex and casual sex behavior was investigated for a group of older adolescents between the ages of 17 and 19. In addition, factors that influence casual sex orientations were studied. Models of behavior that emphasize disease issues as a primary determinant of casual sex behavior were compared with models that emphasize a broader range of social-psychological motivations. Results showed that the relationship between attitudes and behavior was stronger for females than males. In addition, disease-related variables were found to be correlated with behavior in a direction opposite to what traditional disease models would predict. The results were interpreted in the context of a behavioral inference model. It was found that casual sex behavior is more heavily influenced by a broad range of social-psychological motivations as compared to disease-based variables. Implications for educational interventions were developed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)349-364
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence
Volume24
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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