Predictors of sexual abstinence behaviour in Taiwanese adolescents: a longitudinal application of the transtheoretical model

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To understand (1) the change of stage of changes, self-efficacy, decisional balance and processes of change for sexual abstinence behaviour across a 15-month interval, (2) relations of baseline stage of changes, self-efficacy, decisional balance and processes of change to follow-up stage of changes for sexual abstinence and (3) the important predictors of follow-up stage of changes and transition of stage of changes for sexual abstinence behaviour.

Background: Examining factors of sexual abstinence behaviour among adolescents can provide useful information in designing sexual abstinence intervention programmes.

Design: This study applied a transtheoretical model and used a longitudinal design.

Method: Anonymous questionnaires were administered to 281 participants at baseline and 15-month follow-up.

Results: In summary, 46.3% (n = 130) of the participants were in the same stage, 30.2% (n = 85) regressed and 23.5% (n = 66) progressed their stage from baseline to follow-up. Baseline self-efficacy, decisional balance and processes of change are related to follow-up stage of changes for sexual abstinence. Participants with higher baseline self-efficacy, lower decrease of self-efficacy from baseline to follow-up and lower decrease of decisional balance from baseline to follow-up were more in the definite group (preparation and action stage) at follow-up. Participants with higher baseline decisional balance, lower decrease of decisional balance from baseline to follow-up and lower decrease of self-efficacy from baseline to follow-up were more in the advancement transition group at follow-up.

Conclusions: Focus of interventions could differ according to intervention purpose. Reducing the decrease of self-efficacy and decisional balance across time is important to enable adolescents to be in or progress to better stages across time.

Relevance to clinical practice: To make adolescents be in later stages at follow-up, increasing baseline self-efficacy is important. If the purpose is to progress the stages, baseline decisional balance should be emphasised. Health care providers should continually boost the self-efficacy and decisional balance of adolescents across time.