Next Article in Journal
Telementoring in Minimally Invasive Esophageal Atresia Repair: Results of a Case-Control Study and Lessons Learned from the TIC-PEA Study (Telemedical Interdisciplinary Care for Patients with Esophageal Atresia)
Previous Article in Journal
Preeclampsia and Cerebral Palsy in Offspring
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Children
Volume 9
Issue 3
10.3390/children9030386
children-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Sexual Activity in Peruvian Adolescents: Relevance of Socio-Demographic Variables and Sexual Attitudes

by
Juan Carlos Sierra
1,*,
Ana Álvarez-Muelas
1,
Ana Isabel Arcos-Romero
2,
Oscar Cervilla
1,
Pablo Mangas
1,
Laura Elvira Muñoz-García
1 and
Fredy S. Monge-Rodríguez
3
1
Centro de Investigación Mente, Cerebro y Comportamiento (CIMCYC), Universidad de Granada, 18011 Granada, Spain
2
Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Loyola, 41704 Sevilla, Spain
3
Escuela Profesional de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cuzco, Cuzco 08000, Peru
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Children 2022, 9(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9030386
Submission received: 25 January 2022 / Revised: 4 March 2022 / Accepted: 8 March 2022 / Published: 10 March 2022
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
The aim of this study was to explain the masturbation frequency and sexual relationships in adolescents based on age, religious adherence, erotophilia, attitudes toward sexual fantasies and masturbation, and the traditional sexual double standard. A sample of 1120 Peruvian adolescents aged 13–17 years responded to a socio-demographic questionnaire and different scales about sexuality. The frequency of masturbation and sexual relationships, as well as in the sexual attitudes evaluated differed by sex, with boys scoring higher. The masturbation frequency was explained by erotophilia in boys, and by positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in both sexes. The frequency of sexual relationships was explained by age and positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in boys and only by the latter in girls. Positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies stand out as a variable for understanding sexual activity in adolescents.

