The effect of sexual self-concept on sexual health behavioural intentions: a test of moderating mechanisms in early adolescent girls

Risk and Protective Factors for the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Young Adolescents: Lessons Learnt in the Past Decade and Research Priorities Moving Forward

PURPOSE

To review the published literature on what has been reported on risk and protective factors for early adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in the recent decade.

METHODS

A scoping review of English language, peer-reviewed literature on risk and protective factors for early adolescent (aged 10-14 years) SRH published between January 2010 and January 2023 using Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Articles reporting only on nonmodifiable demographic factors, or on the effect of interventions, were beyond the scope of this review.

RESULTS

Of 11,956 screened records, 118 were included of which half (49.2%) were published since 2018. Most articles (44.9%) presented research conducted in North America, followed by sub-Saharan Africa (20.3%) and East Asia and Pacific (16.1%). Five percent were based on multicountry studies or reported on pooled global data. Two-thirds (61.0%) reported on quantitative cross-sectional research designs, and 78.8% included both females and males. The most common SRH outcomes were sexual behaviors (34.7%); sexual and dating violence (28.8%); and sexual attitudes, beliefs, and intentions (19.5%). Most (83.0%) articles reported on risk/protective factors at the individual level, followed by interpersonal (family 58.5%, peers 33.0%, partners 11.9%), school (21.2%), and community (15.2%) factors. None of the included articles reported on macro/structural-level factors.

DISCUSSION

While there has been growing attention to risk/protective factors for early adolescent SRH, gaps remain with regards to study contexts (mainly North America), focus (mostly individual factors), and conceptualizations (generally risk-oriented). We offer recommendations for research priorities over the coming decade.

Effects of pole dance on mental wellbeing and the sexual self-concept-a pilot randomized-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Prior studies on beneficial effects of dance have primarily focused on traditional and expressionistic dance forms, neglecting newer dance styles like pole dance, which employ distinct techniques. The present pilot randomized controlled trial examined psychological and psychosexual effects of pole dancing.

METHODS

Fifty women were randomized to an eight-weeks pole dancing program or waitlist. The primary outcome was global mental wellbeing. Secondary outcomes included several dimensions of the sexual self-concept, as well as body appreciation and global self-esteem.

RESULTS

Compared to waitlist, the pole dance group showed an increase in mental wellbeing and improvements in sexual self-efficacy, sexual anxiety, sexual self-esteem, and body appreciation.

CONCLUSIONS

Pole dancing may have broad psychological effects on both overall mental wellbeing and important domains of the sexual self-concept.

The Relationship Between Topic-Specific Quality of Parent-Child Sexual Communication and Measures of Sexual Self-Concept and Sexual Subjectivity

As primary influences in children's sexual socialization, parents have the potential to help children develop psychological sexual well-being as they model and discuss sexuality together. Based on social cognitive theory, this study examined the understudied relationship between perceived quality of parent-child sexual communication (PCSC) about sensitive, value, and risk topics and measures of psychological sexual well-being (sexual self-concept and sexual subjectivity) in a sample of 278 U.S. undergraduate college students. Results of a path analysis showed that higher perceived quality of PCSC about sensitive topics (e.g., sexual pleasure, masturbation) was associated with increased sexual self-efficacy, body esteem, sexual assertiveness, and sexual self-esteem. Higher perceived quality of PCSC about values (e.g., monogamy, abstinence) was associated with increased entitlement to partner pleasure and decreased sexual self-efficacy and entitlement to self-pleasure. Perceived quality of PCSC about risk (e.g., sexually transmitted diseases [STDs], condom use) was not significantly associated with any measure of psychological sexual well-being. Findings from this study have important implications for sexual education programs, including informing parent education and the importance of including discussion of psychological sexual well-being in programs.

The relationship between sexual self-concept and contraception sexual behavior in 15 to 49 years old women covered by community health centers

BACKGROUND

One of the most important goals of sexual intercourse is to arouse the psychological effects of intercourse and to increase sexual self-concept, which changes following sexual behaviors such as the use of contraception methods. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between sexual self-concept and contraception sexual behavior in 15-49-year-old women covered by community health centers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present descriptive correlational study was performed on 297 married women referring to Isfahan community health centers in 2020 who were selected as cluster that randomly classified. The tools included demographic information and the Snell's Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire, the data of which were analyzed via SPSS version 22 software by Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

Among a total of 297 women, 5.4% of the samples used hormonal methods and 94.6% used non-hormonal methods, which was the most common intermittent method. The results also showed that the mean score of negative sexual self-concept in women using the hormonal level method was significantly higher (P = 0.012). Positive and positive sexual self-concept score was significantly higher in women using non-hormonal methods (P = 0.048 and P = 0.002). Therefore, there was a significant relationship between sexual self-concept and contraception method.

CONCLUSION

Due to the relationship between contraception and sexual self-concept, it is recommended to pay attention to the aspects of sexual self-concept and contraception during reproductive health counselling sessions so that if there is a disorder, useful advice can be provided or referred, if necessary.

