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This study examined the agreement between daily and retrospective reports of vaginal sex over a two-month period in a sample of 376 heterosexually active men and women. We also examined whether gender, age, or method of daily data collection (self-administered vs. interviewer administered) were related to agreement between daily and retrospective reports. Both counts and categorical measures of frequency of the behaviors were examined. There were no gender, age, or data collection method effects. When measured as a count, participants reported more instances of vaginal intercourse in the retrospective reports than on the daily reports. In contrast, comparison of retrospective categorical measures of frequency to daily reports showed considerable variability. Possible reasons for the over-reporting of counts of vaginal sex in retrospective reports are explored., Questions about sexual behaviors are critical to the study of reproduction, contraceptive use, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The answers to such questions rely largely on self-reports in which people [...]

Objective: Retrospective reports of the association between drinking and high-risk sexual behavior can be biased by implicit theories of the effects of drinking or may represent post hoc justifications instead of accurate reports of behavior. Using data from a daily diary study, we compared daily reports of condom use when drinking and not drinking with the same participants' reports of these behaviors from a retrospective questionnaire administered after diary collection was complete. Method: Participants included adolescents (n = 145), adult sexually transmitted disease clinic clients (n = 167), college students (n = 145), and men who have sex with men (n = 147). All participants reported their alcohol consumption and sexual activity daily for 8 weeks and then completed a retrospective questionnaire about their behavior over the diary period. Results: Participants' retrospective judgments about whether they used condoms more or less when drinking were not significantly related to their behavior as reported in the diary. Fewer than two thirds of the participants were accurate in their recollection of the association of condom use and drinking. Teenagers and men who have sex with men were more likely to retrospectively overestimate the negative effect of alcohol on condom use. Conclusions: Retrospective questions about the association between drinking and condom use were consistent with actual behavior only among people who consistently either never or always used condoms. These individuals correctly reported that drinking had no effect on their condom use. For people whose condom use varies, questions about associations between drinking and sex may be difficult to answer, owing to their conditional nature, and may lead to error., RESEARCH ON FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH high-risk sexual behavior for disease transmission has suggested that drinking alcohol at the time of sexual activity is related to the occurrence of unprotected sex. [...]

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2007.00285.x Byline: Blair Beadnell (2a), Anthony Wilsdon (a), Elizabeth A. Wells (a), Diane M. Morison (a), Mary Rogers Gillmore (b), Marilyn Hoppe (a) Abstract: This study tested the theory of planned behavior's (TPB) expectation that attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy would mediate other variables' effects on intention for having sex and probability of having sex. Longitudinal data were collected from 790 high-school-aged adolescents. In an intrapersonal variable model, sensation seeking, alcohol use, hard work, smoking, and moral beliefs had mediated effects, but the last 2 also had direct effects (on intention and behavior, respectively). In an interpersonal model, school attachment had mediated effects, pressure to have sex had a direct effect on behavior, and parent communication and number of sexually active friends had both. Intrapersonal variable effects were better described by the TPB than those of interpersonal variables. Targeting distal psychosocial factors may enhance intervention efficacy. Author Affiliation: (a)School of Social WorkUniversity of Washington (b)School of Social Work, College of Public ProgramsArizona State University Article note: (2) Correspondence concerning this article should be directed to Blair Beadnell, School of Social Work, 4101 15th Avenue, NE, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105. E-mail: blairb@u.washington.edu

Sexual health research often relies on single risk indicators. However, multi-variable composites may better capture the underlying construct of risk-taking. Latent Profile Analysis identified subgroups based on condom use consistency, partner numbers, and sex frequency among 605 adolescents. Three profiles were identified for each of grades 8 to 10 (Condom Users, Few Partners, and Risk-Takers) and 4 in grades 11 and 12 (Condom Users, One Partner, Two Partners, and Risk-Takers). Inconsistent condom use groups reported more non-condom (and often less effective) birth control use and STD and pregnancy histories. Females had greater representation in the Few Partners, One Partners, and Two Partners groups, which also contained increasing proportions of participants in each subsequent year. Males had greater representation in the Risk-Takers group. A profile approach to measurement has methodological advantages, can add to substantive knowledge, and can inform content, timing, and targets of sexual health interventions., Adolescents' sexual risk-taking has been conceptualized in various ways: early age at first intercourse, number of partners, type of partner or length of relationship, frequency of intercourse, consistency of condom [...]