1. Introduction

Adolescents are a diverse group with varying needs according to their stage of personal development and life circumstances. As they move from childhood into adolescence all individuals should be provided with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to benefit from the opportunities and overcome the challenges of adulthood [1]. This stage of development is characterized by sexual discovery and experimentation that often begins with precoital behaviours such as kissing, fondling, orogenital contact, and masturbation [2]. Most of the research on adolescent sexual behaviour has focused on the age onset of sexual activity, the prevalence and gender differences of various behaviours, and the rate of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, but has paid less attention to other behaviours such as masturbation [3].
Studying the variables associated with sexual behaviours (e.g., masturbation and sexual relationships) in this life stage is fundamental because, as the World Health Organization indicates, knowledge about the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexuality must be diffused among adolescents through integral sexual education [4]. The adolescence stage is extremely vulnerable in biological, social, and sexual development because immune and reproductive systems are still immature [5]. This stage should be protected by viewing sexual health requirements as the most important public health issue, as there is strong evidence of the positive effects of integral sexual education in increasing adolescents’ knowledge and improving their attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health [6]. According to the World Health Organization [1], these positive effects consist of a delay in the age of sexual onset, a decrease in the frequency of sexual relationships, a reduction in the number of sexual partners and risk-taking, and an increase in the use of condoms and contraceptives. Despite these advances, many adolescents still receive inaccurate, incomplete, or judgement-laden information, leading to the underdevelopment of their physical, social, and emotional capacities [1,4]. Focusing interest on such matters is crucial for the development of healthy and satisfactory sexual behaviours and to prevent risky behaviours [7].
Masturbation is one of the most frequently practiced sexual activities in adolescence [8], and it plays a key role in sexual development that is not substituted by sexual activity with a partner in any life stage [9,10,11]. For example, adult women who masturbated in their adolescence find it easier to become sexually aroused and have orgasms more frequently during sexual relationships than those who did not [12]. Nevertheless, this behaviour is linked to feelings of guilt as a result of negative attitudes toward it [12,13]. Even so, masturbation is present in all life stages [14]. In recent decades, many negative connotations have been disregarded, and masturbation is now considered a beneficial and healthy practice. There is sufficient evidence that it contributes to sexual health [12,15] through body self-learning and sexual response [16].
Sexual experiences, especially those early in life, play a crucial role in one’s lifelong sexual course [17]. Moreover, adolescents’ positive beliefs about sexual activity mean that these experiences are part of normative development and, as such, promote suitable adaptation [18]. The frequency of sexual activity has been directly associated with greater sexual satisfaction [19].
In 2010 in Peru, the Ministry of Health reported that 19.7% of adolescent secondary education students had experienced sexual relationships and, of these, 46.7% started these practices before reaching the age of 14 years, with higher figures for boys than for girls [20]. Masturbation frequency in Peruvian adolescents is also higher in boys than in girls [14]. According to the 2006 data of the ANAR Foundation’s Free Tele-Advice Service [21], adolescents’ most frequent questions were about sexual relationships and masturbation.
Sexual relationships and masturbation are behaviours influenced by socio-demographic variables (e.g., sex, age, or frequency of religious practice) and by sexual attitudes. Both behaviours appear more frequently in boys than girls [14,22]. In association with age, masturbation frequency increases in boys but remains stable in girls [23]. Another associated variable is the frequency of attending religious events, which delays the start of sexual relationships [24] and has been traditionally associated with sexual guilt caused by masturbation, mostly due to the influence of Jewish-Christian tradition [25].
Sexual attitudes can account for sexual activity by predicting masturbation frequency [26,27] and sexual relationships [28]. Given their link with sexual health, erotophilia, attitudes toward specific sexual behaviours (e.g., masturbation or sexual fantasies), and the traditional sexual double standard stand out among sexual attitudes. Erotophilia is defined as the evaluation of sexual stimuli that can range from a negative valence pole (erotophobia) to its positive valence opposite (erotophilia) [29]. This attitude is strongly associated with the presence of a higher frequency of both masturbation and sexual relationships. Erotophilia was also associated with a higher number of sexual experiences for adolescents [30]. Among specific sexual attitudes, we can highlight positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies. This has been related to interest in both sexual activities with a partner and solitary masturbation [31], which is especially relevant in the adolescence stage when most sexual attitudes are formed [32]. For negative attitudes toward masturbation, a negative association has been observed with masturbation frequency [14,26], which, specifically in adolescents, is an essential factor to help explain feeling sexual guilt, which can affect the frequency with which it is practiced [33]. Finally, the traditional sexual double standard involves more sexual freedom for boys than for girls; thus, boys are expected to engage in more sexual activity [34]. More specifically, in adolescence, peer comparisons take place, so the study of traditional sexual double standards can be relevant [34]. It has also been associated with the age of onset of sexual relationships [34,35,36], with more acceptance of masturbation for boys than for girls [37,38].
Considering this, we aimed to explain the frequency of sexual relationships and solitary masturbation and their correlation with age, frequency of attending religious events, erotophilia, negative attitudes toward masturbation, positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies, and the traditional sexual double standard in Peruvian adolescents.
According to the evidence, we expected to find differences between boys and girls: (H1) in the frequency of solitary masturbation and sexual relationships, sociodemographic variables (age and frequency of attending religious events), and sexual attitudes (erotophilia, negative attitudes toward masturbation, positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies, and the traditional sexual double standard) [14,39]; and (H2) in the explanatory capacity of these variables on the frequency of both sexual behaviours [33].

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Participants

Our study included 1120 Peruvian heterosexual adolescents (559 boys, 561 girls), aged 13 to 17 years (M = 14.93; SD = 1.39), recruited by non-random sampling. The socio-demographic characteristics of the sample are presented in Table 1.

