Knowledge and attitudes toward sexuality in adolescents and their association with the family and other factors

Family structure and function and their association with knowledge and attitudes toward sexuality, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) were studied in 918 students and 312 adolescents working in factories. Unmarried workers reported higher rates of sexual activity than did students (30.9% vs. 21.8%, p = .04 for males; 12.9% vs. 6.0%, p = .005 for females). Among sexually active males, 33.3% of students and 30.7% of workers used contraception, compared with 27.5% of female students and 9.5% of female workers. Workers were from larger families than students, and the male and female workers had lower scores for knowledge on sexuality, contraception, and STD than did students. Multiple stepwise regression showed that age and schooling of the parents were associated with knowledge and attitudes in the students. In workers, the position of the child in the family was a negative regressor for attitudes and knowledge on sexuality in males, and for knowledge on contraception and STD in females. In regard to family function, the significant factors were compromise between the parents, positive affective response, communication within the family, problem solution, and control of behavior. It was concluded that female workers are at higher risk for unwanted pregnancies and STD. The factors associated with knowledge and attitudes were age, schooling of the parents, mother working out of home, position of the adolescent in the family, and the diverse aspects of family function.     

AIDS/HIV and university students in Delhi, India: knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors

Eight hundred eighty-seven students in social work, nursing, and humanities from two major universities in Delhi were compared regarding their knowledge about AIDS/HIV and attitudes toward PWAs and homosexuals. Their scores on the 20-item knowledge test indicate fair degree of knowledge; however, they lacked information in crucial areas of AIDS prevention and human sexual anatomy. Unmarried, female and older students and those in social work and nursing disciplines scored significantly higher on correct answers. Social work students were likely to be more positive in their attitudes toward AIDS victims than those in nursing or humanities. Knowledge was positively related to attitudes and perception of risk. Despite their awareness of personal risks only four in ten used condoms sometimes during intercourse. Educational strategies to increase cognitive and affective understanding of AIDS and its victims are discussed.     

Gender differences in Scholastic Aptitude Test: Mathematics problem solving among high-ability students.

Examined whether male and female students of high mathematical ability use different solution strategies on math problems that had previously yielded gender differences in correct responding. Structured interviews were conducted with high school students who had scored at least 670 on the math portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT-M). Eight types of solution strategies could be further dichotomized as conventional or unconventional in approach. Female students were more likely than male students to use conventional strategies. SAT-M scores were correlated with positive attitudes (confidence and persistence) toward math: use of conventional strategies was correlated with negative attitudes (dislike, nonrelevance) toward math. Findings may help to explain patterns of gender differences on SAT-M problems among high-ability students in which female students outperform male students on conventional problems and male students outperform female students on unconventional problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dream interpretation sessions: Who volunteers, who benefits, and what volunteer clients view as most and least helpful.

Undergraduate students (N ?=?336) completed measures of personality, cognitive functioning, and attitudes toward dreams; reported average hours of sleep and estimated dream recall; and kept a 2-week dream diary. A subset of 109 students volunteered to participate in and 65 students actually participated in, a dream interpretation session. The students who volunteered for dream interpretation had more positive attitudes toward dreams, recalled dreams more frequently, were more open and higher in absorption (capacity for restructuring one's phenomenal field), and were more often female than nonvolunteers. The volunteer clients who gained the most from dream interpretation reported fewer dreams in a 2-week dream diary. Clients reported that the most helpful aspects of dream interpretation were insight, links to waking life, and receiving another person's input. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social anxiety, sexual behavior, and contraceptive use.

170 female and 90 male college students completed a questionnaire that provided information regarding their sexual experience, knowledge, and attitudes; their self-evaluations on dimensions related to sexuality; and their level of heterosocial anxiety (anxiety experienced in social interactions with members of the other sex). Compared with Ss low in heterosocial anxiety, highly anxious Ss were less sexually experienced, engaged in sexual activity less frequently, had fewer sexual partners, were less likely to have engaged in oral sex, expressed a higher degree of apprehension about sex, and had a somewhat higher incidence of sexual dysfunctions. In addition, low socially anxious women tended to use the pill, whereas highly anxious women preferred the condom. High and low heterosocially anxious Ss also differed on self-ratings related to their sexuality but did not differ in their attitudes or knowledge regarding sex. Results are discussed in terms of the cognitive, behavioral, and affective concomitants of social anxiety. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex differences in the correlates of stimulus seeking.

