title: Relationships among sexual self-concept and sexual risk cognition toward sexual self-efficacy in adolescents: cause-and-effect model testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sexual self-efficacy plays an important role in adolescents' sexual health. The aim of this study was to test a cause-and-effect model of sexual self-concept and sexual risk cognition toward sexual self-efficacy in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional survey. Using a random sampling method, a total of 713 junior nursing students were invited to participate in the study, and 465 valid surveys were returned, resulting in a return rate of 65.2%. The data was collected using an anonymous mailed questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships among sexual self-concept, sexual risk cognition, and sexual self-efficacy, as well as the mediating role of sexual risk cognition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that the postulated model fits the data well. Sexual self-concept significantly predicted sexual risk cognition and sexual self-efficacy. Sexual risk cognition significantly predicted sexual self-efficacy and had a mediating effect on the relationship between sexual self-concept and sexual self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on social cognitive theory and a structural equation model technique, this study confirmed the mediating role of sexual risk cognition in the relationship between sexual self-concept and sexual self-efficacy. Also, sexual self-concept's direct and indirect effects explaining adolescents' sexual self-efficacy were found in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Hsin Sheng College of Medical Care and Management, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Yueh
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hsing-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jiunn-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Cheng-Joo
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Eng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012725:Sexual Behavior
keywords: adolescents; sexual risk cognition; sexual self concept; sexual self-efficacy