The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40966

Jennifer R. Boyle, MS¹, Carrie Murray, MS², and Bradley O. Boekeloo, MS, PhD¹. (1) Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, 1242E HHP Bldg., Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742-2611, (2) Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, 1241 HHP Bldg., Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742, 301-405-2084, boylej@wam.umd.edu

Sexual risk-taking may manifest itself differently among male and female college students. Students holding traditional beliefs about male sexuality may exhibit riskier sexual behaviors. College students (94 males, 136 females) in elective and required personal health classes were surveyed and responses from those that were sexually active (76 males, 105 females) were analyzed. Multivariate regression models, controlling for age and ethnicity, included the Avoidance of Femininity (a=.82) and the Attitudes Toward Sex (a=.76) Subscales from the Male Role Norms Inventory as predictors of alcohol use, discussion of sexual risks, and condom use in conjunction with students' first intercourse with their most recent sexual partner. Attitudes toward discussion about sexual risk and type of relationship at the time of first intercourse were also tested as dependent variables. Men with more traditional beliefs about male sexuality had more negative attitudes toward discussion of sexual risks (OR=1.12, CI 1.02-1.22), were less likely to have discussed sexual risks with their partner (OR=1.09, CI 1.00-1.17), and were more likely to report higher anonymity at the time of first intercourse (OR=1.13, CI 1.03-1.23) than men with less traditional beliefs. There were no significant relationships between women's traditional beliefs about male sexuality and their attitudes or behaviors. These results suggest that men's traditional attitudes about male sexuality increase their sexual risk taking. Traditional attitudes about male sexuality may warrant further examination to identify new ways of reducing men's sexual risk taking.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe the effect of traditional attitudes toward male sexuality on men's sexual risk taking behaviors.

Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.