Flirting with Danger: A Review of Mental Health Factors Associated with Sexual Risk Behaviors in Young Adult Women
Abstract
Sexual risk behavior is a global public health challenge that contributes to transmission of sexually transmitted infection, negatively affecting the health of young people all around the world, particularly young women. Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified reduction of sexually transmitted infections as a goal for which reducing sexual risk behavior is crucial. In recent years, as the prevalence of mental health issues has risen in young people, several studies have examined the associations between mental health factors and participation in risky sexual behaviors. The present review synthesizes findings from research published in the past 5 years centering on associations between mental health and substance use factors and risky sexual behaviors, as well as any mediators that have been identified. Significant associations were observed between risky sexual behaviors and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, suicide variables, disordered eating behavior, substance use, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Impulsivity, body image, emotion dysregulation, and maladaptive coping with negative emotions were identified as the most common mediators of these associations. Future research to increase understanding of directionality of association and impact of associations on under-researched population subgroups is required to support development of public health interventions to improve sexual health outcomes in this population.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Stacey Pinnock
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Flirting with Danger: A Review of Mental Health Factors Associated with Sexual Risk Behaviors in Young Adult Women
Alvin Sherman Library
Sexual risk behavior is a global public health challenge that contributes to transmission of sexually transmitted infection, negatively affecting the health of young people all around the world, particularly young women. Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified reduction of sexually transmitted infections as a goal for which reducing sexual risk behavior is crucial. In recent years, as the prevalence of mental health issues has risen in young people, several studies have examined the associations between mental health factors and participation in risky sexual behaviors. The present review synthesizes findings from research published in the past 5 years centering on associations between mental health and substance use factors and risky sexual behaviors, as well as any mediators that have been identified. Significant associations were observed between risky sexual behaviors and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, suicide variables, disordered eating behavior, substance use, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Impulsivity, body image, emotion dysregulation, and maladaptive coping with negative emotions were identified as the most common mediators of these associations. Future research to increase understanding of directionality of association and impact of associations on under-researched population subgroups is required to support development of public health interventions to improve sexual health outcomes in this population.
