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What is Abstinence? Definitions and Examples of Abstinence, to Prevent the Sexual Transmission of the HIV Virus, According to Spanish University Students

Grup de Recerca en Psicologia de la Salut

Grup de Recerca en Psicologia de la Salut

Research carried out in several Anglo-Saxon countries shows that many undergraduates identify oral sex and anal sex as examples of abstinent behaviour, while many others consider kissing and masturbation as examples of having sex. The objective of this research was to investigate whether a sample of Spanish students gave similar replies. Seven hundred and fifty undergraduates (92% aged under 26, 67.6% women) produced examples or definitions of the term ‘abstinence’. Spanish students made similar errors to those observed in the Anglo-Saxon samples, in that behaviours that were abstinent from a preventive point of view (masturbating and sex without penetration) were not considered as such, while a number of students reported oral sex as abstinent behaviour. The results suggest that the information on risky and preventive sexual behaviour should cease to use ambiguous or euphemistic expressions and use vocabulary that is clear and comprehensible to everyone

Australian Academic Press

Author: Planes Pedra, Montserrat
Gómez Lima, Ana Belén
Gras Pérez, María Eugenia
Sullman, Mark J.M.
Font-Mayolas, Sílvia
Cunill Olivas, Mònica
Aymerich Andreu, Maria
Date: 2009 December 10
Abstract: Grup de Recerca en Psicologia de la Salut
Grup de Recerca en Psicologia de la Salut
Research carried out in several Anglo-Saxon countries shows that many undergraduates identify oral sex and anal sex as examples of abstinent behaviour, while many others consider kissing and masturbation as examples of having sex. The objective of this research was to investigate whether a sample of Spanish students gave similar replies. Seven hundred and fifty undergraduates (92% aged under 26, 67.6% women) produced examples or definitions of the term ‘abstinence’. Spanish students made similar errors to those observed in the Anglo-Saxon samples, in that behaviours that were abstinent from a preventive point of view (masturbating and sex without penetration) were not considered as such, while a number of students reported oral sex as abstinent behaviour. The results suggest that the information on risky and preventive sexual behaviour should cease to use ambiguous or euphemistic expressions and use vocabulary that is clear and comprehensible to everyone
Format: application/pdf
Citation: Planes Pedra, Montserrat, Gómez Lima, Ana Belén, Gras Pérez, María Eugenia, Sullman, Mark J.M., Font-Mayolas, Sílvia, Cunill Olivas, Mònica et al. (2009). What is Abstinence? Definitions and Examples of Abstinence, to Prevent the Sexual Transmission of the HIV Virus, According to Spanish University Students. Behaviour Change, 26 (3),168-173
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/1970
Language: eng
Publisher: Australian Academic Press
Rights: Tots els drets reservats
Subject: Abstinència sexual
Sexual abstinence
Diferències entre sexes
Gender differences
Title: What is Abstinence? Definitions and Examples of Abstinence, to Prevent the Sexual Transmission of the HIV Virus, According to Spanish University Students
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: DUGiDocs

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