Relationship of parental, intergenerational, peer, and community connections with engagement in risky sexual behaviors and sexting among college students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore college students' connections with peers, their primary parental figure, an intergenerational mentor, and their community as possible protective factors in relation to their risky sexual behaviors and sexting behaviors. Participants included in the study included 344 undergraduate and graduate college students recruited from a large, Midwestern university and through Facebook. The Relational Health Indices, Sexual Risk Survey, and a sexting questionnaire were administered. Results indicated significant and negative correlations between growth-fostering relationships with peers and receiving sexts. Growth-fostering relationships with the primary parental figure were significantly and negatively correlated with sexual risk behaviors and receiving sexts. In addition, sexual risk behaviors were significantly and positively correlated with sending sexts. Multiple regressions were run to determine if peer relationships, parental relationships, intergenerational relationships, and community relationships predicted significant variance in sexual risk behaviors and sexting behaviors; no significant results in these analyses were found. Significant gender effects were noted on the study's measures. Males were more likely than females to endorse engaging in risky sexual behaviors and receiving sexts. Women were more likely than men to endorse growth-fostering relationships with peers and intergenerational mentors. Further research investigating the relationship between sexting and risky sexual relationships, as well as further research regarding the impact of growth-fostering intergenerational relationships, are recommended.