2.2. Instruments

The socio-demographic questionnaire included questions about sex, age, academic grade, residence, and frequency of attending religious events.
The questionnaire of frequency of both masturbation and sexual relationships consisted of two ad hoc items to assess the frequency of both masturbation and sexual relationships, answered on an 8-point Likert-type scale from 0 (never) to 7 (daily).
The Spanish version of the Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS-6) [40] evaluates erotophilia with six items answered on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (totally disagree) to 7 (totally agree). Higher scores indicate higher erotophilia. The internal consistency of the Spanish version was adequate; the ordinal alpha was 0.94 [40]; it presented adequate validity evidence [41]. In this study, the ordinal alpha was 0.58 for boys and 0.53 for girls.
The Spanish version of the Negative Attitudes Towards Masturbation Inventory (NATMI) [26] consists of 10 items answered on a 5-point Likert-type scale from 1 (totally false) to 5 (totally true). Higher scores indicate a more negative attitude toward masturbation. The ordinal alpha of the Spanish version was 0.95 [26]. In this study, this value was 0.61 for boys and 0.60 for girls.
The Spanish version of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Fantasy (HISF) [42] evaluates attitudes toward sexual fantasies. It consists of 10 items answered on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (always). Higher scores indicate a more positive attitude toward sexual fantasies. The internal consistency of the Spanish version was 0.94 [42]. In the present study, the ordinal alpha was 0.88 for boys and 0.92 for girls.
The Spanish version of the Double Standard Scale (DSS) [39] is composed of nine items answered on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree). Higher scores indicate greater adherence to a traditional sexual double standard. The reliability of the Spanish version was 0.79 [39]. For this study, the ordinal alpha was 0.70 for boys and 0.74 for girls.

2.3. Procedure

After conducting a pilot study to validate the content of the questions, two trained interviewers administered the questionnaires in Cuzco from April to July 2011. Participants were recruited from public, secondary education schools by incidental sampling. An all-boys’ school and an all-girls’ school were selected. After providing relevant information to schoolteachers and parents, authorisation and consent forms were given. Questionnaires were administered during class sessions and took 25–30 min to complete. Those students who agreed to participate completed a paper-and-pencil version of the questionnaire in groups of 30–40 within the classroom. They were returned to the researcher in a sealed envelope. Anonymity, confidentiality, and voluntariness from the study were guaranteed. Participants did not receive any form of compensation.

2.4. Data Analysis

Firstly, sex differences in all the variables included in the study were examined by calculating Student’s t-test and chi-square. The differences for each group were calculated by comparing column proportions. The p values for Bonferroni correction were adjusted. Secondly, linear regression-bootstrap models were calculated with the R® environment (version 3.6.3) [43] using its RStudio® interface [44] with the Parameters package (version 0.8.0) [45]. The QuantPsyc package for standardized betas (version 1.4) [46] and the car package for calculating variance inflation factor (VIF) (version 3.0-12) [47] were also employed. The regression analysis was performed separately for boys and girls to explain the frequency of both masturbation and sexual relationships considering the socio-demographic variables and sexual attitudes.

3. Results

The results revealed no sex differences in the socio-demographic variables. Regarding sexual attitudes, significant differences were found between boys and girls in erotophilia (24.48 ± 6.30 versus 19.84 ± 6.0; t = 12.63, p < 0.001), negative attitudes toward masturbation (29.66 ± 5.76 versus 28.48 ± 5.49; t = 3.50, p < 0.001), positive attitudes toward fantasies (14.31 ± 7.73 versus 5.21 ± 6.22; t = 20.10, p < 0.001), and the traditional sexual double standard (27.46 ± 5.75 versus 22.52 ± 5.90; t = 14.19, p < 0.001). Finally, significant differences were observed in the frequencies of both masturbation (χ2 = 315.86; p < 0.001) and sexual relationships (χ2 = 174.73; p < 0.001). In all cases, boys obtained higher scores (Table 2).
After considering the significant differences between boys and girls in the frequency of sexual relationships and masturbation, a decision was made to perform a regression analysis separately by sex. For boys in the masturbation-frequency model, erotophilia (β = 0.20, p < 0.001) and positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) significantly explained 22% of the variance (F = 23.55, p < 0.001) in masturbation frequency. For girls, only a positive attitude toward sexual fantasies (β = 0.16, p < 0.001) was able to significantly explain 3.3% of the variance (F = 3.67, p < 0.001) for in masturbation (Table 3).
For boys in the sexual-relationships-frequency model, 16.6% of the variance (F = 16.60, p < 0.001) was significantly explained by age (β = 0.25, p < 0.001) and positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies (β = 0.30, p < 0.01). For girls, positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies significantly explained 5.6% of the frequency variance with which sexual relationships took place (F = 5.68, p < 0.01) (Table 4).

