Associations between impulsive personality traits and HIV-related knowledge, beliefs and behaviours among college students in Chengdu, China: a cross-sectional study
Bin Yu![https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2683-2262](/media/client/orcid_16x16.png)
A West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China.
B Sichuan Research Center of Sexual Sociology and Sex Education, Chengdu, China.
C Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China.
D School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
E Longquanyi District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Chengdu, China.
F West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 16, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
G International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology (ISLE), Hong Kong, China.
Sexual Health 19(3) 202-211 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH21124
Submitted: 10 July 2021 Accepted: 9 February 2022 Published: 10 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Background: Impulsive personality traits (IPTs) are key predictors of individuals’ engagement in sexual risk behaviours. This study investigated the associations between IPTs and HIV-related knowledge, beliefs and behaviours among Chinese college students.
Methods: A sample of 1062 freshmen (first year) and sophomore (second year) students was obtained through stratified random sampling from 11 universities and colleges in Chengdu, China. The sociodemographic information, and HIV-related knowledge, beliefs and behaviours were investigated. A 20-item Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale (S-UPPS-P) was employed to estimate IPTs. Contingency table analyses (χ2) and adjusted logistic regression were used to analyse the association between IPTs and HIV-related knowledge, beliefs and behaviours.
Results: The S-UPPS-P scale measure of IPTs yielded scores among college students ranging from 26 to 70. Students with a greater level of IPTs were more likely to have a high level of HIV stigma (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.13–1.89), and a low level of HIV knowledge (aOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.11–1.80) and HIV prevention beliefs (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.09–1.80). All variables of HIV-related behaviours were not significantly associated with IPTs (all P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Future campus health education should provide HIV education without neglect of early identification of students’ IPTs.
Keywords: college students, health education, HIV knowledge, HIV prevention, impulsive personality traits, risk behaviours, safe sex practices, S-UPPS-P, university students.
References
[1] Zou H, Tucker JD, Fan S, et al. Learning about HIV the hard way: HIV among Chinese MSM attending university. Lancet Infect Dis 2018; 18 16–8.| Learning about HIV the hard way: HIV among Chinese MSM attending university.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29303730PubMed |
[2] Li G, Jiang Y, Zhang L. HIV upsurge in China’s students. Science 2019; 364 711
| HIV upsurge in China’s students.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31123112PubMed |
[3] Cai C, Tang HL, Chen FF, Li DM, Lyu P. [Characteristics and trends of newly reported HIV infection in young students in China, 2010–2019]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2020; 41 1455–9.
| [Characteristics and trends of newly reported HIV infection in young students in China, 2010–2019].Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 33076598PubMed |
[4] Cai R, Richardus JH, Looman CWN, de Vlas SJ. Trends in high-risk sexual behaviors among general population groups in China: a systematic review. PLoS One 2013; 8 e79320
| Trends in high-risk sexual behaviors among general population groups in China: a systematic review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24236121PubMed |
[5] Tan X, Pan J, Zhou D, Wang C, Xie C. HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behaviors assessment of Chinese students: a questionnaire study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2007; 4 248–53.
| HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behaviors assessment of Chinese students: a questionnaire study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17911665PubMed |
[6] Xu H, Xie J, Xiao Z, Xiao H, Li X, Goldsamt L, Williams AB, Wang H. Sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and use of HIV prevention services among male undergraduate students in Hunan, China: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health 2019; 19 250
| Sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and use of HIV prevention services among male undergraduate students in Hunan, China: a cross-sectional survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30819255PubMed |
[7] Stautz K, Cooper A.. Impulsivity-Related personality traits and adolescent alcohol use: a meta-analytic review. Clin Psychol Rev 2013; 33 574–92.
| Impulsivity-Related personality traits and adolescent alcohol use: a meta-analytic review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23563081PubMed |
[8] Lee DC, Peters JR, Adams ZW, Milich R, Lynam DR. Specific dimensions of impulsivity are differentially associated with daily and non-daily cigarette smoking in young adults. Addict Behav 2015; 46 82–5.
| Specific dimensions of impulsivity are differentially associated with daily and non-daily cigarette smoking in young adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25827335PubMed |
[9] Wonderlich SA, Connolly KM, Stice E. Impulsivity as a risk factor for eating disorder behavior: assessment implications with adolescents. Int J Eat Disord 2004; 36 172–82.
| Impulsivity as a risk factor for eating disorder behavior: assessment implications with adolescents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15282687PubMed |
[10] Gut-Fayand A, Dervaux A, Olié J-P, Lôo H, Poirier M-F, Krebs M-O. Substance abuse and suicidality in schizophrenia: a common risk factor linked to impulsivity. Psychiat Res 2001; 102 65–72.
| Substance abuse and suicidality in schizophrenia: a common risk factor linked to impulsivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[11] Mo J, Wang C, Niu X, Jia X, Liu T, Lin L. The relationship between impulsivity and self-injury in Chinese undergraduates: the chain mediating role of stressful life events and negative affect. J Affect Disord 2019; 256 259–66.
