Emerging adults, between ages 18 and 25, experience changes in interpersonal relationships, sexuality, world view, and for some, changes in living arrangements that include college (Arnett, 2001; Lefkowitz, 2005). For many college students, this period of intense exploration and change may include increased susceptibility to engage in high-risk behaviors, including sexual behaviors. (Arnett, 1992; Bradley & Wildman, 2002). Social cognitive theory was used in this study to examine relationships among personal aspects of female emerging adults and their sexual behavior such as sexual attitudes, self-esteem, race, age, and high-risk behaviors in addition to environmental influences such as perceived parental sexual attitudes. Social cognitive theory was a useful framework because it not only considers internal factors involved in individual decision making; it also considers interactions between an individual and their environment. The most prominent predictor of female college students engaging in sexual behavior was engaging in other high-risk behaviors. Risk behaviors also related to sexually permissive attitudes and attitudes relating to safe sexual practice. The sexual knowledge among emerging adult females was not a good predictor of their sexual behavior, nor was self-esteem. Parental attitude related to sexual behavior for sexual permissiveness and sexual practice. Therapists and educators would benefit from a depth of understanding the interpersonal reasoning for sexual decision making. Better assessment tools could be developed, specific treatments could be employed, and educational materials modeled on a more clear understanding of what works and what does not work in understanding sexuality related issues. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2006. / November 4, 2005. / sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behavior, emerging adults / Includes bibliographical references. / Ronald L. Mullis, Professor Directing Dissertation; Gary W. Peterson, Outside Committee Member; Mary W. Hicks, Committee Member; Nicholas F. Mazza, Committee Member; Ann K. Mullis, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_181144 |
| Contributors | Byno, Lucille H. (authoraut), Mullis, Ronald L. (professor directing dissertation), Peterson, Gary W. (outside committee member), Hicks, Mary W. (committee member), Mazza, Nicholas F. (committee member), Mullis, Ann K. (committee member), Department of Family and Child Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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