Sexual activity and risk taking in young heterosexual men: the relevance of sexual arousability, mood, and sensation seeking.
In this research we explored three aspects of personality relevant to sexual activity and sexual risk taking in heterosexual men. Men with low inhibition of sexual arousal in the face of risk (low SIS2) reported more partners with whom they use no condoms and more lifetime "one night stands." Men who experience increased sexual interest in states of depression (MSQ) reported more partners in the past year and more one night stands. The disinhibition subscale of the Sensation Seeking Scale was predictive of whether sexual intercourse had occurred in the past 6 months, and also of the number of sexual partners in the past year. A measure of an intention to practice safer sex was strongly related to measures of sexual arousability and inhibition (SIS/SES). We discuss some clear similarities and also some interesting differences with a parallel study of gay men. Individual differences in sexual excitation and inhibition proneness and the relation between mood and sexuality are clearly relevant to high-risk sexual behavior and should be taken into consideration when designing behavioral interventions.
The Kinsey Institute, Gender, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-3700, USA. jbancrof@indiana.edu
John
J
Bancroft
Erick
E
Janssen
Lori
L
Carnes
David
D
Goodrich
David
D
Strong
J Scott
JS
Long
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D001242:Assertiveness; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires