Sex among college students
... help to break down and define each term that is related to this topic. The literature review will show how each source’s information relates to each other as well as help to discover the perceptions most college students have on casual sex, unwanted pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and HIV. The literature review will also help one to see the different views that college students share when it comes to communicating with their mate(s) about having sex. Sex among College students The majority of today’s college students engage in sexual intercourse. College students represent an important population for studying and understanding factors that influence sexual risk behavior (Scholly, 159). High-risk sexual behaviors can result in sexually transmitted diseases or unplanned pregnancies that can compromise students’ academic success and may result in potentially life-altering consequences (Scholly, 159). During the transition of high school to college, young people tend to adopt the behaviors similar to other students on campus (Farrow, 342). These students would resort to casual dress, consumption of more alcohol, and participation in more social and sexual activities. Even though sexual equality among young adults has resulted in the convergence of male and female sexual attitudes and behaviors, good communication skills for discussing sexual history, condom use and perceived peer sexual norms were imperative in students’ safe sex behaviors (Farrow, 342). Sex among Females in College The transition of high school to college can affect many relationships and health issues for young females (Farrow, 2003). Leaving home for the first time can be an exciting and worrying time for young women. The adjustment to a new lifestyle with more freedom can be unsettling and difficult for some; this is when most problem behaviors can arise. Development psychologists argue that the onset of sexual behavior occurs naturally when an individual reaches a stage of maturity (Farrow, 2003). However, Farrow argues that the onset of this stage may be significantly affected by external influences, such as peer group pressure and the various lifestyles of students, to the extent that intimate sexual behaviors may develop quicker than if the young women were to stay in the home (Farrow, 2003). Farrow also notes that adjustment to change can have profound affects on a young person’s health and academic achievements. Young females in college are more likely to trust their sexual partners, due to the fact that they sometimes view a casual affair as something more meaningful and long-term. Economic opportunities within social classes have a predictable effect on young women’s goals and motivations. Young women with lower academic expectations did not consider there to be much loss to their academic achievements when becoming pregnant. Female college students of a younger age such as 18-20 were found to be predictive of having casual sex and numerous sexual partners. Unprotected intercourse was predicted by becoming intimate early in a relationship. Most of these young women were also found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs while having their sexual encounters. Sex among Males in College Young men’s perceptions of sex are different then young women’s. Men are still considered to be less concerned about their sexual reputations, while women still tend to worry about displaying socially acceptable behavior. Young men’s involvement in decisions about sex, contraception and childbearing strongly influences sexual and contraceptive behavior, significantly strengthens and reduces discord in relationships and reinforces a man’s responsibility for the child he father (Williams, 1996). A study by the name of National Survey of Men was conducted in 1991 in hopes of examining young men’s perceptions about their roles in relation to women. The study also examined how men and women come together to make decisions about sex, contraception, and having children. The National Survey of Men revealed that only about one-third of males believed that men and women should equally be responsible for contraception (Williams, 1996). However, in a late study, substantially more males thought contraception was solely a male’s responsibility than females (Williams, 1996). There is currently renewed interest in the role of the father in family life, and this is especially so for men raising children outside the context of a marital relationship. Young men’s attitudes toward parenting responsibilities have a direct bearing on con...