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. 2025 May;73(5):1930-1939.
doi: 10.1080/07448481.2024.2378294. Epub 2024 Jul 12.

An examination of the sexual health behaviors and cognitions of young U.S. community college students with respect to the intersection of gender and sexual identity

Reina Evans-Paulson  1 , Tracy M Scull  1 , Kathryn N Stump  1 , Christina V Dodson  1 , Megan Armstrong  1
Affiliations

An examination of the sexual health behaviors and cognitions of young U.S. community college students with respect to the intersection of gender and sexual identity

Reina Evans-Paulson et al. J Am Coll Health. 2025 May.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the sexual health of young community college students so that health promotion priorities can be identified and tailored programming can be implemented for this understudied population. Participants: A national sample of 1,678 community college students. Methods: Survey data was analyzed to understand trends in sexual health - including differences by gender and sexual identity. Results: While 54% of the sample have had vaginal sex and 16% have had anal sex, rates of condom use for these behaviors are low (respectively 51% and 42%). Only 52% of students have communicated with a medical professional about sexual health and 42% have been tested for STIs. Young men have the lowest odds of communicating with a medical professional about sexual health. Heterosexual men have particularly low odds of getting tested for STIs. Conclusions: Community college students need additional resources - eg, education, accessible health care - to promote their sexual health.

Keywords: Sexual health; community college; gender identity; sexual identity; young adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement: The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

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