Sociodemographic, Psychosocial, and Health Behavior Risk Factors Associated with Sexual Risk Behaviors among Southeastern US College Students

Carla J. Berg, Kincaid Lowe, Erin Stratton, Sherell Brown Goodwin, Linda Grimsley, Jan Rodd, Catherine Williams, Cheri Mattox, Bruce Foster

Albany State University, Albany, USA.
Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, USA.
Chattahoochee Technical College, Marietta, USA.
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2014.46046                

Abstract

Objectives: We examined correlates of 1) being a virgin; 2) drug or alcohol use prior to the last intercourse; and 3) condom use during the last intercourse in a sample of college students. Methods: We recruited 24,055 students at six colleges in the Southeast to complete an online survey, yielding 4840 responses (20.1% response rate), with complete data from 4514. Results: Logistic regression indicated that correlates of virginity included being younger (p < 0.001), male (p = 0.01), being White or other ethnicity (p < 0.001), attending a four- vs. two-year school (p < 0.001), being single/never married (p < 0.001), lower sensation seeking (p < 0.001), more regular religious service attendance (p < 0.001), lower likelihood of smoking (p < 0.001) and marijuana use (p = 0.002), and less frequentdrinking (p < 0.001). Correlates of alcohol or drug use prior to most recent intercourse including being older (p = 0.03), being White (p < 0.01), attending a four-year college (p < 0.001), being homosexual (p = 0.041) or bisexual (p = 0.011), having more lifetime sexual partners (p = 0.005), lower satisfaction with life (p = 0.004), greater likelihood of smoking (p < 0.001) and marijuana use (p < 0.001), and more frequent drinking (p < 0.001). Correlates of condom use during the last sexual intercourse including being older (p = 0.003), being female (p < 0.001), being White (p < 0.001), attending a two-year school (p = 0.04), being single/never married (p = 0.005), being homosexual or bisexual (p = 0.04), and a more frequent drinking (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Four-year college attendees were more likely to be a virgin but, if sexually active, reported higher sexual risk behaviors. These nuances regarding sexual risk may provide targets for sexual health promotion programs and interventions.

Keywords

Sexual Risk, Substance Use, College Students

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	American College Health Association (2012) Results of the National College Health Association Survey. American College Health Association.
[2]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59, RR-12.
[3]	Ellickson, P.L., Tucker, J.S. and Klein, D.J. (2001) High-Risk Behaviors Associated with Early Smoking: Results from a 5-Year Follow-Up. Journal of Adolescent Health, 28, 465-473. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00202-0
[4]	Valois, R.F., Oeltmann, J.E., Waller, J. and Hussey, J.R. (1999) Relationship between Number of Sexual Intercourse Partners and Selected Health Risk Behaviors among Public High School Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 25, 328-335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(99)00051-8
[5]	Jessor, R. and Jessor, S. (1977) Problem Behavior and Psychological Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth. Academic Press, New York.
[6]	Diener, E., Emmons, R.A., Larsen, R.J. and Griffin, S. (1985) The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
[7]	Stephenson, M.T., Hoyle, R.H., Palmgreen, P. and Slater, M.D. (2003) Brief Measures of Sensation Seeking for Screening and Large-Scale Surveys. Drug Alcohol Depend, 72, 279-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2003.08.003
[8]	Hoyle, R.H., Stephenson, M.T., Palmgreen, P., Lorch, E.P. and Donohew, R.L. (2002) Reliability and Validity of a Brief Measure of Sensation Seeking. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 401-414. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00032-0
[9]	ACHA (2008) American College Health Association: National College Health Assessment Spring 2007 Reference Group Data Report (Abridged) Journal of American College Health, 56, 469-479. http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/JACH.56.5.469-480
[10]	CDC (1997) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance: National College Health Risk Behavior Survey—United States, 1995. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 46, 1-54. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00049859.htm
[11]	Eisenberg, M.E., Lust, K.A. and Garcia, C.M. (2014) Differences in Sexual Behaviors among Unmarried Sexually Active Students at 2- and 4-Year Colleges. Research in Nursing & Health, 37, 128-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nur.21586
[12]	Mereish, E.H., O’Cleirigh, C. and Bradford, J.B. (2014) Interrelationships between LGBT-Based Victimization, Suicide, and Substance Use Problems in a Diverse Sample of Sexual and Gender Minorities. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 19, 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2013.780129
[13]	Simons, J.S., Maisto, S.A. and Wray, T.B. (2010) Sexual Risk Taking among Young Adult Dual Alcohol and Marijuana Users. Addictive Behaviors, 35, 533-536. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.12.026
[14]	Wetherill, R.R., Neal, D.J. and Fromme, K. (2010) Parents, Peers, and Sexual Values Influence Sexual Behavior during the Transition to College. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 682-694. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9476-8