Abstract
This study examined the impact of body image satisfaction on university students’ (N = 465) involvement in risky sexual behaviors. A valid and reliable survey instrument was designed and administered to students in their classrooms at a Midwestern university. Of 465 participants, 53.8 % reported having low levels of body image satisfaction and 78.9 % indicated they had engaged in sexual intercourse during their lifetime. Of the sexually active students, 80 % have had sexual intercourse without the use of a condom, 76 % have had sexual intercourse while intoxicated, and 21 % have had sexual intercourse following illegal drug use. Students who had high body image satisfaction were significantly more likely to have ever engaged in sexual intercourse. These results should be considered when developing and implementing sexual education efforts for university students. Future studies should seek to identify specific strategies to increase body image satisfaction and decrease risky sexual behaviors among this high-risk population.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abel, G., & Brunton, C. (2005). Young people’s use of condoms and their perceived vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 29(3), 254–260.
Ackard, D. M., Kearney-Cooke, A., & Peterson, C. B. (2000). Effect of body image and self-image on women’s sexual behaviors. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 28(4), 422–429.
American Cancer Society. (2009). Human papillomavirus (HPV), cancer, and HPV vaccines–frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/InfectiousAgents/HPV/HumanPapillomaVirusandHPVVaccinesFAQ/hpv-faq.
Cash, T. F., & Pruzinsky, T. (2002). Body image: A handbook of theory, research, & clinical practice. NY, NY: Guilford Publications.
Cash, T. F., Morrow, J. A., Hrabosky, J. I., & Perry, A. A. (2004). How has body image changed? A cross-sectional investigation of college women and men from 1983 to 2001. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(6), 1081–1089.
Cates, J. R., Herndon, N. L., Schulz, S. L., & Darroch, J. E. (2004). Our voices, our lives, our futures: Youth and sexually transmitted diseases. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication, pp. 1–28.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2006). Youth risk behavior surveillance: National college health risk behavior survey–United States, 2005. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 55(SS-5), 1–108.
Chesson, H. W., Blandford, J. M., Gift, T. L., Tao, G., & Irwin, K. L. (2004). The estimated direct medical cost of sexually transmitted diseases among American youth, 2000. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36(1), 11–19.
Clark, L. R., Jackson, M., & Allen-Taylor, L. (2002). Adolescent knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 29(8), 436–443.
Crosby, R. A., Sanders, S. A., Yarber, W. L., & Graham, C. A. (2003). Condom use errors and problems: A neglected aspect of studies assessing condom effectiveness. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 24(4), 367–370.
DiLorio, C., Dudley, W. N., Lehr, S., & Soet, J. E. (2000). Correlates of safer sex communication among college students. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32(3), 658–665.
Eisenberg, M. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Lust, K. D. (2005). Weight-related issues and high-risk sexual behaviors among college students. Journal of American College Health, 54(2), 95–101.
Finer, L. B., & Henshaw, S. K. (2006). Disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy in the united states, 1994 and 2001. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 38(2), 90–96.
Forrest, K. Y. Z., & Stuhldreher, W. L. (2007). Patterns and correlates of body image dissatisfaction and distortion among college students. American Journal of Health Studies, 22(1), 18–25.
Gillen, M. M., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Shearer, C. L. (2006). Does body image play a role in risky sexual behavior and attitudes? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(2), 230–242.
Greenberg, J. S., Bruess, C. E., & Conklin, S. C. (2011). Exploring the dimensions of human sexuality (4th ed.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett.
Grossbard, J., Lee, C., Neighbors, C., & Larimer, M. (2009). Body image concerns and contingent self-esteem in male and female college students. Sex Roles, 60(3), 198–207.
Kelley, S. S., Borawski, E. A., Flocke, S. A., & Keene, K. J. (2003). The role of sequential and concurrent sexual relationships in the risk of sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents. The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 32(4), 296–305.
Kirby, D. (2007). Emerging answers 2007: Research findings on programs to reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (pp. 1–24). Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Langer, L. M., Warheit, G. J., & Perez-McDonald, L. (2001). Correlates and predictors of risky sexual practices among a multi-racial/ethnic sample of university students. Social Behavior and Personality, 29(2), 133–144.
Littleton, H., Breitkopf, C. R., & Berenson, A. (2005). Body image and risky sexual behaviors: An investigation in a tri-ethnic sample. Body Image, 2, 193–198.
Pavlich, H. R., Antil, W., Kerr, D., & Thompson, A. (2007). Students’ perceptions and beliefs about sexually transmitted infections. Health Education Monograph Series, 24(2), 61–64.
Rhodes, S. D., McCoy, T., Omli, M. R., Cohen, G., Champion, H., & duRant, R. H. (2006). Who really uses condoms?: Findings from a large internet-recruited random sample of unmarried heterosexual college students in the southeastern United States. Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention in Children & Youth, 7(2), 9–27.
Rosengard, C., Anderson, B. J., & Stein, M. D. (2006). Correlates of condom use and reasons for condom non-use among drug users. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 32, 637–644.
Seal, B. N., Bradford, A., & Meston, C. M. (2009). The association between body esteem and sexual desire among college women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38(5), 866–872.
Synovitz, L., Hebert, E., Carlson, G., & Kelley, R. M. (2005). College students sexuality education, sexual behaviors and sexual behavioral intent. American Journal of Health Studies, 20(1), 47–57.
Teague, M. L., Mackenzie, S. L., & Rosenthal, D. M. (2011). Your health today (3rd ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill.
Weaver, A. D., & Byers, E. S. (2006). The relationship among body image, body mass index, exercise, and sexual functioning in heterosexual women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 30, 333–339.
Weinstock, H., Berman, S., & Cates, W. (2004). Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: Incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36(1), 6–10.
Welsh, D. P., Grello, C. M., & Harper, M. S. (2006). No strings attached: The nature of casual sex in college students. Journal of Sex Research, 43(3), 255–267.
Wiederman, M. W. (2000). Women’s body image self-consciousness during physical intimacy with a partner. The Journal of Sex Research, 37(1), 60–68.
Wingood, G. M., Diclemente, R. J., Harrington, K., & Davies, S. (2002). Body image and African American females’ sexual health. Journal of Women’s Health & Gender-based medicine, 11, 433–438.
Yamamiya, Y., Cash, T. F., & Thompson, J. K. (2006). Sexual experiences among college women: The differential effects of general versus contextual body images on sexuality. Sex Roles, 55, 421–427.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Merianos, A.L., King, K.A. & Vidourek, R.A. Body Image Satisfaction and Involvement in Risky Sexual Behaviors Among University Students. Sexuality & Culture 17, 617–630 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-013-9165-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-013-9165-6