University Students’ Sexual Identity Development as a Determinant of Sexual Self-Hood

Sexual identity development was explored as a predictor of sexual self-concept and erotophobia–erotophilia using a student sample. Sexual identity development was operationalized using Worthington et al.’s Measure of Sexual Identity Development, which is theoretically based on Marcia’s identity model. Based on Worthington et al.’s scale, there are four sexual identity development domains: commitment to one’s sexual identity, exploration of one’s sexual identity, sexual orientation uncertainty, and synthesis/integration of one’s sexual identity. Several of Snell’s Sexual Self-Concept scales (e.g., sexual depression, sexual self-efficacy) and Tromovitch’s Comfort with Sexuality scales (e.g., comfort talking about sexuality, comfort with the sexual activities of others) were used to define sexual self-concept and erotophobia–erotophilia, respectively. A sample of students enrolled in an introductory psychology course at a Canadian university completed these instruments. Results suggest that sexual identity development was strongly predictive of sexual self-concept scales, multivariately. Sexual identity development was also predictive of comfort with sexuality. Sexual self-concept and erotophobia–erotophilia were also related to each other. These relationships supported the idea that a positive sexual identity development process contributes to a favorable view of the sexual self. However, the study was cross-sectional and correlational, so conclusions about directionality are preliminary and causality cannot be inferred.

Psychometric Properties of the Sexual Self-Concept Inventory for Early Adolescent Girls

Objective: To establish the validity and dependability of the Sexual Self-Concept Inventory (SSCI) for early adolescent girls in Spanish among the Colombian population of Santander. Materials and methods: Methodological study with samples used for the theoretical construct validity of the study’s dimensions and internal consistency. The sample consisted of 308 adolescent girls aged between 10 and 14 from two schools in Girón, Santander, Colombia. Results: Inventory of 34 items with three dimensions; exploratory factor analysis confirmed the three factors with a total variance of 43.261 %. The instrument reported internal consistency of α = 0.89 for the following dimensions: sexual arousability (0.908), sexual agency (0.812), and negative sexual affect (0.572). Conclusions: The SSCI in Spanish is dependable enough to evaluate a person’s sexual behaviors or feelings and comprehend the sexual behavior of adolescent girls.

Bio-psycho-social factors affecting sexual self-concept: A systematic review

Background

Nowadays, it is believed that mental and emotional aspects of sexual well-being are the important aspects of sexual health. Sexual self-concept is a major component of sexual health and the core of sexuality. It is defined as the cognitive perspective concerning the sexual aspects of ‘self’ and refers to the individual’s self-perception as a sexual creature.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the different factors affecting sexual self-concept.

Methods

English electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar as well as two Iranian databases including Scientific Information Database and Iranmedex were searched for English and Persian-language articles published between 1996 and 2016. Of 281 retrieved articles, 37 articles were finally included for writing this review article.

Results

Factors affecting sexual self-concept were categorized to biological, psychological and social factors. In the category of biological factors, age gender, marital status, race, disability and sexual transmitted infections are described. In the psychological category, the impact of body image, sexual abuse in childhood and mental health history are present. Lastly, in the social category, the roles of parents, peers and the media are discussed.

Conclusion

As the development of sexual self-concept is influenced by multiple events in individuals’ lives, to promotion of sexual self-concept, an integrated implementation of health policies is recommended.

Sexual Self-concept and Its Relationship to Depression, Stress and Anxiety in Postmenopausal Women

Objectives

Women in menopause have the more mood swings than before menopause. At the same time seem to sexual self-concept and sexual aspects of self-knowledge has a great impact on their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the sexual self-concept and its relationship to depression, stress and anxiety in postmenopausal women's.

Methods

In this descriptive correlation research, 300 of postmenopausal women referred to healthcare and medical treatment centers in Abadeh city were selected by convenience sampling method. The information in this study was collected by using questionnaires of multidimensional sexual self-concept and depression anxiety stress scale 21 (DASS-21). For data analysis, SPSS/17 software was used.

Results

The results showed the mean score positive sexual self-concept was 41.03 ± 8.66 and the average score of negative sexual self in women's was 110.32 ± 43.05. As well as scores of depression, stress, and anxiety, 35.67%, 32.33% and 37.67% respectively were in severe level. Positive and negative sexual self-concept scores with scores of stress, anxiety, and depression, of post-menopausal women in the confidence of 0.01, is significantly correlated (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Being stress, anxiety, and depression in severe level and also a significant correlation between increased stress, anxiety and depression with negative and weak self-concept of women's, it is necessary to devote more careful attention to mental health issues of women's and have appropriate interventions.

Relationships among sexual self-concept and sexual risk cognition toward sexual self-efficacy in adolescents: cause-and-effect model testing

AIM

Sexual self-efficacy plays an important role in adolescents' sexual health. The aim of this study was to test a cause-and-effect model of sexual self-concept and sexual risk cognition toward sexual self-efficacy in adolescents.

METHODS

The study was a cross-sectional survey. Using a random sampling method, a total of 713 junior nursing students were invited to participate in the study, and 465 valid surveys were returned, resulting in a return rate of 65.2%. The data was collected using an anonymous mailed questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships among sexual self-concept, sexual risk cognition, and sexual self-efficacy, as well as the mediating role of sexual risk cognition.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the postulated model fits the data well. Sexual self-concept significantly predicted sexual risk cognition and sexual self-efficacy. Sexual risk cognition significantly predicted sexual self-efficacy and had a mediating effect on the relationship between sexual self-concept and sexual self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Based on social cognitive theory and a structural equation model technique, this study confirmed the mediating role of sexual risk cognition in the relationship between sexual self-concept and sexual self-efficacy. Also, sexual self-concept's direct and indirect effects explaining adolescents' sexual self-efficacy were found in this study.