| The relationship between impulsivity and self-injury in Chinese undergraduates: the chain mediating role of stressful life events and negative affect.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31200164PubMed |
[12] Dvorak RD, Pearson MR, Kuvaas NJ. The five-factor model of impulsivity-like traits and emotional lability in aggressive behavior. Aggress Behav 2013; 39 222–8.
| The five-factor model of impulsivity-like traits and emotional lability in aggressive behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23471690PubMed |
[13] Cyders MA, Littlefield AK, Coffey S, Karyadi KA. Examination of a short english version of the UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale. Addict Behav 2014; 39 1372–6.
| Examination of a short english version of the UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24636739PubMed |
[14] Thomsen KR, Callesen MB, Hesse M, Kvamme TL, Pedersen MM, Pedersen MU, Voon V. Impulsivity traits and addiction-related behaviors in youth. J Behav Addict 2018; 7 317–30.
| Impulsivity traits and addiction-related behaviors in youth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[15] Carter MW, Hock-Long L, Kraft JM, Henry-Moss D, Hatfield-Timajchy K, Singer M. Strategies for managing the dual risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy among Puerto Rican and African American young adults. Am J Public Health 2012; 102 449–56.
| Strategies for managing the dual risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy among Puerto Rican and African American young adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22390507PubMed |
[16] Crosby RA, Cates W. Condom use: still a sexual health staple. Sex Health 2012; 9 1–3.
| Condom use: still a sexual health staple.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22348626PubMed |
[17] Sachdev P. AIDS/HIV and university students in Delhi, India: knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. Soc Work Health Care 1998; 26 37–57.
| AIDS/HIV and university students in Delhi, India: knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 9487583PubMed |
[18] Kingori C, Nkansah MA, Haile Z, Darlington K-A, Basta T. Factors associated with HIV related stigma among college students in the Midwest. AIMS Public Health 2017; 4 347–63.
| Factors associated with HIV related stigma among college students in the Midwest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29546222PubMed |
[19] MacDonald NE, Wells GA, Fisher WA, et al. High-risk STD/HIV behavior among college students. JAMA 1990; 263 3155–9.
| High-risk STD/HIV behavior among college students.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 2348524PubMed |
[20] Sun X, Liu X, Shi Y, Wang Y, Wang P, Chang C. Determinants of risky sexual behavior and condom use among college students in China. AIDS Care 2013; 25 775–83.
| Determinants of risky sexual behavior and condom use among college students in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23252705PubMed |
[21] Huang Y, Yu B, Jia P, Wang Z, Yang S, Tian C, Lai W, Yang S.. Association between psychological factors and condom use with regular and nonregular male sexual partners among Chinese MSM: a quantitative study based on the health belief model. Biomed Res Int 2020; 5807162
| Association between psychological factors and condom use with regular and nonregular male sexual partners among Chinese MSM: a quantitative study based on the health belief model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 33062685PubMed |
[22] Yang S, Jike C, Pei R, Liu D, Yu G, Wang J, Zhong S, Jike E, Jia P, Wang Z.. Perceptions of social norms played an important role in the occurrence of casual sex among Yi minority residents in China: a population-based study. AIDS Care 2021; 1–8.
| Perceptions of social norms played an important role in the occurrence of casual sex among Yi minority residents in China: a population-based study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 34612099PubMed |
[23] Dai Z, He Q, Fan S. Needs of AIDS – related health education among college students and its influencing factors in Chengdu in 2017. J Prev Med Inform 2019; 35 114–20.
[24] Lynam DR, Smith GT, Whiteside SP, Cyders MA. The UPPS-P: assessing five personality pathways to impulsive behaviour. Technical report. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University ; 2006.
[25] Dickman SJ.. Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity: personality and cognitive correlates. J Pers Soc Psychol 1990; 58 95–102.
| 2308076PubMed |
[26] Rubio L, Dumitrache CG, Cordón-Pozo E, Rubio-Herrera R. Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) in older people. An Psicol-Spain 2016; 32 355–65.
| Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) in older people.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[27] Lim SY, Kim SJ. Validation of a short Korean version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. Asia Pac Psychiatry 2018; 10 e12318
| Validation of a short Korean version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29687631PubMed |
[28] Anderson CA, Bushman BJ. Human aggression. Annu Rev Psychol 2002; 53 27–51.
| Human aggression.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11752478PubMed |
[29] Xue C, Hu Y, Wang J, Huang L, Liu W, Sun F. Reliability and validity of the short version of UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale in college students. Chin J Clin Psychol 2017; 25 662–6.
| Reliability and validity of the short version of UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale in college students.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[30] Lv R, Zhang Y, Zhong J. The adaptation of UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale among Chinese college students. Chin J Clin Psychol 2014; 22 480–4.
[31] Xie Y, Ding L, Li Y, et al. Awareness of the two versions of AIDS basic knowledge and sexual behaviors among college students in Guangzhou. Chin J AIDS STD 2018; 24 718–20.
[32] Yu B, Han J, Yang S. Influence of diffrerrnt types of AIDS knowledge on AIDS-related health beliefs of junior college students. Chin J Health Educ 2020; 36 733–7.
