Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: 253 undergraduate students participated in an online study asking about their relational status, sexual health knowledge, sexual health status, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and safer sex practices. This investigation also measured levels of relational trust, satisfaction, commitment, investment, quality of alternatives, reasons an individual would not want to disclose a positive STD status, responses to a partner disclosing a positive STD status, and if responses to the disclosure varied due to the circumstances under which the partner had acquired the STD. Results indicated that while students are knowledgeable about safer sexual practices and are concerned about STDs and HIV, always using a condom during oral, vaginal, or anal sex is low in frequency. Most participants reported that the appropriate time to disclose STD status is before having sex for the first time. Casually dating partners report more alternatives to their relationship and less commitment, trust, investment, or satisfaction with their relationship than individuals in more advanced relational stages. Condom efficacy did not vary by relational stage, but condom use for vaginal sex decreased as relational stage increased. Reasons for not disclosing STD status included “embarrassment” and “fear of partner rejection”. Responses to the disclosure varied, from negative to more positively valenced reactions.