Influence of sexual arousability on partner communication mediators of condom use among African American female adolescents
Andrea Swartzendurber A B H , Sarah H. Murray C , Jessica M. Sales A B , Robin R. Milhausen C , Stephanie A. Sanders D F , Cynthia A. Graham D E G , Ralph J. DiClemente A B and Gina M. Wingood A BA Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
B Emory Center for AIDS Research, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
C Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
D The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
E Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
F Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 4740,5 USA.
G Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, England, UK.
H Corresponding author. Email: alswart@emory.edu
Sexual Health 12(4) 322-327 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH15019
Submitted: 6 February 2015 Accepted: 14 March 2015 Published: 25 May 2015
Abstract
Background: Ample evidence shows that partner sexual communication is related to condom use. Although communication about safer sex may often occur when sexual arousal is high, no studies have examined arousability, one’s propensity for sexual arousal and partner sexual communication. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between sexual arousability and partner-related mediators of condom use among African American female adolescents, who have disproportionate risk for HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Methods: The study analysed self-reported baseline data from 701 African American females aged 14–20 years participating in a HIV/STI trial. Linear regression models examined associations between arousability and partner-related mediators of condom use (partner sexual communication self-efficacy, partner sexual communication frequency, sex refusal self-efficacy and condom use self-efficacy), controlling for age, impulsivity and relationship power. Results: Greater arousability was significantly associated with reduced levels of each partner communication outcome assessed (partner sexual communication self-efficacy, partner sexual communication frequency and sex refusal self-efficacy) but was not associated with condom use self-efficacy. Conclusions: Arousal and other positive aspects of sex have largely been ignored by HIV/STI prevention efforts, which primarily focus on individual behaviour. A population-level sexual health approach focusing on sexual wellbeing may reduce stigma, facilitate partner sexual communication and be more effective at reducing HIV/STI rates than traditional approaches.
Additional keywords: African American, arousability, condom use, female adolescents.
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