Using a Multisystemic Approach to Examine Youth Risky Sexual Attitudes and Behavior

<p>The current investigation examined the relationship between the risky sexual attitudes/behavior of 18 to 24 year old college students (N = 250) and variables from the self-, family, and peer systems. The variables that were used to predict participants' risky sexual attitudes and behavior included gender, three self-esteem constructs (i.e., global self-esteem level and parental/peer approval contingent self-esteem), and participants' perceptions of their parent/caregiver and peer's attitudes toward risky sex. Lastly, social desirability was used as a control variable. </p> <p>Taken together, the goals of the study were to: (a) determine whether global self-esteem level or parental/peer approval contingent self-esteem would emerge as the best predictor of participants' risky sexual attitudes/behavior; (b) investigate the relationship amongst participants' sexual attitudes/behavior and perceived parental and peer risky sexual attitudes; (c) examine the extent to which the relationship between participants' sexual attitudes/behavior and perceived parental and peer sex attitudes would vary according to participants' level of parental and peer approval contingent self-esteem; and (d) clarify the relationship between global self-esteem level and risky sexual behavior by examining the extent to which it would vary according to participants' level of parental and peer approval contingent self-esteem and perceived parental and peer sex attitudes. An additional goal of the dissertation was to examine gender differences amongst these targeted relationships while controlling for social desirable responding. </p> <p>Based on hierarchical multiple regression analyses, few significant findings emerged. Parental approval contingent self-esteem, relative to the remaining two self-esteem constructs, emerged as the best predictor of participants' sexual behavior; (b) gender differences were observed in the relationship between global self-esteem level and participants' sexual behavior; (c) perceived parental and peer sex attitudes significantly predicted participants' sex attitudes; and (d) participants' sex attitudes and perceived peer sex attitudes significantly predicted participants' sexual behavior. Unexpectedly, the extent to which global self-esteem level predicted participants' sexual behavior varied according to participants' perceptions of their parent/caregiver's sex attitudes. Based on the findings from the study, the dissertation discusses implications for prevention/intervention programs that are aimed at improving young peoples' sexual attitudes and decreasing youth risky sexual behavior. It also discusses implications for future research. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Simpson, Chamane Melissa

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Georgiana Tryon

• Educational Psychology
• Multisystemic Approach; Parental Sex Attitudes; Peer Sex Attitudes; Self-Esteem; Youth Risky Sexual Attitudes; Youth Risky Sexual Behavior

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1131

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-2145