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College students are engaging in high rates of behavior related to risk of infection from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A cognitive-behavioral skills training program for heterosexual college females focused on sexual assertiveness skills and the reduction of risk-related behaviors was designed and evaluated and compared to an education-only program. Forty-three heterosexual female undergraduates completed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments of: 1) HIV/STD-related knowledge, beliefs, and social norms, 2) sexual, alcohol, and drug-related behaviors (self-reports and monitoring), and 3) sexual assertiveness role-plays (videotaped). The participants were randomly assigned to the education-only group (control) and the education-plus skills training group (experimental). The focus of the skills training was on rehearsal of positive behavioral, cognitive, and social alternatives to risk-related behaviors with an emphasis on specific coping strategies. Analysis of covariance on posttest and follow-up scores, using pretest scores as covariates, showed that skills training participants compared to education only participants scored higher on sexual assertiveness skills, specific knowledge of HIV infection, and self-efficacy to perform lower risk sexual behaviors. Skills training compared to education-only participants also reported less frequency of drug use and unprotected oral sex. Self-efficacy and HIV infection knowledge score differences between groups were maintained at 1- month follow-up, although the lower reported frequency of high risk behaviors was not maintained. However, at follow-up consumption of four or more alcoholic beverages on one occasion was reported as less by the skills training participants and the overall reported frequency of high risk behaviors also was reported as approaching significantly less at follow-up by skills training participants. Effective and ineffective aspects of this program as well as the key issue of personal vulnerability and other barriers and facilitators of behavior change are discussed. / Ph. D.

One hundred fifty-six adolescent respondents from the Virginia Mennonite Conference were surveyed regarding their perceived influences of their attitudes toward sexuality and the Mennonite Church's position on various sexual issues. The adolescents were more sure of their own beliefs about sexuality than they were about the church's position. The church was not perceived as a major source of influence on their attitudes when compared to friends, the media, and the family. A comparison of early and late adolescents did not reveal any significant difference in the amount of perceived influence of the church. The gender of the respondent was not found to differentiate significantly on any of the variables under investigation. The type of school the adolescent attended--either public or Mennonite--was related to a difference in the response to beliefs about premarital sex and pregnancy outside of marriage. Students at public schools held more accepting views on these issues. / Master of Science

M.A. (Sociology) / The increasing incidence of phenomena like cohabitation, extra-marital births and voluntary single parenthood in Western society, indicates a shift in the social definition of sexuality. This is particularly apparent when the current situation is compared to traditional Western societies where sexuality was, for instance, limited to the monogamous, heterosexual marriage and to reproduction within marriage. This change in the meaning of sexuality can be attributed to a change in attitudes towards the acceptability of premarital sexual and sexually-related behaviour. This attitude is referred to as premarital sexual permissiveness. This study investigates premarital sexual permissiveness among female university students as related to: (i) certain social factors namely mother-daughter communication about sexuality, religiosity, liberalism-conservatism and commitment to marital life and (ii) certain biographic factors namely age, area of study, academic study year, environment where the student grew up, home language, religious denomination, father's occupation, father's highest educational qualifications, mother's occupation, mother's highest educational qualification and the student's dating phase. In this study quantitative research was conducted in which a questionnaire was completed by a representative sample of 253 female students. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the biographical background of students as well as questions measuring premarital sexual permissiveness, mother-daughter communication about sexuality, religiosity, liberalism-conservatism and commitment to marital life. To measure the above-mentioned social factors, six scales were developed by means of factor analysis and item analysis. The scales are Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection, Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection, Mother-daughter communication about sexuality, Religiosity, Politicalliberalism-eonservatism and Commitment to marital life. Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection and Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection were analysed in terms of the biographic background of the student and the four other scales, making use of one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's paired comparisons, Hotelling T2 and t-tests and Pearsons correlations. It was found that fourth year/honours students are more in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection than second- or third year students. Students that are in love with somebody or are engaged, are also more in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection than unattached students. English-speaking students are more in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection and Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection than Afrikaans-speaking students. It was also found that students from the Faculty of Science are more in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection than students from the Faculty of Arts. Regarding the interrelation between the different scales, it was found that the more students are in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection, the more they are in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection. Religiosity proved to be of significance in the sense that the more religious the students are, the less they are in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection and Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection. It was also found that the more often mother and daugther communicated about sexuality. the less the student would be in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection. With regard to Commitment to marital life as a dependant variable, it was found that the more students are in favour of Premarital sexual permissiveness-with-affection and Premarital sexual permissiveness-without-affection, the less they are committed to marital life. These findings pave the way for more research on premarital sexual permissiveness in South Africa, for example research on premarital sexual permissiveness among male students, among other races and among high school scholars.

