Sexual self-concept and sexual self-efficacy in adolescents: a possible clue to promoting sexual health?
This study examined the associations between sexual self-concept (sexual esteem and sexual anxiety) and sexual self-efficacy (situational and resistive) in a sample of 388 high school students (59% Caucasian, 28% African American). Males reported lower sexual esteem and lower sexual self-efficacy than females. Males and African Americans reported higher levels of sexual anxiety and lower levels of resistive self-efficacy than females and Caucasians. In regression models, higher sexual self-esteem uniquely predicted higher sexual self-efficacy scores, even after controlling for demographic variables, knowledge of sexual risk, and previous coital experience. In post hoc analyses, sexual self-esteem mediated the relation between knowledge of sexual risk and both types of sexual self-efficacy. Results suggest the need for interventions to promote male sexual self-efficacy and sexual esteem and the need for longitudinal research that explicates models of sexual health in adolescence.
Rostosky
Sharon Scales
SS
Department of Education and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0017, USA. rostosky@coe.uky.edu
Dekhtyar
Olga
O
Cupp
Pamela K
PK
Anderman
Eric M
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012725:Sexual Behavior