The number of sexually transmitted infections continues to rise among late adolescents and young adults. One possible explanation is that an important variable, emotion, is missing from theories and programs promoting safer practices. This study performed a thorough examination of emotions involved during and after sexual encounters and how these related to risk and planning of the sexual encounter. Eighty-two college students were given recall instructions and a questionnaire designed to elicit detailed information about their recent or most memorable sexual encounter. Using content analysis, open-ended questions concerning emotions and thoughts about the sexual partner, the participant in the situation, the place of the encounter, and feelings after the encounter were analyzed. Major findings included individuals who experienced negative or mixed emotions expected certain sexual behaviors less than those who had positive emotions. Unlike previous studies, there were no differences in emotions and planning of the sexual encounter, type of partner, and sexual risk.
Averill, J. R. (1994). In the eyes of the beholder. In P. Eckman & R. J. Davidson (Eds.), Nature of emotion: Fundamental questions (pp. 7-14). New York: Oxford University Press.
2.
Brody, S. (2003). Alexithymia is inversely associated with women’s frequency of vaginal intercourse. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 73-77.
3.
Browning, J. R., Hatfield, E., Kessler, D., & Levine, T. (2000). Sexual motives, gender, and sexual behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 29, 135-153.
4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2000a). Adolescent reproductive health. Retrieved April 27, 2004, from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/ahson/datasour.htm
5.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2000b). Adolescent reproductive health. Retrieved November 4, 2003, from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/ahson/dataour.htm
6.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003). HIV/AIDS surveillance report: Cases of HIV infection and AIDS in the US, 2002. Atlanta, GA: Department of Health and Human Services.
7.
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, 11-19.
8.
DeLamater, J., & MacCorquodale, P. (1979). Premarital sexuality: Attitudes, relationships, and behavior. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
9.
Eckman, P. (1994). All emotions are basic. In P. Ekman & R. J. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions (pp. 15-19). New York: Oxford University Press.
10.
Gold, R. S. (2002). The effects of mood states on the AIDS-related judgement of gay men. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 13, 475-481.
11.
Gray, J. (1994). Personality dimenstions and emotions systems. In P. Eckman & R. J. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions (pp. 329-331). New York: Oxford University Pres.
12.
Hatcher, R. A., Trussell, J., Stewart, F., Cates, W., Stewart, G. K., Guest, F., et al. (1998). Contraceptive technology. New York: Ardent Media.
13.
Herold, E. S., & Goodwin, M. S. (1981). Premarital sexual guilt. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 13, 65-75.
14.
Holmes, K. K., Sparling, P. F., Mardh, P., Lemon, S. M., Stamm, W. E., Piot, P., et al. (1999). Sexually transmitted diseases (Vol. 3). New York: McGraw-Hill.
15.
Houck, E. L., & Abramson, P. R. (1986). Masturabatory guilt and the psychological consequences of sexually transmitted diseases among women. Journal of Research in Personality, 20, 267-276.
16.
Jemmott, J. B., Jemmott, L. S., & Fong, G. T. (1998). Abstinence and safer sex: A randomized trial of HIV sexual risk-reduction interventions for young African-American adolescents. Journal of the American Medical Association, 279, 1529-1536.
17.
Keller, M. L. (1993). Why don’t young adults protect themselves against sexual transmission of HIV? Possible answers to a complex question. AIDS Education and Prevention, 5, 220-233.
18.
Keller, M. L., Duerst, B. L., & Zimmerman, J. (1996). Adolescents’ views of sexual decision-making. IMAGE: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 28, 125-130.
19.
Kirby, D. (1999). Reflections on two decades of research on teen sexual behavior and pregnancy. Journal of School Health, 69, 89-94.
20.
Krippendorff, K. (1980). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (pp. 129-154). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
21.
Kusseling, F. S., Shapiro, M. F., Greenberg, J. M., & Wenger, N. S. (1996). Understanding why heterosexual adults do not practice safer sex: A comparison of two samples. AIDS Education and Prevention, 8, 247-257.
22.
McLaughlin, F. E., & Marascuilo, L. A. (1990). Advanced nursing & health care research: Quantification approaches. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.
23.
Pinkerton, S. D., Cecil, H., Bogart, L. M., & Abramson, P. R. (2003). The pleasures of sex: An empirical investigation. Cognition and Emotion, 17, 341-353.
24.
Sanderson, C., & Cantor, N. (1995). Social dating goals in late adolescents: Implications for sexual activity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 1121-1134.
25.
Taris, T. W., & Semin, G. R. (1997). Gender as a moderator of the effects of the love motive and relational context on sexual experience. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 26, 159-180.
26.
von Sadovszky, V. (2000). Contextual factors and perceptions of sexual encounters among college students. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
