Purpose: The purposes of this study were: (1) to investigate the correlation among sexual health self-care behaviors, sexual health knowledge, sexual self-concept, and self-control of sexual risk behaviors; (2) to examine the predictors for sexual health self-care behaviors.
Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to examine the effects of sexual health knowledge, sexual self-concept, and self-control of sexual risk behaviors on sexual health self-care behaviors. A convenience sample of college students, in the northern of Taiwan, were recruited. The questionnaires were completed anonymously, and the data collected were analyzed using correlation and simple linear regressions.
Results: The total sample included 153 students (mean age= 17.2 years). Most students (60% ) had at least one experience of falling in love, and the other 40% students have no love experience. Adolescents reported medium level of sexual health knowledge and sexual self-concept, and a high level of self-control of sexual risk behaviors. The mean score of sexual health self-care behaviors was31(SD=5.44, range13-52). Moreover, the main independent variables (sexual health knowledge, sexual self-concept, and self-control of sexual risk behaviors) emerged as significant predictors of sexual health self-care behaviors. Twenty-eight percent of the variance in sexual health self-care behaviors was explained by the regression. In addition, self-control of sexual risk behaviors had the most influence on sexual health self-care behaviors.
Implications for practice: Self-control of sexual risk behaviors and sexual self-concept were important predictors for sexual health self-care behaviors among adolescents. In addition, it was necessary to strengthen students´ sexual health knowledge and self-control skills of risk sexual behaviors for helping students have positive sexual health self-care behaviors.