Conducted 5 experiments to correlate Zuckerman, Kolin, Price, and Zoob's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) with other variables, e.g., scores on the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale. Ss included 518 college and high school students of both sexes and a sample of their parents (n = 341), 40 male general psychiatric patients, and 62 male alcoholic patients. Results were analyzed in terms of differences in the correlates for the total sample by sex, and differences in SSS scores for parents and their children. In males, the SSS was positively related to academic aptitude and liberal sexual attitudes, and was negatively related to authoritarianism, dogmatism, and passive food preferences. In females, the SSS was positively related to liberal sexual attitudes and negatively related to passive food preferences and to an insignificant degree to authoritarianism. SSS scores of male and female high school students showed a modest tendency to resemble those of their parents. (26 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender differences in sexual attitudes.

Developed a 102-item sexual attitudes questionnaire that was completed by 439 female and 374 male undergraduates as part of a larger attitude study. Factor analyses yielded 8 factors on which 74 of the 102 items loaded. ANOVA of the individual items showed that female and male Ss differed on 73 of the 102 items. Females were more responsible, conventional, and idealistic, whereas males were more permissive, instrumental, and control- and power-oriented. The means suggested that females were moderately conservative in sexual attitudes, while males were moderately permissive. Based on the factor analysis, the present authors formed 5 preliminary sexual attitudes scales. Correlations among the summed scale scores indicated that the scales were largely independent of each other. It is suggested that the multidimensional complexity of sexual attitudes and empirical explanations for the continuing gender differences in sexual attitudes should be studied. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of a sex education workshop

Thirty-two first year medical students who attended a 1 day sex education workshop and seven of their classmates who did not attend the workshop were given the Sex Knowledge and Attitude Test (SKAT) both 1 month before and 3 months after the workshop. The workshop group on retest had scores significantly higher than their pretest scores in the areas of sexual knowledge, autoeroticism and sexual myths. The scores of the no-workshop group did not change significantly on any of the parameters.Evidently, knowledge can be increased and attitudes liberalized by means of an intensive day-long workshop and such changes may persist beyong the immediate period of the workshop.     

A study on disclosure by HIV positives by use of simulation using case vignettes

AIDS patients/HIV positives have been increasing in Japan, but a large proportion of university students, who have high risk sexual behavior, are not aware of the danger of HIV infection. Because of little disclosure by AIDS patients/HIV positives in Japan, the students have a poor chance of knowing of their risk in sexual behavior situations. Discrimination or prejudice toward AIDS patients/HIV positives has suppressed disclosure. However, as the real risk changes of disclosure is unknown, a simulation study, using case vignettes, was carried out to measure risks. A total of 1,128 university students (487 male and 641 female) were asked to read one of six vignettes describing HIV positives, that consisted of three infection routes (one by blood preparation and two by sexual intercourse) with disclosure or without disclosure. After reading a vignette, they answered questions about the images of HIV positives and their attitudes to him or her. As a result of reading these vignettes, friendly images were enhanced and the disagreeable images were decreased, but students' attitudes were unchanged. Significant differences were recognized in attitudes concerning responsibility for the infection and sympathy toward HIV positives, depending on the infection routes (blood preparation or sexual intercourse). Female students had a tendency to be more favorable to HIV positives than the male students. This simulation study showed the difficulty of changing students' attitudes regardless of the image of HIV positives, and demonstrated the need for effective action toward reducing discrimination or prejudice.     

Patient-physician sexual involvement: a Canadian survey of obstetrician-gynecologists

OBJECTIVE: To determine obstetrician-gynecologists' (ob-gyns') awareness of and experience with sexual abuse of patients and former patients and their opinions about appropriate consequences. DESIGN: Mailed survey. SETTING: Canada. PARTICIPANTS: All 792 members of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC); 618 (78%) responded. Approximately half of all ob-gyns in Canada belong to the SOGC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge of sexual involvement by an ob-gyn colleague with a patient or former patient (as defined by the respondents and by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario [CPSO]), self-report of such involvement, attitudes toward physician sexual abuse, desirable length of time a physician should wait before seeing a former patient in a situation that could lead to a sexual encounter, suggested consequences of sexual abuse. RESULTS: Overall, 10% of the respondents indicated that they knew about another ob-gyn who at some time had been sexually involved with a patient. In all, 3% of the male respondents and 1% of the female respondents reported sexual involvement with a patient; the corresponding proportions of those who reported having been accused of sexual abuse by a patient were 4% and 2%. Significantly more of the female ob-gyns than of their male counterparts (37% v. 19%) reported awareness of a colleague's sexual involvement with a patient that would meet the CPSO's definition of sexual impropriety, transgression or violation. Most of the respondents felt that the consequence of proven sexual impropriety should be reprimand and fine (chosen by 33%) or rehabilitation without loss of licence (28%). Most of the physicians supported loss of licence for proven sexual transgression (57%) or proven sexual violation (74%), but fewer felt that loss of licence should be permanent for these types of abuse (4% and 24% respectively). The female ob-gyns supported stronger sanctions against sexual transgression and sexual violation than the male ob-gyns. A wide range of opinion was seen regarding the propriety of sexual relationships with former patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ob-gyns have varied opinions about how sexual abuse of patients should be defined and how it should be sanctioned. There is a discrepancy between proposed public policy and the beliefs of physicians to whom the policy is to be applied.     

