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Ethnic and gender differences in sexuality: Variations in sexual behavior between Asian and non-Asian university students

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Abstract

Seven hundred and two (346 non-Asian, 356 Asian) undergraduate volunteers were assessed in a confidential laboratory setting on levels of interpersonal sexual behavior (e.g., petting, intercourse), intrapersonal sexual behavior (e.g., fantasy, masturbation), and sociosexual restrictiveness (e.g., lifetime number of partners, number of “one-night stands”). The purpose was to examine possible differences in sexual behavior between Asian and non-Asian Canadian university students and to determine the association between North American residency and the sexual behavior of Asians. The role of gender on sexual behavior both across and within ethnic groups was also examined. Statistical analyses revealed that Asian students were significantly more conservative than non-Asian students on all measures of interpersonal sexual behavior and sociosexual restrictiveness. Significant differences were also noted between Asian and non-Asian students on most measures of intrapersonal sexual behavior. With the exception of two fantasy items, length of residency in Canada was unrelated to interpersonal sexual behavior, intrapersonal sexual behavior, or sociosexual restrictiveness among Asians. Although gender differences were substantial for intrapersonal sexual behaviors such as fantasy and masturbation, no significant gender differences were found for measures of interpersonal sexual experience, with the exception of reported number of one-night stands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, V6T 1Y7, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Cindy M. Meston Ph.D., Paul D. Trapnell Ph.D. & Boris B. Gorzalka Ph.D.

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  1. Cindy M. Meston Ph.D.
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  2. Paul D. Trapnell Ph.D.
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  3. Boris B. Gorzalka Ph.D.
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This research was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Predoctoral Scholarship to Cindy M. Meston, a British Columbia Health Research Foundation Studentship Grant to Cindy M. Meston, a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Predoctoral Scholarship to Paul D. Trapnell and a UBC Humanities and Social Sciences Grant to Boris B. Gorzalka.

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Meston, C.M., Trapnell, P.D. & Gorzalka, B.B. Ethnic and gender differences in sexuality: Variations in sexual behavior between Asian and non-Asian university students. Arch Sex Behav 25, 33–72 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02437906

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