Sexual activity and risk taking in young heterosexual men: The relevance of sexual arousability, mood, and sensation seeking

TLDR

Sexual excitation/inhibition proneness and mood–sexuality links are key determinants of high‑risk sexual behavior, informing intervention design. The study examined how sexual arousability, mood, and sensation seeking influence sexual activity and risk taking in heterosexual men. Men with low sexual inhibition, heightened sexual interest during depression, and higher sensation‑seeking disinhibition reported more partners, more condomless sex, and more one‑night stands, while intentions to practice safer sex were strongly linked to arousability and inhibition. We discuss some clear similarities and also some interesting differences with a parallel study of gay men.

Abstract

In this research we explored three aspects of personality relevant to sexual activity and sexual risk taking in heterosexual men. Men with low inhibition of sexual arousal in the face of risk (low SIS2) reported more partners with whom they use no condoms and more lifetime "one night stands." Men who experience increased sexual interest in states of depression (MSQ) reported more partners in the past year and more one night stands. The disinhibition subscale of the Sensation Seeking Scale was predictive of whether sexual intercourse had occurred in the past 6 months, and also of the number of sexual partners in the past year. A measure of an intention to practice safer sex was strongly related to measures of sexual arousability and inhibition (SIS/SES). We discuss some clear similarities and also some interesting differences with a parallel study of gay men. Individual differences in sexual excitation and inhibition proneness and the relation between mood and sexuality are clearly relevant to high‐risk sexual behavior and should be taken into consideration when designing behavioral interventions.