Preditores dos comportamentos sexuais de risco

: consumo de substâncias, regulação emocional, busca de sensações sexuais e utilização de aplicações de encontro

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual risk behaviors (SRB) are an emerging global health issue. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between substance use before sex, emotional regulation (ER), sexual sensation seeking (SSF), use of dating apps (UAE) and RSC, using a quantitative, cross-sectional methodology. Method: The sample consisted of 366 participants aged between 18 and 35 who completed the Women's Health Questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS), the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS) and a questionnaire with questions used in previous studies on UAE. Results: Differences were found in SR, BSS, UAE and CSR according to gender, between alcohol/substance users before sex and non-consumers and between users of dating apps and non-users. In addition, relationships were found between alcohol/substance consumption before sex, ER, SSS, UDA and RSB. Conclusions: BSS, alcohol consumption before sex, number of partners (six months) and number of sexual acts among dating app users are significant predictors of condom non-use. Educational attainment, age at onset of sexual activity and number of sexual partners (six months) are significant predictors of alcohol consumption before sex. BSS and age at onset of sexual activity are significant predictors of illicit substance use before sex. In short, it is clear that these variables are highly related to each other and need to be integrated into prevention programs.

Date of Award	25 Jan 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eleonora C. V. Costa (Supervisor)