A study on sexual health knowledge, sexual attitudes and sex-related behaviors of university students in Hefei, China

Abstract

This present research aimed (1) to examine the level of sexual health knowledge, patterns of sexual attitudes and prevalence of sex-related behaviours among college students in contemporary China; (2) to explore factors predicting knowledge, attitude and behavior regarding sexuality; and (3) to assess gender differences in both characteristics and correlates.

Based on data collected from 274 college students (167 male and 107 female) by the way of convenience sampling, in Hefei, China, Phase 1 of the study first selected, examined and modified (if necessary) three instruments (Sexual Health Knowledge Scale, SHKS; Sexual Attitude Scale, SAS; Sex-Related Behaviour Questionnaire, SRBQ), which was used in Phase 2 of the Study. It was found that the examined and (if necessary) modified SHKS, SAS and SRBQ showed good psychometric properties and internal consistencies, which could be useful questionnaires for the measurement of Chinese college students’ sexuality regarding knowledge, attitude and behaviour.

Phase 2 of the Study including Section 1, 2 and 3 explored characteristics and correlates of sexual health knowledge, sexual attitudes and sex-related behaviors among an convenience sample of 1398 college students (828 male and 570 female) in Hefei, China. The results in Section 1 demonstrated college students had very limited sexual health knowledge and boys were likely to be much more knowledgeable than girls. Subscales and global score of sexual health knowledge correlated with received sexuality education, romantic relationship experience and coming from urban area, but the overall impact of the factors studied was not strong.

The results in Section 2 indicated males had neutral attitudes about sexuality and females had relatively conservative attitudes. Although the overall impact of the factors studied was not strong, several variables (i.e., relationship experience, time spent online, parents’ education, family income, urbanity and sexual health knowledge,) were statistically significantly associated with subscales and global score of sexual attitude. Age was a positive predictor of permissiveness for males and a negative predictor for females.

It was found in Section 3 that specific sex-related behaviours in the last one year varied in frequency. Prevalence of some sex-related behaviors (i.e., heterosexual intercourse, oral sex) remained low, while prevalence of other sexual behaviours (i.e., masturbation, pornography use) was high. The magnitude of gender differences in some sex-related behaviors (i.e., oral sex) was relatively small while there was the big gender gap in other sexual behaviours (i.e., masturbation). Moreover, students who had romantic relationship experience, lower educational aspiration or had received sexuality education reported more sexual behaviors involvement. Interestingly, males, but not females, were significantly influenced by time spent online.

The thesis suggested significance at theoretical, empirical and practical level, limitations (i.e., gender-related reporting bias, limitation of generalization) and possible directions (i.e., safe sex, sexual and gender monitories, qualitative, cross-cultural and longitudinal study) for future research by reflecting on the findings of this research. Finally, the research was evaluated in terms of practical implications for sexuality education and broader public health policy in aspects of the role of schools and families, students’ participation, Internet utilization, teaching strategies and resources recommendation.