Changes in the sexual behaviour of young people: introduction

Orogenital Human Papillomavirus Infection and Vaccines: A Survey of High- and Low-Risk Genotypes Not Included in Vaccines

Knowledge of human papillomavirus transmission from the genital tract to the oral mucosa remains unsatisfactory, with poor and often inconsistent literature results. The increase in HPV-associated oral malignancies prompts further analysis of the simultaneous detection of the virus in the two anatomical areas and on the identification of genotypes to be included in future vaccines. Therefore, in this retrospective study, we evaluated orogenital HPV concurrence, hrHPV, lrHPV and type-concordance in 337 samples, as well as the prevalence of the most common genotypes not included in HPV vaccines. Concurrence was found in 12.5% (31/248) of cases, hr-concordance in 61.3% (19/31) and lr-concordance in 12.9% (4/31). Finally, type-concordance was found in 32.3% (10/31) of concurrent infections. Regarding the identification of non-vaccine genotypes, the significantly prevalent genotypes in the anogenital area were HPV66 (12.6%, p < 0.0001), HPV53 (11.1%, p < 0.0001), HPV51 (8.7%, p < 0.0001), HPV42 (8.2%, p < 0.0001) and HPV68 (5.6%, p = 0.0034) in women and HPV66 (14.6%, p = 0.0058), HPV42 (12.2%, p = 0.0428), HPV51 (12.2%, p = 0.0428), HPV53 (12.2%, p = 0.0428), HPV70 (12.2%, p = 0.0428) and HPV73 (12.2%, p = 0.0428) in men. Considering the results of our study, we recommend including the high-risk genotypes HPV51, HPV68, HPV53 and HPV66 in future HPV vaccine formulations.

Infidelity in the Adolescence Stage: The Roles of Negative Affect, Hostility, and Psychological Well-Being

BACKGROUND

Infidelity is a relational process common in all types of romantic relationships and has been established as one of the main causes of relationship breakdown. However, little is known about this type of transgression in adolescent romantic relationships, although it manifests as a fairly frequent behavior involving different motivations. Even less is known about the emotional impact of infidelity on the offending person and its association with hostile behavior and psychological well-being.

METHODS

Through an experimental study (N = 301 Spanish adolescents (190 female and 111 male; M_age = 15.59, SD = 0.69; range from 15 to 17), we sought to analyze the effect of manipulating two types of motivations for infidelity (sexual vs. emotional dissatisfaction) on negative affect, hostility, and psychological well-being.

RESULTS

The main results revealed that committing infidelity motivated by hypothetical sexual (vs. emotional) dissatisfaction was indirectly related to lower psychological well-being through its effects on increased negative affect and hostility.

CONCLUSIONS

Last but not least, we discuss these findings, highlighting the possible implications of infidelity for the psychosocial and psychosexual development of adolescents.

Structural Equation Model Analysis of HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitude, and Sex Education Among Freshmen in Jiangsu, China

Background

The study of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related knowledge, attitude, and sex education status of Jiangsu freshmen was conducted, which can provide data support directionally for the prevention work of HIV/AIDS among this population.

Methods

Male students (4,006) and female students (4,279) were selected from 20 universities or colleges in the Jiangsu province. The knowledge, attitudes, and sex education of freshmen were conducted with an online questionnaire. The log-binomial regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of HIV/AIDS knowledge. In addition, a structural equation model was used to analyze students' health needs that affect knowledge awareness and knowledge mastery.

Results

The overall awareness rate of AIDS knowledge was 87.4%. The students in undergraduate colleges (OR = 2.523, 95% CI=2.223~2.864) and independent colleges (OR = 1.389, 95%CI = 1.172~1.646) were more likely to have a higher awareness compared with the students in junior colleges. In this study, 2,011 freshmen approved of premarital behavior, 4,921 freshmen insisted on using condoms when having sex, and 8,138 freshmen were willing to take HIV antibody test when they suspected they were infected. In total, 4,703 freshmen believed that sexual health education was necessary for colleges and universities, and most of them (57.2%) hoped that sex education in schools should be improved. The direct effect of sex education on knowledge awareness and attitude is 0.15 and 0.58. The mediation effect test found that the pass ability knowledge path of sex education indirectly affected sexual attitudes (0.05).

Conclusion

The awareness rate of HIV/AIDS among Jiangsu freshmen has not reached the national standard. Health education has a significant positive effect on knowledge awareness and attitude; however, students' needs in terms of time, place, and degree of sex education have not been met in time. It is necessary to strengthen the HIV/AIDS health education of college students in multiple ways.

Sexual orientation and health behaviors among college students in Italy

Studies regarding sexual orientation and health behaviors have largely neglected the Italian context. This research utilizes the second wave of the ‘Sexual and Emotional Life of Youths’ (SELFY) data set to compare the health behaviors of sexual minority (SM) and heterosexual college students in Italy. Results showed that bisexual women were more likely than heterosexual women to smoke both 1–7 and 8+ cigarettes per day, get drunk sometimes and often/very often, and use marijuana and/or ecstasy sometimes and often/very often. Homosexual women were more likely than heterosexual women to smoke 1–7 cigarettes per day, get drunk often/very often, and use marijuana and/or ecstasy often/very often. Homosexual men were more likely than heterosexual men to smoke 8+ cigarettes per day, but less likely to get drunk often/very often. Bisexual men were less likely than heterosexual men to participate in physical activity sometimes, often, and very often. Finally, bisexual men were less likely to exercise often than homosexual men. This work highlights that SM college students in Italy, particularly women, are more likely to engage in specific risky health behaviors compared to their heterosexual counterparts. More attention needs to be given to SMs in Italy to inform the Italian national health care system and to ensure that the appropriate care can be provided when required.

Limited detraditionalization of intimacy: Growing socioeconomic differences in contraceptive use at first intercourse in Italy

This paper investigates links between social inequality and reproductive behavior. It complements the extensive research on the stratification of young adults' life chances in education and the labor market by considering changes over time in the stratification of contraceptive use at first intercourse by parental background. We seek to understand detraditionalization trends in young people's sexually intimate behavior by investigating whether these trends were driven by particular social groups and how they were supported by policy initiatives. We study Italy from 1950 to 2006, which shows strong regional and socioeconomic disparities, and comparatively slow changes in religiosity and gender norms. Data from the "Survey on Italians' Sexual Behavior" (2006) and macro indicators on family planning centers are used. The findings show a steep increase in contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse over time, stratified by parental background, but only for condom use. We did not find that family planning centers intervened in these relationships.