María Teresa Ramiro

Social support, self-esteem and depression: Relationship with risk for sexually transmitted infections/HIV transmission

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are important health problems that affect adolescents. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between 1) depression, self-esteem and perceived social support and 2) sexual risk behaviors according to gender. The sample used in this ex post facto study was composed of 1,005 adolescents of both sexes aged between 14 and 18 years. Participants completed several questionnaires in the classrooms of their secondary education schools. The questionnaires assessed depression, self- esteem and perceived social support and recorded information on sexual behavior and socio- demographic issues. Results showed that, among males, self-esteem predicted higher vaginal risk, depression was related to higher vaginal, anal and oral sexual risk, and perceived support from the family predicted lower vaginal and anal sexual risk. Among females, self-esteem was found to be associated with lower anal sexual risk and perceived support from friends predicted lower anal and oral sexual risk. The study highlights the importance of considering family and friends as well as gender differences in the prevention of STIs/HIV.

Satisfaction of Health Science teachers with the convergence process of the European Higher Education Area

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) has implied a major transformation of university studies in European countries. The aim of this study was to assess the satisfaction of university teachers in the area of Health Sciences with the convergence process to determine positive and negative aspects in their practices. The sample was composed of 1,361 teachers of Spanish public universities. They all participated in an ad hoc survey that included questions pertaining to the following issues: a) personal and professional information, b) general and institutional aspects, c) aspects related to teaching, research, and administrative work, d) methodology and the teaching-learning process, e) assessment of students, f) training of teachers, and g) coordination, organization, and resources at the school. Results reveal that teachers are not totally satisfied with the way the EHEA is being established. In conclusion, certain changes would be necessary to achieve real convergence between countries.

Analysis of sexual behavior in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to describe some characteristics of vaginal, anal and oral sexual behavior in Spanish adolescents. It was a cross-sectional descriptive population study conducted using a probabilistic sample survey. The sample was composed of 4,612 male and female adolescents, of whom 1,686 reported having penetrative sexual experience. Sample size was established with a 97% confidence level and a 3% estimation error. Data collection took place in secondary education schools. Mean age of vaginal sex initiation was 15 years. Compared to females, males reported an earlier age of anal and oral sex initiation and a larger number of vaginal and anal sexual partners. Males also reported a higher frequency of penetrative sexual relations under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. A higher percentage of females than males reported not using a condom in their first anal sexual experience. This study provides a current overview of the sexual behavior of adolescents that can be useful for the design of future programs aimed at preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Satisfacción sexual y actitudes hacia el uso del preservativo en adolescentes: evaluación y análisis de su relación con el uso del preservativo

La satisfaccion sexual y las actitudes positivas hacia el uso del preservativo favorecen el uso del mismo. El objetivo general de este estudio es la evaluacion y analisis de la relacion entre la satisfaccion sexual, las actitudes hacia el uso del preservativo y el uso del preservativo en adolescentes. Los participantes son 1504 adolescentes espanoles escolarizados de ambos sexos (48.40% varones, 51.60% mujeres). Se trata de un estudio descriptivo de poblaciones mediante encuestas con muestras probabilisticas, de tipo transversal. En varones, una mayor actitud positiva hacia el uso del preservativo predice una mayor probabilidad de uso del mismo en la primera relacion sexual vaginal y anal. La satisfaccion sexual de la pareja predice una mayor probabilidad de uso del preservativo en la primera relacion sexual oral, y la satisfaccion sexual sobre la sintonia de la pareja se asocia con una menor probabilidad de uso del preservativo en la primera relacion sexual oral. En mujeres, una mayor satisfaccion sexual personal predice una mayor probabilidad de no haber utilizado el preservativo en la primera relacion sexual vaginal. Ademas, en las mujeres, una mayor satisfaccion sexual sobre la sintonia de la pareja incrementa las probabilidades de haber utilizado el preservativo en el debut sexual vaginal. Los porcentajes de varianza explicada son bajos. Se recomienda que en futuros estudios se analicen factores socioculturales relacionados con los roles de genero que pudieran estar influyendo en las asociaciones entre la satisfaccion sexual, las actitudes hacia el uso del preservativo y el riesgo sexual en adolescentes

Sexism and sexual risk behavior in adolescents: gender differences

Background/Objective: This study examines whether there are differences in the maintenance of ambivalent sexist beliefs on the basis of gender and sexual experience in adolescents. The study also investigates whether the sexist beliefs themselves are linked to sexual risk behaviors. Method: A representative sample of 2,703 Spanish adolescents was carried out in public and private secondary schools, with an age range of 14 to 20 years old (M = 15.89; SD = 1.29). Results: Males maintain more hostile, benevolent and ambivalent sexist beliefs compared to females. Sexual experience (both coital and non-coital) is linked to a greater degree of hostile and benevolent sexist beliefs, but only within the male group. In males, greater benevolent sexism is linked to vaginal sex initiation at an earlier age, while greater hostile sexism is linked to a lower proportion of condom use. In females, greater hostile sexism is linked to a greater number of sex partners. Conclusions: It is necessary to include specific actions on sexist beliefs in programs for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Differences in psychosocial risk variables for HIV as a function of sexual experience.

The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in psychosocial risk variables for HIV as a function of sexual experience in an adolescent population. The study sample consisted of 846 adolescents of both sexes aged between 14 and 19 years. Participants responded to several questionnaires that assessed four psychosocial variables related to risk sexual behavior for HIV infection: 1) perception of peer group norms, 2) condom use self-efficacy, 3) attitudes towards condom use and 4) parental communication about sexuality, STIs, HIV and pregnancy. Participants in both groups with sexual experience (with and without penetration) reported better communication with their mothers on sexuality and scored higher in positive attitudes towards condom use than those in the group without sexual experience. The sexual experience with penetration group perceived more negative peer group norms related to safe sexual behavior than the group without sexual experience; the group without sexual experience had a higher perception of condom use self-efficacy than the sexual experience with penetration group.