The introduction provides a concise discussion of the confused condition of our Western sexuality. It is noted that this confusion has also manifested itself in ecclesiastical circles, and that the contribution of the church towards the resolution of 'moral' confusion in this sphere is in fact minimal. The study then proceeds to a more empirical investigation of certain phenomena which might enable us to demonstrate the close relationship which exists between the individual's psychological condition, or 'state of consciousness', and the type of theology or ethics he formulates or adopts. The present study was an investigation designed to determine whether Anglican clergy and Pentecostal pastors differed significantly with regard to theological orientation, level of self-actualization or the degree of flexibility they showed in the application of sexual values. Furthermore we were concerned to discover the inter-relation between these various traits. A third group of ordinands from St. Paul's College (C.P.S.A.) was also incorporated into the study. All forty eight subjects completed a series of tests and questionnaires which were scored according to eighteen different scales relating to selfactualzing traits, theological orientation and the application of sexual ethics. In brief the results showed that the Anglican clergy were significantly more self-actualizing, theologically liberal and more flexible in the application of sexual values than were Pentecostal pastors. Little difference was found to exist as a function of age and education, or between Anglican clergy and ordinands. Furthermore theological conservatism, general conservatism, dogmatism and inflexibility in the application of sexual ethics were all shown to correlate negatively with self-actualization. In the discussion of results the writer attempted to demonstrate the close relationship between the churchman's psychological make-up and the way in which he construes his world and formulates his theology and ethics. In the concluding discussion the writer once again widened the scope of concern in order to demonstrate how the findings of the present study can be fitted into the broader context of the life of the church. It has been suggested that the type of approach adopted by churchmen to problems of sexuality is very much determined by their psychological make up. Hence in this sense both the status of the church in modern society and the degree to which the church can assist in the resolution of our culture's problems in the field of human sexuality, is greatly dependent upon the 'states of consciousness' of our clergy.

The relationships among self-labeled sexual orientation, sexual preferences, and sexual behaviors were examined in samples from Taiwan and the USA. Subsamples matched on gender, age, and marital status were created to reduce sexual orientation cell size discrepancies and demographic differences. Sexual orientation self-label, the Kinsey Scale of Sexual Orientation, and a modified version for preference were used to assess participants' sexual orientation, behavior, and preference, respectively. Additional measures included an adaptation of the Early Sexual Experiences Checklist, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for psychological distress. For both Taiwan and USA subsamples, heterosexual participants reported significantly greater congruence between sexual orientation identity and preference than did nonheterosexual participants. A high proportion of the Taiwan sample were celibate, precluding analyses of congruence between sexual orientation identity and sexual behavior. Congruence between sexual behavior and preference in the USA sample was negatively correlated with psychological distress. In a cross-cultural comparison between the Taiwan and USA women (n = 176), the two samples reported similar congruence between sexual orientation identity and preference. Exploratory analyses revealed that heterosexual participants' sexual orientation label was more “public, ” (more categories of people who knew the participants' sexual orientation), than was nonheterosexuals' in both Taiwan and the USA. In Taiwan, heterosexual and nonheterosexual participants reported similar proportions who were celibate. A gender difference within the USA subsample included that men reported significantly greater congruence than did women regarding sexual orientation identity and congruence between behavior and preference. Analyses comparing self-labeled sexual orientation groups on unwanted childhood sexual experiences and age of earliest voluntary sexual activity were not significant. This study's limitations included small numbers of bisexual (USA n = 27, Taiwan n = 17) or homosexual (USA n = 35, Taiwan n = 9) participants, prohibiting distinctions between them. Recommended future research includes examining the self-labeling process, Asian American student sexual behaviors, and incorporating frequency and intrusiveness when assessing unwanted childhood sexual experiences.

The present study examined 100 gay and lesbian (LG) college students and 100 heterosexual students to determine whether group differences existed in frequency of and anxiety related to non-erotic cognitive distractions during sexual activity. Non-erotic cognitive distractions is a descriptive term to include both self-evaluative behaviors related to physical performance and body image concerns, as well as additional cognitive distractions (e.g., contracting an STI or emotional concerns) during sexual activity. Participants, matched on gender (96 males and 104 females), age, and ethnicity, completed questionnaires assessing frequency and associated anxiety related to non-erotic cognitive distractions during sexual activity, as well as measures of additional variables (e.g., religiosity and self-esteem). Results indicated that LG participants experience significantly more cognitive distractions and concomitant anxiety related to body image, physical performance, and contracting a disease or illness during sexual activity. With regard to gender differences, men reported more distractions related to contracting a disease or illness than women. An interaction effect was observed between sexual orientation and gender for body image-, disease-, and external/emotional-based distractions. It also was found that gay men, lesbians, and heterosexual women reported significantly more body image concerns than straight men. Implications of these findings are discussed

