 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Ann Valle, MPH, Department of Preventive Medicine and epidemiology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1130 Blindern, Oslo, NO-0318, Norway, +47 22 85 05 50, a.k.valle@samfunnsmed.uio.no and E. Røysamb, Phd, Institute of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3, 1094 Blindern, Oslo, NO 0317, Norway.
Norway has relatively high rates of unwanted pregnancies and abortions among teenagers compared to other Nordic Countries. Teenage pregnancy is linked to sexual risk behavior. Sexual risk behavior may theoretically be understood within an overall framework of three levels: The level of social determinants, the individual level of self concepts including self efficacy, and the behavioral level of interaction between partners.
The aim of the study is to analyse whether sexual self concept, sexual self efficacy and selected domains of self perception may predict certain aspects of sexual behaviour, and to examine how these mediate associations between parental education and sexual behaviour.
The study is based on data from a randomized population survey among 16-19 year old females in Oslo and Bergen. Data collection was carried out late 1999 and early 2000, in collaboration between Statistics Norway and University of Oslo. A self-administered 8 page questionnaire was sent by postal mail to 2 754 individuals, 242 was not included. The overall response rate was 60, 2 percent.
Social class was measured by parental education. Self perception (Harter/Wichstrom), Sexual self concept (Winter/Tschann), Sexual self efficacy (Levinson/Lundin) was used as standardized. Dependent variables used are sexual debut before 16, contraceptive use as, condoms and hormones.
Multivariate analysis show that various aspects of self may act as mediators between sexual debut and social class, and between social class and contraceptive behaviour. Further insights into various social contexts and into various domains and aspects of self and contraceptive use, may inform practise on important areas for interventions to promote sexual health among youth.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Sexual Behavior, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.