Systemic air embolism in an extremely low birthweight infant treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation

BACKGROUND: The autopsy is an educational experience that helps students correlate clinical findings with basic science issues. Because of the sensitive nature of the autopsy, students' attitudes should be considered prior to its design and implementation. METHOD: In 1992-1993, all 147 second-year students at the Medical College of Ohio completed a 26-item Likert questionnaire about their attitudes toward the autopsy. After participating in an elective autopsy experience, 26 students completed the same questionnaire plus 18 additional questions about the environment and behavior of the pathologist. Pre- and post-autopsy responses were factor analyzed using principal-components analysis with a varimax rotation. Student's t-tests were used to compare (1) the pre-autopsy factor scores of the elective participants and the rest of the class and (2) the pre- and post-autopsy scores of the participants. RESULTS: Factor analysis of the attitude questions identified seven factors. Comparison of the pre- and post-autopsy scores of the elective participants revealed statistically significant positive increases on four factors; three factors remained positive or neutral. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the autopsy elective had a positive influence on the student's attitudes. In addition, the pathologist's behavior and the environment in which the autopsy occurred influenced the students. Twenty-two (85%) of the students indicated the autopsy should be mandatory for all students.     

Evaluating a prevention program for teenagers on sexual coercion: A differential effectiveness approach.

The authors evaluated a coeducational program for teenagers on preventing sexual coercion in dating situations. Students examined individual and social attitudes underlying coercive sexual behavior and learned communication skills aimed at preventing or dealing with unwanted sexual advances. Instruction was enhanced by video and an interactive video "virtual date." Outcomes were assessed using sexual attitude scales with a sample of 458 high school students. Student health education classes were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a control condition. Findings, based on a latent variable model of differential effectiveness, showed that students in the treatment group with initial coercive attitude scores at or above the mean benefited significantly more than students with the same range of scores in the control group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

HIV/AIDS risk factors among adolescent students in Puerto Rico, 1994

PURPOSE: Identify several HIV risk behaviors among adolescent students. METHODS: The sample (n = 3,648) was selected using a two-staged stratified cluster sampling design, and weighted to represent all junior high and high school students. RESULTS: About 28.8% of the students reported ever having sexual activity. Less than half of the sexually active (44.5%) used condoms during their last sexual activity; 27.6% used them always. Only 54.7% knew correctly > 75% of the HIV knowledge questions. A HIV risk scale was constructed using five risk factors. About 15.9% of the students did not have any risk factor, 36.2% had one, 47.9% had two or more. Males and high school students had significantly more risk factors. Half of the students will abstain from having sex next year because they don't want to get HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to implement effective HIV prevention programs for adolescents in order to change their attitudes and behaviors.     

Sexual attitudes and experience: Attitude and personality correlates and changes produced by a course in sexuality.

Administered a battery of personality and sexual experience and attitude tests (e.g., the Suppression of Sex scale from the Parental Attitude Research Instrument, M. Zuckerman's Heterosexual and Homosexual Experience scales, I. L. Reiss's Social and Emotional Relationship scales, the Sensation-seeking Scale, the Personality Research Form, and the Personal Orientation Inventory) to 224 male and 331 female undergraduates enrolled in either a human sexuality or a personality psychology course (control). Males were more permissive in attitudes and had experience with a greater number of partners than females. Attitudes and experience were more highly related in females. Ss in the sex course were more permissive and experienced that Ss in the control course. The sexuality course appeared to have changed attitudes in both sexes, but changed behavior only in males, relative to changes in the control group. Religious attitudes and personality correlates of sexual attitudes and experience are reported; in general, sexual permissiveness and expression correlated with self-actualizing tendencies, particularly in females. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Explaining gender differences on SAT-math items.