Thesis (DPhil (Psychology))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa has continued in spite of initiatives by government and numerous concerned community-based and non-governmental organisations to contain the pandemic. Hegemonic masculinity and traditional male sexual practices associated with such identities have only recently been identified as a key area of challenge in the HIV/AIDS pandemic and more broadly in addressing issues of gender inequality. Practices such as non-negotiation in heterosexual relationships as well as other manifestations of gender inequality remain rife. Not surprisingly, this has led to a proliferation of research on men and boys in South Africa. Yet, while critical men’s studies foreground the centrality of context in the construction of masculinities, the role of particular institutions long associated with the construction of hegemonic masculinity has not been well documented in the light of the HIV/AIDS challenge. Given that HIV infection ratios are higher among soldiers than civilians, and the masculinist culture that prevails in military settings, it is clear that soldiers are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. This study seeks to understand how men in the military draw on notions of masculinity and heterosexuality in constructing their identity and heterosexual practices. I conducted in-depth interviews with a diverse group of 14 male soldiers aged 23 to 33. All participants were officers pursuing a career in the military who were enrolled in a tertiary institution. The interviews were audio-taped and then transcribed. All the interviews were analysed using discourse analysis, with interpretation being informed by a social constructionist theoretical framework in order to address the intersecting issues of gender, sexuality and masculinity. The discourse analysis carried out on the transcripts highlights the centrality of dominant constructions of (hetero)sexual masculinity. Key here is the ‘male sexual drive discourse’ which has been identified elsewhere in South Africa and internationally, usually coupled with traditional expectations of women’s sexuality as submissive and responsive to that of men. There is, furthermore, a prevailing notion of ‘double standards’ which reward men for risky sexual practices while condemning women for the same practices and for resisting their traditional feminine and sexual roles. The study also found that the military as a macho/masculinist institution plays a key role in exaggerating traditional identities and sexual practices for men, in particular notions of masculinity as equated with physical strength and prowess and traditional constructs of male sexuality as urgent and aggressive. These are exacerbated by the military context in which soldiers, due to the nature of their task, have socio-economic and political power over (female) members of local communities. Long periods of isolation from partners during deployment and courses could also facilitate unsafe sexual practices. The study further points to the salience of social identities such as race and class intersecting with gender in the subjective representations of masculinity and sexuality, with neither of these representations manifested as fixed or unitary. The study foregrounds how male sexual risk-taking facilitates the reproduction of hegemonic discourses on male and female sexuality that continue to repress women’s rights to sexual desire and pleasure, while legitimating hegemonic male sexual practices. The study concludes that tackling HIV in the military demands critical examination of multiple constructions of masculinity: those common to broader groups of men and those peculiar to the context of the military. It is thus argued that the development of effective intervention programmes on the one hand requires an unpacking of broader discourses on masculinity and male sexuality and on the other a specific targeting within the context of military imperatives and conditions.

Background: In Ethiopia the first case of HIV infection was identified in 1984. Since then HIV/AIDS has created an enormous challenge to several communities, affecting the social and economic well-being of the entire nation. Realizing the enormous consequences of the epidemic, the Ethiopian government deployed tremendous efforts to create HIV awareness in order to bring changes in HIV-related behaviors to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the role of HIV-related knowledge, attitude and behavior in HIV/AID prevention in Ethiopia. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the changes in HIV-related knowledge, attitude, and behavior between 2005 and 2011 and its impact on HIV status among Ethiopians. METHODS: The study used a nationally representative sample from the cross sectional years of 2005 and 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). Sample sizes of study population were 12,845 in 2005 and 28,532 in 2011. SAS-callable SUDAAN was used provide descriptive characteristics of socio-demographic characteristics and independent variable of HIV-related knowledge, attitude, and behavior. The binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess changes in HIV-related knowledge, attitude, and behavior and, association between these factors and HIV status. For all results, statistical significant were determined if there were no overlap in the 95% CI of the percentages being compared. RESULTS: There was no difference in correct comprehensive knowledge of HIV between 2005 and 2011. However, there was significant change in knowledge of Mother to Child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, accepting attitude towards people living with HIV (PLWH) and sexual behavior between 2005 and 2011. Respondents who had high level of knowledge of MTCT increased from 40.2% in 2005 to 71.0% in 2011. Likewise, respondents with high level of accepting attitude towards PLWH also increased from 3.9% to 10.8%. Besides, in 2011 fewer people had started sex before the age of 15 years old, and more people knew sources of condoms in comparison to 2005 However the percentage of people who had multiple sexual partners increased from 1.2% to 1.8% between 2005 and 2011 respectively. The study also found significantly protective association between HIV positive status and having low or medium level of knowledge of MTCT of HIV (OR 0.08 or 0.78) and accepting attitude towards people living with HIV (OR 0.12 or 0.48). In contrast, HIV infection was significantly associated with having multiple sexual partners (OR 4.49). Conclusion: Efforts deployed by Ethiopian government and other international organizations in response to HIV/AIDS epidemics have had success in terms of improving MTCT knowledge of HIV, accepting attitude towards PLWH, knowledge of sources of condom and sexual debut between 2005 and 2011. Surprisingly, we did not find an evidence of high level of HIV knowledge to be protective against HIV infection in the current study. Therefore continuous intervention is recommended to seal the gap between knowledge and sexual practices that may influence safer sexual behavioral changes.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work