title: Partner Type, Sexual Double Standard Endorsement, and Ambivalence Predict Abdication and Unprotected Sex Intentions in a Community Sample of Young Women.
abstract: In-the-moment ambivalence about having sex may influence sexual decisions but has rarely been examined. We investigated how ambivalence about sex might be related to intentions to abdicate sexual decisions to a male partner and to engage in unprotected sex in a community sample of young women. Predictors of abdication and unprotected sex intentions included partner type (new casual versus previous relationship), sexual double standard (SDS) endorsement, and two types of ambivalence. After completing a SDS endorsement measure, women (N = 360) projected themselves into a hypothetical sexual situation and completed dependent measures. In the new casual partner condition, SDS endorsement indirectly negatively predicted unprotected sex intentions through its associations with ambivalence and abdication. In both partner conditions SDS endorsement positively predicted abdication, which then positively predicted unprotected sex intentions. Ambivalence indirectly predicted unprotected sex intentions through its negative association with abdication intentions. Results suggest the importance of ambivalence for sexual decisions and the complexity of understanding the sexual decision making processes for women who endorse the SDS.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , University of Washington.
authors.forename: Cinnamon L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Danube
authors.affiliation: b Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute , University of Washington.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , University of Washington.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stappenbeck
authors.affiliation: c School of Social Work , University of Washington.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cue Davis
authors.affiliation: d Department of Psychology , University of Washington.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: e Department of Psychology , The University of Texas at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zawacki
authors.affiliation: c School of Social Work , University of Washington.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: b Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute , University of Washington.
authors.forename: Devon Alisa
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Abdallah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult