Sexual Behaviour & Relationship Flashcards
Percentage of students reporting that a particular behaviour consistories “having sex. Note that the percentage are usually higher when the behaviour leads to orgasm.
Conclusions?
- Variability
- Things entailing genitals were most popular
- Most people view it has a partnered activity
What does it mean to “have sex?”
Lots of Variability
- Typically define a sexual activity as “having sex” when there is mutual genital contact AND orgasm
- These definitions apply to individuals of all gender/sexual/affectional orientations; however, lesbian women show greater flexibility in their definitions
What does it mean to “have sex?”
Why should we care?
Defining sex have some important public health implications. They might impact how people:
- Answer questions about their sexual status
- Make decision about contraception
- Respond to sexual health information, e.g., condom use and MSM
The first time!
- Important rite of passage for many
- Highly anticipated
- Important for sexual development
Expectations of and reactions to first sexual experiences?
Canadian study of 358 university students:
- 75% men and 61% women rated their first sexual experience as “perfect”, “very good”, or “good”
- 11% of men and 13% of women called it either “bad” or “very bad.”
- Men reported more pleasure than women did: 62% men vs. 6% women recalled having an orgasm. The orgasm gap starts early.
- A wide range of emotions is typical after first sexual experience.
What factors influence age at sexual debut?
Later Age
- Parental disapproval of early sex and contraception
- Greater parental control
- Higher self esteem
- Higher academic achievement
- Greater religiosity
What factors influence age at sexual debut?
Earlier Age
- Earlier puberty
- Greater peer pressure to have sex
- Substance use with peers
- Having an older partner
- Early dating
- Lower SES/family disruption
Age at sexual debut is important because…
Grade 9: 19-23% of students have had PVI sex
Grade 11: 40-46% of students have had PVI sex
Age is used to inform health policies and intervention strategies:
- STI awareness and prevention
- Contraception
- Unintended pregnancies
- Sexual coercion
Age at sexual debut and later outcomes
Heywood et al., (2015) systematic review of 65 population-based studies:
Younger age of sexual debut is linked with:
- Greater number of lifetime, recent, and concurrent partners (associated with increased risk of STIs and cervical cancer)
- More varied sexual experiences
- More pregnancies in adolescence (includes terminated pregnancies)
- Greater length of time between sexual debut and marriage
- Mixed findings for sexual difficulties
3 Components of Sexual Consent? (for sure know this for the exam)
- The person has to have a clear understanding of what they are consenting to
- Consent must be given freely and not coerced
- Consent should be ongoing and can be withdrawn at any point
Verbal affirmative consent is the gold standard
BUT… what does consent typically look like?
- Most sexual encounters do not follow from explicit statements of consent.
- Consent usually occurs as an unspoken but clear agreement to engage in sexual activity
Article: Explicit Verbal Sexual Consent Communication: Effects of Gender, Relationship Status, and Type of Sexual Behaviour
Result?
- Consent varies by context!
- Explicit verbal consent was less likely when: the person is a women, the sexual relationship is casual, and when the sexual behaviour is something other than PVI.
Sexual Compliance?
When a person freely consents to engaging in sexual activity even when they do not truly want to participate
Sexual Compliance
Approach Motives?
- (SEX to PURSUE A POSITIVE OUTCOME)
- To increase intimacy
- To feel closer to one’s partner
- Leads to HIGHER sexual and relational satisfaction
Sexual Compliance
Avoidance Motives?
- (SEX TO AVOID A NEGATIVE OUTCOME)
- To avoid conflict
- To not disappoint one’s partner
- Leads to LOWER sexual and relational satisfaction
