Ecological Influence on Early Sex Experience
among Taiwanese University Students: A Study
of a University in Mid-Taiwan
Ya-Chien Wang
Abstract
Prior research suggests that early sex experience is related to substance abuse and negative health and social outcomes. However, little is known about ecological predictors of early sex experience among Taiwanese university students. This study utilized Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to examine predictors of early sex experience among university students in Taiwan. Ecological system factors selected for this study included micro-system (individual), meso-system (family, school, and peer), and macro-system (socioeconomic status) factors.
Data were derived from a cross-sectional study, conducted between 2011 and 2012, on sexual behavior of students in a medical university in mid-Taiwan. Students completed a self-administered, structured questionnaire. The analytic sample consisted of 302 students with a mean age of 21, 52.9% being males, and
健康促進與衛生教育學報
第 45 期，頁 1-30，2016 年 6 月
Journal of Health Promotion and Health Education No. 45, pp. 1-30, June 2016
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Sociology and Social Work, Chung Shan Medical University, Email: taiwantous@gmail.com
Manuscript received: October 6, 2015; Revised: November 16, 2015; Accepted: December 30, 2015
DOI: 10.3966/207010632016060045001
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健康促進
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學報 第 45 期21% having sex before age 20. Multiple logistic regression was conducted for each sex.
The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male smokers were more likely to have early sex experience than male nonsmokers (OR = 9.27, 95% CI: 2.39-35.97). Males with better class adjustment were more likely to have early sex experience (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.20-2.26), but those with parent’s more liberal attitude towards premarital sex were less likely to have early sex experience (OR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.45-0.78). For females, those who had dated via the internet were more likely to have early sex experience than were the others who had not done so (OR = 4.25, 95% CI: 1.39-12.97). Those females with stronger family bonds were less likely to have early sex experience than were the others (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09-0.69).
These findings suggest the necessity of integrative and gender-specific interventions, addressing risk factors across different system levels. Future research may investigate social meaning of early sex experience among male peer culture and ways to change the social meaning of early sex experience.
Key words: college students, ecology, family, peer, sex initiation
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學報 第 45 期References
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Ya-Chien Wang生 態 因 素 對 於 臺 灣 大 學 生 早 發 性 性 行
為 的 影 響 ： 以 中 部 一 所 大 學 為 例
王雅倩
摘要
以往研究指出早發性性行為和藥物濫用和負面健康／社會結果相關， 但很少研究探討生態因素對臺灣大學生早發性性行為的影響。本研究以 Bronfenbrenner的生態系統理論為基礎，選取理論中的微觀（個人）、中間 （家庭、學校和同儕）及巨觀（社經地位）因素來檢驗其對臺灣大學生早發 性性行為的影響。 資料引用一針對中部一所醫學大學學生於2011～2012年進行的性行為調 查，調查為橫斷式設計，使用結構型問卷。分析樣本包括302位大學生，平均 年齡為21歲，52.9%為男性，21%有早發性性行為（20歲前發生）。本研究對 不同性別分別採用多元羅吉斯迴歸分析。 分析結果顯示男性吸菸者比男性非吸菸者更傾向於有早發性性行為 (OR = 9.27, 95% CI: 2.39-35.97)。有較佳的班級適應的男性較傾向於有早發性性行 為 (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.20-2.26)，父母對婚前性行為持開放態度的男性較傾 向於有早發性性行為 (OR=0.6, 95% CI: 0.45-0.78)。另一方面，網路交友的女 性較其他女性更傾向於發生早發性性行為 (OR = 4.25, 95% CI: 1.39-12.97)。 有較強家庭連結的女性則不傾向發生早發性性行為 (OR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.09-0.69)。 中山醫學大學醫學社會暨社會工作學系助理教授，E-mail: taiwantous@gmail.com 通訊地址：臺中市建國北路一段110號，聯絡電話：0918-624-167 04-1_王雅倩(英)_p001-030.indd 29 2016/8/25 下午 01:33:1830
