Gender Differences in How Parents, Peers, and Exposure to Sexually Explicit Materials Influence the Intention to Engage in Casual Sex among Adolescents and Young Adults in Taiwan: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior

Ying-Hua Tseng, Wen-Li Hou, Shih-Hsien Kuo, Yu-Hsiang Liu, Hui-Ling Wang, Ray C. Hsiao, Fan-Hao Chou and Cheng-Fang Yen
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Ying-Hua Tseng: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Wen-Li Hou: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Shih-Hsien Kuo: School of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung 83102, Taiwan
Yu-Hsiang Liu: School of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung 83102, Taiwan
Hui-Ling Wang: School of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung 83102, Taiwan
Ray C. Hsiao: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Fan-Hao Chou: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Cheng-Fang Yen: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: The aims of this study were to examine gender differences in how parent–child discussions on sex issues, peer interactions around sexual issues, and exposure to sexually explicit materials affect the intention to engage in casual sex among adolescents and young adults in Taiwan. This cross-sectional survey study recruited 767 participants (348 men and 419 women) aged 15–24 years. The survey collected data on participants’ intention to engage in casual sex, their attitude toward and perception of casual sex based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) (favorable attitude, perceiving positive social norms toward casual sex, and perceived control over involvement), parent–child and peer discussions about sexual issues, and exposure to sexually explicit materials. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that parent–child discussions on sex issues, peer interactions around sexual issues, and exposure to sexually explicit materials were significantly associated with the intention to engage in casual sex. The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) further supported that favorable attitude, perceiving positive social norms toward casual sex, and control over involvement mediated the associations. For men, decreased favorable attitude mediated the negative association between parent–child discussions and casual sex intention; increased favorable attitudes and decreased control over involvement mediated the positive associations between peer interactions and casual sex intention. For women, decreased control over involvement mediated the positive association between exposure to sexually explicit materials and casual sex intention. The associations between peer interaction and subjective norms of acceptance, perceived control over involvement, and casual sex intention were stronger in men than in women; the association of favorable attitudes with casual sex intention was also stronger in men than in women.

Keywords: casual sex; theory of planned behavior; gender gap; parent; peer; sexually explicit material (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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