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Perceived Consequences of First Intercourse Among Mexican Adolescents and Associated Psychosocial Variables

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Abstract

To expand our understanding of first sexual experiences among adolescents in Latin America, this study examined associations between several psychosocial correlates (gender, religiosity, age at first intercourse, and type of relationship with sexual partner, as well as benevolent and hostile sexism attitudes) and perceived consequences of first sexual intercourse in a sample of Mexican adolescents. Findings indicate that male participants and adolescents who had their first intercourse at older ages (16 or older) reported more positive consequences, whereas girls, and religious adolescents reported more negative consequences. When examining the link between sexist attitudes and perceived consequences by gender, findings may indicate that these attitudes were better predictors among male adolescents. Specifically, boys who endorsed more hostile sexism reported having felt rush, felt that they enhanced their reputation, and worried that their partner wanted more commitment. Moreover, boys who endorsed more benevolent sexism reported feeling cheered up, worried about pregnancy, and that their partner wanted more commitment. In contrast, benevolent sexism was associated with only one consequence (worry about pregnancy) among girls. This study expands our understanding of Mexican adolescent sexual experiences and the link between sexist attitudes and perceived consequences of first intercourse.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Daniela Morales for applying the surveys and Jacinto Terrazas for reviewing the translation of the text into English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychological Research, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. Dr. Luis Castelazo Ayala s/n, Col. Industrial Ánimas, 91190, Xalapa, VER, Mexico

    Ma. Luisa Marván & Fabiola Orihuela-Cortés

  2. Psychology Department, University of North Carolina, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403-5612, USA

    Graciela Espinosa-Hernández

Authors
  1. Ma. Luisa Marván
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  2. Graciela Espinosa-Hernández
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  3. Fabiola Orihuela-Cortés
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Correspondence to Ma. Luisa Marván.

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Human and Animal Rights

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study and from their parents.

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Marván, M.L., Espinosa-Hernández, G. & Orihuela-Cortés, F. Perceived Consequences of First Intercourse Among Mexican Adolescents and Associated Psychosocial Variables. Sexuality & Culture 22, 1490–1506 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-018-9539-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-018-9539-x

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