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Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

Fishbein and Ajzen' s (1980) theory of reasoned action states that a health behavior is a direct result of behavioral intention. Behavioral intentions are comprised of two components: attitudes toward the action and subjective norms about the appropriateness of the action. This study investigated the role of subjective norms with regard to adolescent sexual behavior. It was hypothesized that sexual behavior will be strongly and positively related to the participants' perceptions of important others' beliefs regarding these behaviors. Data comes from a larger study, and is composed of 16 subjects, ages 15-18, both male and female. Participants completed 2 questionnaires, a social norms measure and a sex behavior survey. The social norms survey measured what participants believed those they consider to be important to them believed regarding appropriate sexual behavior. The sex behavior survey measured various sexual behaviors (sexual intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, and masturbation) and the use of contraception and sexually transmitted disease (STD) protection. A relationship was found between the beliefs of important others and oral and anal sexual behaviors, but significant results were not found for masturbation and contraception and STD prevention use. Such conclusions can have implications for targeting adolescents with regard to sexual behavior and contraception and STD prevention use.

Publication Date

1998

Journal Title

Conference Proceedings: Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference

Volume

2

Issue

1

First Page

187

Last Page

191

Copyright

©1998 by the University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Publisher

University of Northern Iowa

City

Cedar Falls, IA

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