[33] Becker MH.. The health belief model and personal health behavior. Health Educ Monogr 1974; 2 324–508.
[34] Rosenstock IM. Health behavior and health education: theory, research and practice. In: Glanz K, Lewis FM, Rimer BK, editors. The Health Belief Model: Explaining health behavior through expectancies. San Francisco: Jossy-Bass Publisher; 1990. pp. 39–62.
[35] Zelaya CE, Sivaram S, Johnson SC, Srikrishnan AK, Solomon S, Celentano DD. HIV/AIDS stigma: reliability and validity of a new measurement instrument in Chennai, India. AIDS Behav 2008; 12 781–8.
| HIV/AIDS stigma: reliability and validity of a new measurement instrument in Chennai, India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18030613PubMed |
[36] Heads AM, Dickson JW, Asby AT. Correlates of HIV risk-taking behaviors among African-American college students: HIV knowledge and ethnic identity. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2017; 28 155–70.
| Correlates of HIV risk-taking behaviors among African-American college students: HIV knowledge and ethnic identity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28458270PubMed |
[37] Tung W-C, Cook DM, Lu M, Yang W. HIV knowledge and behavior among Chinese college students in China and the United States. West J Nurs Res 2013; 35 1171–83.
| HIV knowledge and behavior among Chinese college students in China and the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23618822PubMed |
[38] Jawla M, Omoike OE, Strasser S, Liu Y, Davis D, Zheng S. Prevalence of HIV testing and factors influencing the attitude of high school students towards HIV testing uptake in U.S. using, Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2017 data. AIDS Care 2021; 33 553–7.
| Prevalence of HIV testing and factors influencing the attitude of high school students towards HIV testing uptake in U.S. using, Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2017 data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 32423233PubMed |
[39] Crosby RA, Salazar LF, Mena L, Geter A. Associations between internalized homophobia and sexual risk behaviors among young black men who have sex with men. Sex Transm Dis 2016; 43 656–60.
| Associations between internalized homophobia and sexual risk behaviors among young black men who have sex with men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27631362PubMed |
[40] Cross CP, Copping LT, Campbell A. Sex differences in impulsivity: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 2011; 137 97–130.
| Sex differences in impulsivity: a meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21219058PubMed |
[41] Blum AW, Lust K, Christenson G, Grant JE. Links between sexuality, impulsivity, compulsivity, and addiction in a large sample of university students. CNS Spectr 2020; 25 9–15.
| Links between sexuality, impulsivity, compulsivity, and addiction in a large sample of university students.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30982481PubMed |
[42] Moore AA, Overstreet C, Kendler KS, Dick DM, Adkins A, Amstadter AB. Potentially traumatic events, personality, and risky sexual behavior in undergraduate college students. Psychol Trauma 2017; 9 105–12.
| Potentially traumatic events, personality, and risky sexual behavior in undergraduate college students.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27348066PubMed |
[43] Curry I, Luk JW, Trim RS, et al. Impulsivity dimensions and risky sex behaviors in an at-risk young adult sample. Arch Sex Behav 2018; 47 529–36.
| Impulsivity dimensions and risky sex behaviors in an at-risk young adult sample.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28884246PubMed |
[44] Ferreira BP, Malloy-Diniz LF, Parma JO, et al. Self-controlled feedback and learner impulsivity in sequential motor learning. Percept Mot Skills 2019; 126 157–79.
| Self-controlled feedback and learner impulsivity in sequential motor learning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30398959PubMed |
[45] Derefinko K, DeWall CN, Metze AV, Walsh EC, Lynam DR. Do different facets of impulsivity predict different types of aggression? Aggress Behav 2011; 37 223–33.
| Do different facets of impulsivity predict different types of aggression?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21259270PubMed |
[46] Chester DS, DeWall CN. Personality correlates of revenge-seeking: multidimensional links to physical aggression, impulsivity, and aggressive pleasure. Aggress Behav 2018; 44 235–45.
| Personality correlates of revenge-seeking: multidimensional links to physical aggression, impulsivity, and aggressive pleasure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29265383PubMed |
[47] Letshwenyo-Maruatona SB, Madisa M, Boitshwarelo T, et al. Association between HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana. Afr J AIDS Res 2019; 18 58–64.
| Association between HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30880585PubMed |
[48] Li L, Lin C, Guan J, Wu Z. Implementing a stigma reduction intervention in healthcare settings. J Int AIDS Soc 2013; 16 18710
| Implementing a stigma reduction intervention in healthcare settings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24242261PubMed |
[49] Longo LM, Ertl MM, Pazienza R, Agiliga AU, Dillon FR, Martin JL. Associations among negative urgency, sensation seeking, alcohol use, self-esteem, and casual sexual behavior for college students. Subst Use Misuse 2020; 55 796–805.
| Associations among negative urgency, sensation seeking, alcohol use, self-esteem, and casual sexual behavior for college students.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31876218PubMed |
[50] Huang Y, Yu L, Xie T, et al. Model for school AIDS controlled by government. Modern Prev Med 2018; 45 3545–49.