title: Factors associated with sexual arousal, sexual sensation seeking and sexual satisfaction among female African American adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexuality-related constructs, such as sexual arousal, sexual sensation seeking (SSS) and sexual satisfaction, have been related to sexual behaviours that place one at risk of adverse consequences, such as sexually transmissible infections, HIV and unintended pregnancy. The biopsychosocial model posits an array of factors, ranging from social environmental factors to biological and psychological predispositions, that may be associated with these sexuality constructs in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female African Americans aged 14-20 years were recruited from reproductive health clinics for an HIV intervention. Baseline survey and follow-up DNA data (n=304) were used to assess biological, psychological and social environmental associations with the sexuality constructs of arousal, SSS and sexual satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that a higher depressive symptom rating was associated with higher arousability, whereas short serotonin transporter gene allele(s) status was associated with lower arousability. Impulsivity and perceived peer norms supportive of unsafe sexual behaviours were associated with increased SSS, whereas short serotonin transporter gene allele(s) status was associated with lower SSS. Higher social support was associated with higher levels of sexual satisfaction, whereas short serotonin transporter gene allele(s) status was associated with lower satisfaction. The sexuality constructs were also significantly related to the number of sex partners, the frequency of vaginal sex and the number of unprotected vaginal sex acts in the past 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings emphasise the importance of understanding biopsychosocial factors, including the role of serotonin as an indicator of natural variations in sexual inclination and behaviours, that influence sexuality constructs, which, in turn, are associated with sexual behaviours, to allow further refinement of sexual health clinical services and programs and promote the development of healthy sexuality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Smearman
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milhausen
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Philibert
authors.forename: Ralph J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Diclemente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000483:Alleles; D001143:Arousal / Q000235:genetics; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012932:Social Facilitation; D012944:Social Support; D012945:Social Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins