Balance decisional sobre el uso del condón asociado a la conducta sexual de riesgo en universitarios / Decisional balance of condom use associated with risky sexual behavior in university students

Resumen La adquisición de alguna Infección de Transmisión Sexual (ITS) y los embarazos no planificados son riesgos a los que se enfrentan los jóvenes ante la decisión de no usar condón al tener relaciones sexuales. La aproximación del balance decisional enfatiza qué costos y beneficios están asociados a la conducta sexual de riesgo. Las decisiones acerca del uso del condón son un precursor de la conducta y este proceso puede estar influido por los beneficios que se perciban sobre él. El objetivo de la presente investigación es identificar la relación de las ganancias y pérdidas del uso del condón con la conducta sexual de riesgo. Se evaluó la conducta sexual de riesgo y el uso del condón masculino en sus relaciones sexuales. Se midieron las ganancias y las pérdidas del condón con una escala de medición, en una muestra de 257 universitarios, con una edad entre 18 y 39 años (. = 22.34; DE = 3.6) de Querétaro, México. La evaluación del balance decisional indica que las ganancias son mayores que las pérdidas (costos) del uso consistente del condón en las relaciones sexuales. Se encontraron asociaciones entre las ganancias y las pérdidas con indicadores de la conducta sexual de riesgo. Se observa que los universitarios que no utilizan condón manifiestan mayores pérdidas por utilizarlo. En las ganancias, se aprecia un aumento en las puntuaciones cuando se usa condón. Lo encontrado provee apoyo para el desarrollo de intervenciones que promuevan las ganancias o beneficios para incrementar el uso consistente del condón.

Abstract The acquisition of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and unplanned pregnancies are risks that young people deal when deciding not to use a condom when having sexual intercourse. During the decision-making process, individuals value the benefits (gains) and losses (costs) associated with a behavior. Cost-benefit analysis has been investigated to examine the differential impact of gains and losses on risky behaviours. The decisional balance approach emphasizes that costs and benefits are associated with risky sexual behavior. Decisions about condom use are a precursor to behavior, and this process may be influenced by perceived benefits. In the present study, it is proposed that the balance between the benefit and the loss of condom use contributes to consistent condom use. These factors as determinants of behaviour must be considered under the cultural context in which they are carried out. The objective of this research is to identify the relationship of gains and losses from condom use with risky sexual behaviour. It was hypothesized that: 1) Young people will evaluate the benefits (gains) with higher scores compared to the losses (costs) in deciding to use a condom in sexual intercourse. 2) The gains will be greater in those college students who use a condom more frequently and the losses will not be the same among those who use a condom. To evaluate risky sexual behavior and the use of the male condom in their sexual relations were considered. Condom gains and losses were measured with a measurement scale in a sample of 257 university students, aged between 18 and 39 years (. = 22.34; SD = 3.6) from Querétaro, México. With reference to sexual behavior, it was found that 89.1 % have started their sexual activity. The average age of initiation of sexual life is 15.41 years. The frequency of sexual activity is once or twice each month. The mean of sexual partners is 4.2, with a median of 3. The 68.5 % reported using some contraceptive method and regarding the use of condoms, 27.8 % always use it and 5.7 % never use it. To evaluate the decisional balance, subtracting the gain and loss factors created a net difference score. The gain factor was subtracted from its counterpart of the loss factor to indicate the preference for having sex with a condom. The decisional balance assessment indicates that the gains are greater than the losses (costs) of consistent condom use in sexual intercourse. Associations were found between gains and losses with indicators of risky sexual behavior. It is observed that university students who do not use a condom show greater losses from using it. In gains, there is an increase in scores when using a condom. Additionally, it is observed that university students, who sometimes use a condom, show greater losses for using it, unlike those who always use it, which show low scores in the losses of using it. In gains factor, there is an increase in the scores when using a condom, that is, those who never or almost never use a condom have the lowest scores and as the scores increase, the frequency of using a condom in their sexual relations also increases. In conclusion, gains and losses from male condom use are associated with risky sexual behavior (age of sexual activity, number of partners and condom use) in the university context. The findings provide support for the development of interventions that promote gains or benefits to increase consistent condom use. It is important to consider in specific interventions those young people who decide to continue having sex without using a condom despite the costs and possible consequences of not using it.

