Emotional and social cognitive predictors of sexual risk indicators among adolescents in committed and noncommitted partnerships.

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the risks of casual sexual partnerships during adolescence despite many adolescents having sex within noncommitted relationships. We applied theories of adult attachment, planned behavior, and problem behavior to examine emotional and social cognitive predictors of variability in sexual risk indicators among adolescents in committed and noncommitted partnerships.

METHOD

Data were drawn from 801 adolescents (53.6% females; aged 14-20 years (M = 16.25)) living in a southern state in the United States.

RESULTS

Findings showed that healthy sex attitudes were related to knowing one's sexual partner longer; this association was stronger for females, particularly those in noncommitted sexual partnerships. Additionally, healthy sex attitudes predicted fewer sexual partners across adolescents, except for male adolescents in noncommitted sexual partnerships. Romantic attachment insecurity and constraining relationship beliefs had different associations with sexual risk indicators according to gender and relationship status.

CONCLUSION

Findings contribute to the current understanding of risks associated with adolescents' sexual engagement and offer insights into adolescents' casual sexual partnerships.