Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Sep-Dec;18(3):245-253.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2018.04.002. Epub 2018 May 7.

Sexism and sexual risk behavior in adolescents: Gender differences

Tamara Ramiro-Sánchez  1 , María Teresa Ramiro  1 , María Paz Bermúdez  1 , Gualberto Buela-Casal  1
Affiliations

Sexism and sexual risk behavior in adolescents: Gender differences

Tamara Ramiro-Sánchez et al. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2018 Sep-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background/Objective: This study examines whether there are differences in the maintenance of ambivalent sexist beliefs on the basis of gender and sexual experience in adolescents. The study also investigates whether the sexist beliefs themselves are linked to sexual risk behaviors. Method: A representative sample of 2,703 Spanish adolescents was carried out in public and private secondary schools, with an age range of 14 to 20 years old (M = 15.89; SD = 1.29). Results: Males maintain more hostile, benevolent and ambivalent sexist beliefs compared to females. Sexual experience (both coital and non-coital) is linked to a greater degree of hostile and benevolent sexist beliefs, but only within the male group. In males, greater benevolent sexism is linked to vaginal sex initiation at an earlier age, while greater hostile sexism is linked to a lower proportion of condom use. In females, greater hostile sexism is linked to a greater number of sex partners. Conclusions: It is necessary to include specific actions on sexist beliefs in programs for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Antecedentes/Objetivo: Se examina si existen diferencias en el mantenimiento de creencias sexistas ambivalentes en función del género y de la experiencia sexual en adolescentes. Además, se investiga si las propias creencias sexistas se asocian con la emisión de comportamientos sexuales de riesgo. Método: Se llevó a cabo en una muestra representativa de 2.703 adolescentes españoles procedentes de centros de Secundaria públicos y privados con edades entre 14 y 20 años (M = 15,89; DT = 1,29). Resultados: Los varones mantienen más creencias sexistas hostiles, benevolentes y ambivalentes que las mujeres. La experiencia sexual (coital y no coital) se asocia con una mayor adhesión a las creencias sexistas hostiles y benevolentes, pero sólo en el grupo de varones. En varones, un mayor sexismo benevolente se asocia con una edad de inicio sexual vaginal más temprana, mientras que un mayor sexismo hostil con una menor proporción en el uso del preservativo. En mujeres, un mayor sexismo hostil se asocia con un mayor número de parejas sexuales. Conclusiones: Existe la necesidad de incluir la intervención específica sobre creencias sexistas en programas de prevención de infecciones de transmisión sexual y VIH.

Keywords: Adolescence; Ex post facto study; HIV; Sexism; Sexual behavior.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Bermúdez M.P., Castro A., Buela-Casal G. Psychosocial correlates of condom use and their relationship with worry about STI and HIV in native and immigrant adolescents in Spain. Spanish Journal of Psychology. 2011;14:746–754. - PubMed
    1. Bermúdez M.P., Castro A., Gude F., Buela-Casal G. Power relationship on the couple and double standard as predictors of the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV: Multicultural and gender analysis. Current HIV Research. 2010;8:172–178. - PubMed
    1. Bermúdez M.P., Ramiro M.T., Sierra J.C., Buela-Casal G. Construcción de un índice de riesgo para la infección por el VIH y su relación con la doble moral y el poder diádico en adolescentes. Anales de Psicología. 2013;29:917–922.
    1. Carrera-Fernández M.V., Lameiras-Fernández M., Rodríguez-Castro Y., Vallejo-Medina P. Bullying among Spanish secondary education students: The role of gender traits, sexism, and homophobia. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2013;28:2915–2940. - PubMed
    1. Choi K.H., Bowleg L., Neilands T.B. The effects of sexism, psychological distress, and difficult sexual situations on U.S. women's sexual risk behaviors. AIDS Education and Prevention. 2011;23:397–411. - PMC - PubMed