Graduation Year

2015

Publication Date

Spring 2015

Abstract

The present study sought to determine if body image dissatisfaction is a predictor of risky sexual behavior. Participants (n = 146, 54.8% women, 45.2% men, Mage= 19.08 years) included college students from a small Midwestern university. Participants completed self-report measures of the known correlates of risky sexual behavior (i.e., well-being, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, alcohol and drug use, psychological distress), body image, and risky sexual behavior. Contrary to our predictions, the results indicated that body image satisfaction, as opposed to dissatisfaction, is a significant predictor of risky sexual behavior (β = -.25, p =.031 ). Specifically, for those who report engaging in risky sex acts, being satisfied with one's body is a predictor of engaging in these behaviors at a greater frequency. Alcohol use (β = .43,p < .00 1 ) and relationship status (β = .32, p = .002) were also found to be significant predictors of risky sexual behavior.

Disciplines

Psychology

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