Sexual Behavior and Self-Esteem on Adolescents

Authors

  • Othon Cardoso Melo Neto Universidade Federal de Sergipe
  • Elder Cerqueira-Santos Universidade Federal de Sergipe

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2012.52.04

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between self-esteem and sexual risk taking behavior (non-condom use, early sexual experience, early pregnancy, diverse sexual partners, AIDS and other STDs) on adolescents living in Aracaju. The sample was composed of 159 adolescents, including boys and girls, high school students from two large public schools. Participants were 57.9% female, aged between 14–23 (M= 17.19; SD=1.47). The instrument was adapted from “Juventude Brasileira” study, and it was composed of multiple choices, Likert itens and Rosenberg´s self-esteem scale. Results showed that 55.8% have already had sexual experience and 83.3% use condom regularly. Bivariate analyses suggests that the higher their self-esteem, the lower is the chance of early sexual experience and less sexual behavior using drugs (?²=7.137; p=0.028). Data suggests sexual behavior changes and a positive self-esteem effect upon early debut.

Key word: adolescent, sexual risk behavior, self-esteem.

Author Biographies

Othon Cardoso Melo Neto, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Mestrando em Psicologia Social pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe - NPPS

Elder Cerqueira-Santos, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Professor Doutor em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/ Nebraska
Coordenador do Mestrado em Psicologia Social da Universidade Federal de Sergipe

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Published

2012-12-14

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2012): Jul-Dec

Section

Articles

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