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Values and sexual behaviour in central and eastern europe
Robin Goodwin1, Anu Realo, Anna Kwiatkowska
1Brunel University, UK. robin.goodwin@brunel.ac.uk.
Journal of Health Psychology
|November 25, 2011
Summary
Individual values moderately predict risky sexual activity. Those high in Openness to Change, Hedonism, and Self-Enhancement reported riskier behaviors, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive HIV interventions.
Area of Science:
- Social psychology
- Public health
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Limited understanding of individual values' role in predicting risky sexual behavior.
- Rising HIV infection rates in central and eastern Europe necessitate new predictive models.
- Existing social cognitive models do not fully account for value structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between a novel value structure and sexual behavior.
- To investigate predictors of risky sexual activity in a European context.
- To inform culturally sensitive HIV prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 503 professionals (business people, doctors, nurses) across five Eastern European countries.
- Utilized Schwartz's Portrait Values Questionnaire to assess individual values.
- Collected self-reported data on condom use, partnership history, and sexual disease history.
Main Results:
- Individual values showed a moderate but consistent association with sexual behavior.
- Higher scores on Openness to Change, Hedonism, and Self-Enhancement were linked to riskier sexual activity.
- Specific value orientations predict engagement in behaviors increasing HIV risk.
Conclusions:
- Value structures are significant, albeit moderate, predictors of sexual behavior.
- Findings underscore the importance of incorporating individual values into sexual health interventions.
- Culturally sensitive approaches are crucial for addressing the HIV epidemic in central and eastern Europe.
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