This research examined the applicability of the theory of reasoned action to school-age children. Using structural equation modeling, we longitudinally modeled children's attitudes, norms, intentions, and behavior with regard to drinking alcohol. Respondents were 1,061 children attending public schools in the northwestern United States. Attitude, norms, and intentions (measured when the children were in 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades) were used to predict alcohol use 1 year later. Two modifications of the model improved the overall fit at each grade level: separating attitude into 2 dimensions (positive and negative), and adding a path from social norm to behavior. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

This paper reports the results of a study in which age (grade level), racial/ethnic, and gender differences in beliefs and perceived norms about drinking were examined in a multi-ethnic urban sample of 4th through 7th grade children. Results showed that older children held beliefs and perceived norms that were more favorable toward drinking than younger children. The major difference between older and younger children lay in their differential estimates of the likelihood of certain consequences occurring and not in their evaluation of these consequences of drinking. Further, older children riot only displayed less motivation to comply with their parents and greater motivation to comply with their peers, but they also perceived their parents, as well as their peers, as less disapproving of drinking than did younger children. There were few gender or race/ethnicity differences at these ages in children's beliefs and perceived norms about drinking., INTRODUCTION There is mounting evidence that alcohol expectancies (beliefs about the effects of alcohol) play an important etiological role in the initiation and maintenance of adolescent drinking (1-6). Alcohol expectancies [...]

Bonding in parent, peer, and school domains were compared in a general sample of children and a sample of children of methadone-treated parents. Bivariate comparisons revealed that children of methadone-treated parents had lower SES, and were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes but not more likely to drink alcohol. Several measures of attachment were significantly different between the two samples across parent, peer, and school domains. Multivariate analyses indicated that the children of methadone-treated parents were more likely to smoke, even after accounting for the effects of demographic and attachment variables. For drinking sample membership was not found to be significant. Attachment to school decreased the odds of both smoking and drinking in both samples. Peer attachment had no effect on the odds of smoking initiation; however, loyalty to best friend did predict increased odds of drinking initiation.

This research examines the applicability of Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975) theory of reasoned action (TRA) to intentions to use cigarettes and alcohol among 5th- and 6th-grade students. It also addresses the question of unidimensionality of outcome beliefs and referent norms. Results suggest that the TRA model describes children's decision making well, although the ability of income and race to add to prediction, net of the effects of attitude and perceived norm, are contrary to the theory's prediction. In addition, we find support for multidimensional components of both attitude and norm for both behaviors.

A treatment participation model that uses both individual and program-specific factors that influence dropout rates in drug withdrawal treatment helps illustrate that persistent use of marijuana, introduction to heroin late in life and strong behavioral indicators of desire to abstain from drug abuse are prominent indicators of program participation. To improve on previous studies focussed on dichotomous factors of dropout or number of sessions attended, this model of treatment includes illustrations of treatment participation based on therapist ratings.

An experiment was carried out wherein six items were given to a multiethnic sample of middle school age participants in a group delivered safer sex intervention to find out their reliability and validity. It was seen that at the within-group level the association between baseline friendship scores and cost concurrently and subsequently measured items were positive and statistically significant.

Researchers examined individual characteristics and peer influences related to adolescents' sexual behavior, taking gender and sexual experience into account. As part of a larger, longitudinal study investigating youth health awareness, 8th, 9th, and 10th graders reported their intentions to engage in sexual activity and use condoms in the next year, the amount of pressure they felt to engage in sexual activity, and their perceptions about the number of their peers engaging in sexual activity. Findings suggest intentions to engage in sexual behavior and use condoms, feelings of pressure to have sex, and perceptions about the number of friends engaging in sexual intercourse differ by gender and sexual experience status. Implications of these findings for health and sexuality education, as well as HIV prevention programs targeted at adolescents, are discussed. (J Sch Health. 2001;71(4):153-158), The prevalence of sexual activity, pregnancy, and STDs among US adolescents has caused some alarm. Researchers have described outcomes associated with adolescent sexual behavior in terms varying from 'a public [...]

Is daily data collection of sexual and other health-related behaviors reactive? This question was examined by exploring trends in daily reports of sexual intercourse, condom use, drinking, smoking, and vegetable and fruit consumption over a 2-month period. The trends were examined for evidence of fatigue effects and socially desirable responding. The effects of data collection method and gender were also examined. Results from a hierarchical linear modeling analysis showed a significant trend toward decreased reporting of drinking, smoking, and sexual intercourse, but no significant trends in fruit and vegetable consumption or condom use. These patterns are not consistent with fatigue effects or socially desirable responding. The results are discussed in relation to choosing data collection methods that minimize error., Studies of sexual behavior in the U.S. typically have relied on self-reported behaviors that are recalled retrospectively, sometimes over a rather long time, or have asked respondents to report about [...]