Consumo de álcool em universitário e sua associação com o comportamento sexual de risco: uma revisão sistemática / Alcohol consumption in college students and its association with risky sexual behavior: a systematic review / Consumo de alcohol en universitarios y su asociación con comportamientos sexuales de riesgo: una revisión sistemática

O consumo de substâncias psicoativas, principalmente o álcool, encontra-se presente em diversos meios de comunicação, geralmente tendo seu uso associado a fatores desejáveis como poder, prazer, sucesso financeiro e sexual. Os jovens universitários quando ingressam em cursos de graduação, demonstram mudanças comportamentais, ocasionadas por novas responsabilidades, além de terem maior contato e oportunidade de uso de álcool, drogas e prática de sexo inseguro. Assim, tornam-se mais vulneráveis aos comportamentos sexuais de risco (CSR), como relação sexual desprotegida, multiplicidade de parceiros e uso de drogas (lícitas ou ilícitas). Os CSR podem ter como consequência as infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (ISTs) e a gravidez não planejada. OBJETIVO: Analisar como o consumo de álcool por universitários, associa-se ao comportamento sexual de risco desses indivíduos. METODOLOGIA: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática em que a busca de artigos para pesquisa ocorreu no mês de agosto de 2022 nas bases de dados LILACS, SciELO e PubMed, resultando em 313 artigos, que após os critérios de inclusão e exclusão resultaram em 22 artigos para o desenvolvimento do estudo. RESULTADOS: Constatou-se um alto nível de consumo de álcool entre os universitários, com elevada propensão à comportamentos sexuais de risco, principalmente não utilizar preservativos e múltiplos parceiros sexuais. CONCLUSÃO: Existe associação entre o consumo de álcool e o comportamento sexual de risco entre os acadêmicos e que existe à necessidade de uma intervenção para conscientizar e educar esses jovens à respeito da disseminação de IST's.

The consumption of psychoactive substances, especially alcohol, is pre- sent in various media, usually associated with desirable factors such as power, pleasure, financial and sexual success. Young college students, when entering undergraduate cour- ses, show behavioral changes caused by new responsibilities, besides having greater con- tact and opportunity to use alcohol, drugs and unsafe sex. Thus, they become more vulnerable to risky sexual behavior (SCOR), such as unprotected sexual intercourse, mul- tiple partners, and drug use (licit or illicit). RSCs can result in sexually transmitted infec- tions (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To analyze how alcohol consump- tion by college students is associated with risky sexual behavior. METHODOLOGY: This is a systematic review in which the search for articles for research occurred in August 2022 in the LILACS, SciELO and PubMed databases, resulting in 313 articles, which after inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in 22 articles for the development of the study. RESULTS: We found a high level of alcohol consumption among college students, with a high propensity for risky sexual behavior, especially not using condoms and mul- tiple sexual partners. CONCLUSION: There is an association between alcohol consump- tion and risky sexual behavior among students, and there is a need for an intervention to educate these young people about the spread of STIs.

El consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, especialmente alcohol, está presente en diversos medios de comunicación, generalmente asociado a factores deseables como poder, placer, éxito financiero y sexual. Los jóvenes universitarios, al ingresar en los cursos de graduación, demuestran cambios de comportamiento, causados por nuevas responsabilidades, además de tener mayor contacto y oportunidad de consumir alcohol, drogas y sexo inseguro. Así, se vuelven más vulnerables a los comportamientos sexuales de riesgo (CSR), como las relaciones sexuales sin protección, las parejas múltiples y el consumo de drogas (lícitas o ilícitas). Los CSR pueden provocar infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) y embarazos no deseados. OBJETIVO: Analizar cómo se asocia el consumo de alcohol por parte de los estudiantes universitarios con las conductas sexuales de riesgo. METODOLOGÍA: Se trata de una revisión sistemática en la cual la búsqueda de artículos para investigación ocurrió en agosto de 2022 en las bases de datos LILACS, SciELO y PubMed, resultando en 313 artículos, que después de los criterios de inclusión y exclusión resultaron en 22 artículos para el desarrollo del estudio. RESULTADOS: Se observó un alto consumo de alcohol entre los universitarios, con alta propensión a comportamientos sexuales de riesgo, especialmente el no uso de preservativo y la multiplicidad de parejas sexuales. CONCLUSIÓN: Existe una asociación entre el consumo de alcohol y las conductas sexuales de riesgo entre los estudiantes universitarios y que es necesaria una inter- vención para educar a estos jóvenes sobre el contagio de las ITS.

Problemas emocionales, personalidad oscura, sexting y grooming en adolescentes: el rol del género y la edad / Emotional Problems, Dark Personality, Sexting and Grooming in Adolescents: the role of Gender and Age

Resumen El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo estudiar si los problemas emocionales (depresión y ansiedad) y la Personalidad Oscura eran predictores del sexting y el grooming, y si este comportamiento varía según el género y la edad. Se constituyó una muestra de 728 adolescentes entre 11 y 18 años (38% hombres) de tres escuelas secundarias privadas ubicadas en Buenos Aires y Paraná, Argentina. Completaron un Cuestionario de sexting, el Cuestionario de Solicitación e Interacción Sexual a menores online por parte de adultos para evaluar el comportamiento de grooming, la Escala de síntomas psicosomáticos de Rosenberg, el Inventario de depresión de Kovacs para niños y el Dirty Dozen para los rasgos de Personalidad Oscura. Los resultados mostraron que 12% de los adolescentes admitió haber padecido una conducta de grooming. Las formas más frecuentes fueron el envío de mensajes escritos de carácter sexual (11%) y fotos (10%) y luego, en orden de frecuencia, el envío de videos (4%), pero no se detectaron diferencias por género. Los predictores significativos de sexting y el tamaño de su varianza explicada variaban según el género (R² = 47% para mujeres y R² = 12% para hombres, respectivamente). En el caso de las mujeres, mayor edad y puntajes de psicopatía fueron predictores significativos, y en el de los hombres, menor ansiedad fue el predictor significativo. Un modelo estructural explicó una varianza del 6% para el sexting y 21% para el grooming, indicando que no hubo invarianza, según el género. Las regresiones lineales para predecir el grooming a partir del sexting también sugirieron que el género moderaba esta relación.

Abstract The present study aimed to study if emotional problems (depression and anxiety) and Dark Personality were predictors of sexting and grooming, and if this behavior differs by gender and age. A sample of 728 adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age (38% male) from three private high schools located in Buenos Aires and Paraná, Argentina, was drawn. They completed a Sexting questionnaire, the Questionnaire for Online Sexual Solicitation and Interaction of Minors with Adults for grooming behavior, Rosenberg Scale of Psychosomatic Symptoms, the Kovacs Depression Inventory for Children and the Dirty Dozen for dark personality traits. Results showed that 12% of adolescents admitted having carried out a sexting behavior. Sending written messages of a sexual nature (11%) and photos (10%) were the most prevalent ways, followed by videos (4%), but no differences were detected according to gender. Significant predictors of sexting and the size of its explained variance ranged by gender (R² = 47% for females and R² = 12% for men, respectively). In the case of females, older age and psychopathy were the significant predictors. In the case of males, less anxiety was the significant predictors. A structural model explained a variance of 6% for sexting and 21% for grooming, indicating that there was no inavariance, according to gender. Linear regressions to predict grooming from sexting also suggested this relationship was moderated by gender.

Development and validity evidence of the Two-Dimensional Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale / Desarrollo y evidencia de validez de la Escala Bidimensional de Búsqueda de Sensaciones Sexuales

Abstract Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mainly HIV/AIDS, are acquired through risky sexual behaviors that have been associated with sexual sensation seeking. The purpose of this work is development a new scale for the assessment of sexual sensations seeking, with evidence of validity based on internal structure and relationship to other measures, for use in young people and adults in a Latin American context. An instrumental study was performed, with time-space sampling of students from the two Chilean cities with the highest rates of HIV. Final scale has 9 items to evaluate two dimensions: (1) sexual emotions seeking and (2) tendency to sexual boredom. The identified structure provides good levels of reliability and presents validity evidence, based on the internal structure of the test, using CFA and ESEM. Two-dimensional sexual sensation seeking scale evidence proper psychometric properties to evaluate the seeking for sexual sensations in equivalents samples.

Resumen Resumen Las infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS), principalmente el VIH/SIDA, son adquiridas a través de comportamientos sexuales de riesgo que se han asociado con la búsqueda de sensaciones sexuales. El propósito de este trabajo es desarrollar un nuevo instrumento de medida para evaluar la búsqueda de sensaciones sexuales en jóvenes y adultos en Latinoamérica. Se realizó un estudio instrumental, con un muestreo espaciotemporal en estudiantes de las dos ciudades chilenas con mayores índices de VIH. La escala final contiene 9 ítems para evaluar dos dimensiones: (1) búsqueda de emociones sexuales y (2) tendencia al aburrimiento sexual. La estructura identificada proporciona niveles adecuados de confiabilidad y presenta evidencia de validez, basada en la estructura interna del test, utilizando AFC y ESEM. La Escala Bidimensional de Búsqueda de Sensaciones Sexuales evidencia propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para eva luar la búsqueda de sensaciones sexuales en muestras equivalentes.

Reproductive Health Attitudes among the Youths: A Cross Sectional Comparison between Students from Different Health Science Departments in Turkey

This study aimed to determine attitudes towards reproductive health among young university students who will be playing important role as future healthcare professionals. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The research population consisted of 1126 individuals and the research sample was 1096. The study data were collected by using two forms “Information Form” and Reproductive Health Scale (RHS). The students’ mean age was 21.11±1.91. Nearly of the students (78.6%) were females, 75.5% of the students had information about reproductive health, 59.4% of them had obtained information through the mass media, and the female students were much better informed than the male students. The RHS mean score was 139.66±23.58 and 60.5% of the students obtained ascore above the mean. Being female increased the scores for the sub-dimensions of Partner Selection and Values in Developing Preventive Behaviors. The results of this study show that the attitudes of the young people studying at the College of Health towards reproductive health were generally positive, but that they were not adequately reflected in their behaviors. Conclusion and recommendation: Further research is needed to reveal why the knowledge and attitudes of the students did not lead to appropriatebehaviors

Sexual Risk Behavior: A Perilous Journey By Unmarried Youth Of District Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Background: Sexual health is an integral part of overall health and well-being and determination of sexuality of the youth is an important milestone in understanding their behavior, associated risks and outcomes. The declining age at puberty and increasing age at marriage has created a longer growing period in which youth may engage in sexual health risk behaviors. This research focuses attention on estimation and involvement of the most dynamic & valuable segment of a nation’s population towards sexual risk behaviors. Aims & objectives: The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence and determinants of sexual health risk behaviors amongst youth in District Dehradun. Material and methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 06 months in rural and urban area of District Dehradun. The study surveyed 1800 male youth aged 15-24 years using a self-administered questionnaire (YRBSS & Big five inventory). After collection, the data was entered using the SPSS software and analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: Out of 1800 participants, 19% were found to be at risk of sexual health risk behavior and reported having had sex. Out of these 342 at-risk, 43.5% accepted involving in sexual activity even before adulthood, 31% reported having multiple sexual partners and 21.1% accepted not using condoms. Place of residence and personality trait were found to be important determinants of sexual health risk behaviors. Conclusion: Our study documented the high prevalence of sexual risk behavior among male youth of rural and urban area of District Dehradun.

Sexual compulsivity, anxiety, depression, and sexual risk behavior among treatment-seeking men in São Paulo, Brazil

Objective: There is a lack of studies on negative mood states and sexual risk behavior in men of all sexual orientations who seek treatment for excessive sexual behavior (ESB). We aim to examine sexual compulsivity (SC), anxiety, depression, and sexual risk behavior in a treatment-seeking sample of men and controls. Methods: We enrolled 88 (37 [42%] gay or bisexual and 51 [58%] heterosexual) ESB outpatients and 64 controls. Assessments included the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and sexual risk behaviors. Results: Compared to controls, ESB outpatients showed increased SC, anxiety, and depression, which were correlated. Regarding sex with casual partners, ESB outpatients reported more sexual intercourse, a greater number of partners, more anal intercourse, and unprotected anal intercourse. Anxiety, depression, and SC were associated with protected vaginal intercourse with a main partner, whereas they were associated with unprotected anal intercourse with a casual partner. Depression was associated with unprotected vaginal intercourse with a casual partner. Condomless anal intercourse was predicted by SC and was also reported by the heterosexual ESB outpatients (36%). Conclusion: The data contribute to the field by providing information on men of all sexual orientations who are searching for mental healthcare. The connections among these psychopathological factors and sexual risk behavior have implications for public health, clinicians, and research.

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection among men who have sex with men in Central Brazil

ABSTRACT Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was the first retrovirus discovered in humans and is endemic in several parts of the world. Because of risk behaviors, mainly sexual, men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of acquiring HTLV-1 infection. A cross-sectional study was performed to estimate the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection, to characterize genetically HTLV-1 sequences and to identify risk behaviors associated with this infection among MSM in Central Brazil. A total of 430 MSM were enrolled in this study and three were shown to be HTLV-1 infected, prevalence of 0.7% (95% confidence interval: 0.4-0.9). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all HTLV-1 positive samples belonged to Cosmopolitan subtype Transcontinental subgroup A. Although the prevalence rate of HTLV-1 infection found in this study was similar to that observed among Brazilian blood donors, additional HTLV-1 preventive interventions need to be further implemented because this population is engaged in high-risk sexual behavior.

Awareness, gender variations, consequences of sexual risk behavior and adopted solutions among senior secondary schools adolescents in Owerri, Nigeria

In our area, there is dearth of accurate sex education that could equip adolescents in making informed decisions on sexual issues. This scenario has been linked to a high prevalence of sexual risk behaviors, consequences and poor choices with regard to solutions. Objective: To determine the awareness, gender variations, consequences of sexual risk behavior, and adopted solutions among senior secondary school adolescents in Owerri, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross sectional survey of 384 in-school adolescents in Owerri, Nigeria, selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested self-administered semi- structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.22 (p<0.05). Results: The majority of adolescents, i.e. 306 (82.5%), were aware of sexual risk behaviors, 340 (91.6%) had received some sex education, and 296 (79.8%) were aware of contraceptives. Key sources of information on sexuality were schools and parents. In total, 54 (14.1%) participants were sexually active, 12 (22.2%) reported ever having an STI, and 9 (75%) had been treated in hospital. Also, 8 (14.8%) of the 54 had dealt with a pregnancy; 7 (87.5%) had undergone an abortion, 3 (42.9%) in a hospital. Sexual risk behaviors among males were associated with age (p=0.002), school type (p=0.002), and alcohol intake (p=0.000), while the residence of the parents had a stronger influence among females (p=0.014). Conclusions: This study found high awareness of sexual issues, mainly sourced from schools and parents. Associations were made between sexual risk behaviors and gender differences (age, school type, and alcohol intake in males, parental residence among females). The consequences of sexual risk behaviors were early pregnancy and STIs, with poor solutions adopted.

Excitación sexual: una revisión sobre su relación con las conductas sexuales de riesgo / Sexual arousal: a review of its relationship with sexual risk behaviors

Se plantea una revisión sistemática de las publicaciones que relacionan excitación sexual con conductas sexuales de riesgo. La búsqueda bibliográfica en Scopus, Web of Science Pub Medproporcionó 50 estudios. Los resultados fueron organizados en: (a) consumo de alcohol-drogas en encuentros sexuales; (b) uso de métodos anticonceptivos-barrera/riesgo de infección de transmisión sexual y embarazo no deseado; (c) sexo casual/número de parejas sexuales/sexo como profesión. El instrumento de evaluación de la excitación sexual más usado fue Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales. La excitación sexual se relacionó de forma positiva con consumo de alcohol y drogas en una situación sexual, con sexo casual, número de parejas sexuales y trabajar o pagar por sexo y, de forma negativa, con uso métodos anticonceptivos/barrera. Se considera la necesidad de incluir la excitación sexual como una variable relevante en los programas de prevención e intervención de conductas sexuales de riesgo y de educación sexual.

We conducted a systematic review of the literature about the association between sexual arousal and sexual risk behaviors. The literature search in Scopus, Web of science and pubMed provided 50 studies. The results were organized considering: (a) use of alcohol-drugs in sexual encounters; (b) use of contraceptive methods/ risk of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy; (c) casual sex/number of sex partners/sex workers. We observed that the self-reported measure more frequently used to assess sexual arousal was the sexual inhibition/sexual excitation scales. In addition, levels of sexual arousal has been positively associated with the use of alcohol and drugs in a sexual situation, casual sex, number of sexual partners and work or pay for sex, and negatively with using contraceptives methods. This review, highlights the need to include sexual arousal as a relevant variable in programmes for the prevention and intervention of sexual risk behaviors and sexual education.

