Relationships between Sexual Behaviors and Psychosocial Variables among Junior High School Students in Shanghai, China

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the prevalence and influential factors of sexual behaviors among Chinese junior high school students using the validated measures and research methods employed in the Japanese study for the purpose of developing an effective sex education program to prevent premature sexual behaviors among Chinese junior high school students. Methods: The study sample was comprised of 681 students from the seventh to the ninth grade of five junior high schools in Shanghai, China. The data were collected in October 2011, using anonymous and self-administered questionnaires. Results: For the experience of kissing, there was no gender difference. For sexual intercourse, it was found that there was a gender difference, showing that the percentage of males who had ever experienced sexual intercourse was higher than that of females. According to the results of univariate analysis, significant relationships were found between the experience of ever kissing and cigarette smoking for males and alcohol drinking for both genders, showing that students with the experience of kissing were more likely to smoke and drink in the past month than those with no experience of kissing. In regard to social skills, students with the experience of kissing showed higher scores on aggressive behavior compared to those with no experience of kissing for females. In regard to stress coping skills, students with the experience of kissing showed higher scores on behavioral avoidance for males and distraction for females compared to those with no experience of kissing. In regard to psychosocial variables concerning sexual intercourse, students with the experience of kissing tended to have stronger behavioral intention about sexual intercourse while in their teen years and to have more positive attitudes toward sexual intercourse before marriage compared to those with no experience of kissing for both genders. According to the results of the multivariate analysis, male students who had drunk alcohol in the past month, had higher scores in behavioral avoidance of stress coping skills and had strong behavioral intention about sexual intercourse, and female students who had drunk alcohol in the past month, had higher scores in distraction of stress coping skills and recognized that their friends had experiences of sexual intercourse were likely to experience kissing. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that educational contents related to the prevention of alcohol drinking, the enhancement of problem-focused coping skills and the decrease of behavioral intention about sexual intercourse should be included in sex education for preventing premature sexual behaviors among Chinese junior high school students.