Used a cognitive process approach to explain gender differences on the math subtest of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). This approach specifies that gender differences exist because male students may carry out certain cognitive operations (e.g., knowledge access, strategy assembly) more effectively than female students. High school students were given SAT items and measures of their prior knowledge and strategies. Results showed that male students performed better than female students on the SAT items. Regression analyses, however, showed that whereas prior knowledge and strategies explained nearly 50% of the variance in SAT scores, gender explained no unique variance. These findings suggest that it is not one's gender that matters as much as one's prior knowledge and strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison de l'impact de la force numérique des femmes cadres en milieu naturel et en milieu étudiant: Une question de validité écologique.

Examined whether the notion that attitudes toward female managers become more favorable as their numbers increase is equally valid for university students and managers in the field. The attitudes of 115 female and 85 male government managers were measured as a function of 4 ratios of female to male managers in their departments: 9%, 20%, 35% and 45%, and those of 110 female and 68 male students in administration, as a function of fictitious percentages: 9%, 20%, 35% and 50%. Results were significantly different between the 2 groups. The impact of numbers was significant for the managers only, with attitudes being more favorable at 20%, 35% and 45% than at 9%, suggesting a critical mass at a lower ratio than hypothesized by R. M. Kanter (1977). Managers and students also held different opinions about the status of female managers, their contribution to organizational culture, and their abilities in management. However more favorable reactions were found generally among females, regardless of the group and among Ss who had been supervised by females. Results are discussed within the perspective of ecological validity of organizational research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counselor gender, type of problem, and expectations about counseling.

100 male and 100 female college students were assigned to 1 of 4 experimental conditions—female counseling psychologist (CP)/career or vocational concern (CVC); male CP/CVC; female CP/person concern (PC); or male CP/PC—and responded to an expectations-about-counseling questionnaire that included sex of CP and type of problem. Results of a MANOVA revealed a significant main effect for S Gender; no other main effects were found. Females had significantly higher expectations for the client attitudes/behaviors of motivation, openness, and responsibility and for the CP attitudes of acceptance, confrontation, and genuineness. Females also expected more attractive and trustworthy CPs than did males, expected more immediacy in the counseling process, and had a more positive outcome expectancy. Males expected CPs to be more directive and self-disclosing than did females. The 2 groups did not differ in their expectations for CP empathy, expertness, and concreteness. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Female and male sexual responses in female cats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions.

Following preoperative testing for receptivity, proceptivity, and male mating behavior, 27 female cats received either lesions in the anterior or posterior portion of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) or sham lesions. Neither of the VMH lesion placements reduced proceptivity and receptivity scores. However, the female mating pattern was significantly altered in that although females in both lesion groups initially allowed a stud male to mount, they usually did not allow the male to intromit. As in rodents, the VMH in the cat appears to be an important neural area for the display of normal female sexual behavior. Low levels of male sexual behavior were seen in the 3 groups preoperatively, and no changes were observed in the levels of male behavior following lesion placement. Thus, because lesions that disrupted female behavior did not affect male sexual behavior, it appears that the neural areas controlling homotypical and heterotypical sexual behaviors are not necessarily neurally linked. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response of large and small vessels to alpha and beta adrenoceptor stimulation in heart failure: effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition

Understanding sexual fantasies is important to the scientific study of human sexuality. A sexual fantasy refers to a private or covert experience in which the imagination of desirable sexual activity with a partner is sexually arousing to the individual. Prior sexual experiences of an individual appear to increase the incidence of sexual fantasies, as well as the variety of sexual themes in a fantasy, which permit a greater elaboration of the fantasy theme when compared to less sexually experienced individuals. The present study was an investigation of the factors or sexual themes that emerge in a college male population, as well as a comparison of college men with human samples obtained in other studies: a sample of men and women and a sample of sexually variant men. In this study, 116 male students, all of whom identified themselves as heterosexual, completed the Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire (WSFQ). Results indicated that the present sample had significantly more exploratory, intimate, impersonal, and total sexual fantasies than sexual fantasies reported by female respondents in another study using the WSFQ and significantly more intimate, impersonal, and total sexual fantasizing when compared with a male sample in another study. The men in this study also evidenced less deviant areas of sexual fantasizing when compared with a group of sexually variant men in another study. A principal components analysis extracted four factors, which accounted for 45% of the total variance. The four sexual fantasy topic areas for the most part replicated prior findings by Wilson (1988) but are also more heterogeneous, indicating that male college students engage in a variety of sexual fantasies but seem to favor more intimate, less deviant or exploratory sexual themes that are in line with nonclinical samples and different from several clinical samples of sexually variant men.