title: Adolescents' emotions prior to sexual activity and associations with sexual risk factors.
abstract: The present study examined the link between the emotional context of sexual situations and sexual risk, specifically by examining the relationship of teens' recall of their affective states prior to sex with their sexual risk behaviors and attitudes. Adolescents (ages 13-19) attending therapeutic schools due to emotional and behavioral difficulties (n = 247) completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews regarding sexual behavior, including ratings of their emotions prior to last sexual activity. Positive emotions were most commonly endorsed (43-57 % of participants), however, significant proportions (8-23 %) also endorsed negative emotions prior to last sex. Both positive and negative emotions were significantly related to risk attitudes and behavior in regression analyses. The affective contexts of sexual experiences may be important predictors of risk in adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, One Hoppin Street, Suite 204, Providence, RI, 02903, USA, chouck@lifespan.org.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Houck
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swenson
authors.forename: Geri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donenberg
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papino
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Larry K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States