Differences of sexual behavior predictors between sexually active and nonactive female adolescents in congested communities, Bangkok metropolis.

OBJECTIVE To test the differences among the predictors between sexually active and non-active female adolescents. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive research. MATERIAL AND METHOD The participants included 581 Thai female adolescents: 262 sexually non-active and 319 sexually active (average age = 19.7 years). They completed questionnaires measuring self-discrepancy, depression, power in relationships (decision making dominance and relationship control), sexual self-efficacy (ability to say no, assertiveness, precaution), cognitive strategies (gain thinking: relationship, development, curiosity; punishment avoidance thinking: negative consequence, ethical-related, fear-related), and sexual behavior. The t-test and the Hierarchical Regression were employed for data analyses. RESULTS Among the sexually active, 68.8% had vaginal or anal sexual intercourse (11.7%) without using a condom. Significant enabling predictors among the sexually active included sexual self-efficacy (precaution), and gain thinking (relationship), whereas punishment avoidance thinking (negative consequence) had a negative influence: it accounted about 11.0%. Among sexually non-active, alcohol consumption, power in a relationship (decision making dominance), and gain thinking (relationship) accounted for 26.9% of the variance in explaining sexual behavior. CONCLUSION A specific link between sexual self-efficacy and cognitive strategies will be drawn to develop a program for the sexually active. Implications for behavioral modification addressing alcohol drinking and power in a relationship should be discussed among the sexually non-active.