Sexual Risk Behaviour and Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Male Prison Inmates in Kaduna State, North Western Nigeria.

Background: The average numbers of Nigerians who have been incarcerated over the past three decades when HIV/AIDS was discovered have been increasing and the seroprevalence of HIV/AIDS amongst the prison inmates remained higher than the national average due to the occurrence of risky sexual practices among inmates and inadequate HIV prevention, care and support services. This study assessed the sexual risk behaviour and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among inmates in Kaduna State, north western Nigeria. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study with qualitative method of data collection (focus group discussion) was conducted on 107 inmates aged 20 to 55 years in Kaduna State Prisons Command between September 8th and October 2nd 2010. Information elicited were transcribed and translated where appropriate and presented as tables and in narrative forms with relevant quotations. Results: The mean average age of the respondents was 34(±8.62) years. The general awareness and knowledge of causative agent of HIV infection was high (96.3% and 67.3% respectively). However, some have misconceptions of witchcraft (9.3%), enemies (11.2%), bacteria (12.1%) and mosquitoes’ bite (15.9%) as the causative agent/ mode of transmission of HIV infection. 99.5% acknowledged that HIV/AIDS and risky sexual practices occurred in prison but denied taking part. Sex in prison was often associated with homosexual behavior among the males but participants were pessimistic about condom distribution due to fear of promotion of homosexuality (65.4%) and non compliance with religion (34.6%). Conclusion: Despite high level of awareness of HIV/AIDS among inmates, there are still misconceptions. Homosexual practices associated with HIV/AIDS transmission is practiced among the male inmates; however, the use of condom which is one of the evidence based strategies for the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS is met with a high degree of resistance by inmates. Therefore, there is need for implementation of HIV/AIDS interpersonal communication and counseling programmes for the inmates in Nigeria prisons.

Variables psicosociales que median en el debut sexual de adolescentes en España / Psychosocial variables related to sexual debut in adolescents in Spain

El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar las variables sociodemográficas y psicosociales que median en el debut sexual de los adolescentes en España. Participaron 2.153 adolescentes residentes en España, entre 14 y 19 años de edad, y de distinto origen cultural. De ellos, el 67.7% eran autóctonos españoles y el 32.3% inmigrantes latinoamericanos. El 19.2% de los participantes no había tenido contacto sexual, el 47.3% lo había tenido sin penetración y el 33.5% restante manifestó haber tenido relaciones sexuales con penetración. Se llevó a cabo una regresión logística multinomial para comparar a los adolescentes de los tres grupos, a través de la cual se concluye que las relaciones sexuales sin penetración pueden ser predichas por las actitudes positivas hacia el preservativo y que las relaciones sexuales con penetración pueden serlo por la adaptación personal, la adaptación escolar y las actitudes positivas hacia el preservativo. Posteriormente, a través de un análisis de regresión logística binaria, se obtuvo que los adolescentes latinoamericanos, las mujeres, los que están más adaptados en el ámbito personal y los que presentan menos autoeficacia en el uso del preservativo tienen más probabilidades de tener relaciones sexuales con penetración. En la discusión se resalta la importancia de la edad de inicio en las relaciones sexuales como factor clave para la emisión de conductas sexuales de riesgo.

The aim of this study was to analyze variables that are related to sexual debut in adolescents in Spain. Participants were 2.153 adolescents who lived in Spain. Ages ranged from 14 to 19 years old. Of them, 67.7% were native Spanish and 32.3% were Latin American immigrants. 19.2% of adolescents had never had any sexual contact; 47.3% had had sexual activities without penetration and 33.5% reported sexual intercourse experience. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to compare these three groups of adolescents. According to that analysis, positive attitudes towards condom use predicted sexual activities without penetration. Likewise, personal and scholar adaptation and positive attitudes towards condom use predicted sexual intercourse experience. Subsequently, a binomial logistic regression analysis was performed. This analysis showed that Latin American adolescents, females, those adolescents who were more adapted in the personal area as well as those who had less self-efficacy towards condom use, had a higher likelihood of having had sexual intercourse experience. In the discussion section, relevance of age at first sexual intercourse as a key factor for sexual risk behaviour engagement is highlighted.