RESUMEN
Contracting sexually transmitted diseases is a serious health problem faced by young women, in part, because they may routinely engage in risky sexual behaviors. This study describes the sexual behaviors of eighty-one young adult females who had positive and negative tests for STDs. The STD-negative group consisted of forty-nine African American females and the STD-positive group was thirty African American and two Caucasian females. The women completed the Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. Demographic factors were also examined. The findings revealed that STD-negative females had higher self esteem and practiced safe sex more frequently. Also, women with higher education and incomes above $10,000 a year, plus a higher self-esteem level scored higher on the SSBQ, indicating the practice of safer sex. Age was not related to self esteem or the practice of safe sexual behavior. Implications for nurse practitioner practice are discussed.
PIP: This study describes the sexual behavior and self-esteem of 81 young adult females who had positive and negative tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STD-negative respondents consisted of 49 African American females, while STD-positive respondents consisted of 30 African American females and 2 Caucasian females. Findings showed significant positive correlations between the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale and the total score of the Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire. The STD-negative group exhibited higher self-esteem and practiced safe sex more frequently. Young adult females with high incomes and high degree of education also showed a high prevalence of self-esteem. Age was not related to self-esteem nor to the practice of safe sexual behavior. The implications of this study in nursing practice include dissemination of information about STDs, discussions with at-risk women related to their susceptibility to infections, and assisting women in understanding the adverse consequences of contracting STDs.