Sexo casual e universitárias: percepção de risco e consequências físicas, psicológicas e sociais

Abstract

This dissertation is composed of three empirical articles derived from a research project about the perception of physical, psychological and social risks of casual sex in women college students. In the first article, we sought to explore the perception about the risks to physical health of casual sex in women college students; in the second, we sought to explore the perception of psychological risks and risks to the social life of casual sex in women college students; and in the third, we sought to examine self-esteem, the sexual sensation seeking and the perception of sexual satisfaction, perception of psychological loss, perception of social life and perception of risk of casual sex in university students. There were 1,133 university students, divided into two groups: CEX n = 804 (with experience of casual sex) and SEX n = 329 (without experience of casual sex). The instruments were: socio-demographic data sheet, behavior / sexual and health history; questionnaire on casual sex in college students, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale. The results showed that the CEX group demonstrated more health care behaviors, although greater use of alcohol and drugs, and more advantages, satisfaction and positive feelings than the SEX group. Both groups perceived negative social consequences in relation to casual sex. The greater the sexual sensation seeking, the greater the perception of the advantages and satisfaction and the lower the perception of the harm in both groups. In the CEX group, self-esteem was correlated with higher satisfaction and lower perception of psychological and social harm of casual sex. There were no significant differences in self-esteem between groups. The findings may be useful for the planning of prevention strategies regarding the negative physical, psychological and social consequences of casual sex for women.