4. Discussion

The main objective of this study was to determine the frequency of both sexual relationships and solitary masturbation in Peruvian adolescents considering socio-demographic variables and sexual attitudes. To achieve this, age, frequency of attending religious events, erotophilia, negative attitudes toward masturbation, positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies, and the traditional sexual double standard were considered.
First, significant differences were found between boys and girls in the frequency of both sexual relationships and masturbation. Boys practiced both behaviours more frequently, which agrees with previous studies reporting similar results [14,22]. Similarly, boys obtained higher scores than girls for the specific evaluated attitudes. Significant differences appeared in attitudes toward sexuality or erotophilia, with more differences in boys than in girls. These findings also coincide with those of previous research works [37,48,49]. Boys showed more positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies, which also agrees with previous studies showing more differences in this attitude for boys [14,42,50,51]. Moreover, boys also showed more negative attitudes toward masturbation, which is congruent with previous studies in Peruvian adolescents [14] and the Spanish population [52,53,54,55]. This may seem contradictory because boys showed more negative attitudes toward masturbation but practised it more frequently. Nonetheless, this finding supports the hypothesis in boys about the compensatory model between masturbation and sexual relationships, which postulates that masturbation may act as a substitute for desired, but not performed, sexual relationships [11,54,55,56]. A negative attitude toward masturbation showed explanatory capacity in feelings of sexual guilt in adolescents [33]. From this perspective of masturbation as a compensatory behaviour, higher practice may be associated with more negative feelings. For example, compared to girls, boys showed more personal negative affect in relation to masturbation [14]. Attitudes toward the traditional sexual double standard were more present in boys than girls, which coincides with other studies describing the same differences in a Spanish [57,58] and a Salvadoran population [59].
Then, explanatory models were examined for the frequency of both masturbation and sexual relationships. Masturbation frequency in boys was explained positively by erotophilia, along with showing a positive attitude toward sexual fantasies. In girls, however, only positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies positively explained masturbation frequency. Erotophilia is a relevant variable in the sexual experiences of adolescents [30]. In this study, boys showed more erotophilia than girls according to previous research [40,48,49], so it is not surprising that this variable was more relevant in explaining boys’ masturbation frequency. Regarding attitudes toward sexual fantasies for boys and girls, these results indicated their role in relation to masturbation [14,26,60], where the positive attitude were associated with higher masturbation frequency [61].
Additionally, sexual relationships frequency was explained positively by age and positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in boys, but only by positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in girls. In boys, as age increases, the frequency of sexual relationships appears to increase. Its role could indicate sex differences in psycho-evolutionary development and social norms in adolescence. A positive attitude toward sexual fantasies, which played a positive role in boys and girls, confirmed previous findings, which indicated a relation between a positive attitude toward sexual fantasies and an interest in sexual activity [42]. This stresses the role of specific attitudes, particularly positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies, as a relevant variable in sexual health [54].
This study has its limitations. Despite its large sample size, the participants were recruited by nonprobabilistic incidental sampling and the inclusion criterion was sexual orientation. These matters must be considered to interpret and generalise the results, and to continue this study with a more diverse sample.

5. Conclusions

This work provides relevant findings about the frequency of both solitary masturbation and sexual relationships in adolescents in research, education, and clinical areas. Differences exist between the sexual attitudes of boys and girls. Boys show higher erotophilia, negative attitudes toward masturbation, positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies, and the traditional sexual double standard. In relation to the explanatory capacity of masturbation and sexual behaviours, the role of positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies stands out, which confirms its importance for sexual health and it being considered in programmes that promote and intervene in the adolescent population’s sexual functioning.

Author Contributions

Conceptualisation, J.C.S. and F.S.M.-R.; methodology, J.C.S. and F.S.M.-R.; formal analysis, J.C.S., A.Á.-M., A.I.A.-R. and O.C.; writing—original draft preparation, J.C.S., A.Á.-M., A.I.A.-R., O.C., P.M. and L.E.M.-G.; writing—review and editing, J.C.S., A.Á.-M., A.I.A.-R., O.C., P.M., L.E.M.-G. and F.S.M.-R.; and funding acquisition, J.C.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), grant number A/030018/10.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), Research Project A/030018/10.

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. An authorisation and consent form was given verbally to parents, and previously to schoolteachers, after providing relevant information.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. World Health Organization. International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. An Evidence-Informed Approach. Available online: https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/adolescence/comprehensive-sexuality-education/en/ (accessed on 9 February 2022).
  2. Schwartz, I.M. Sexual Activity Prior to Coital Initiation: A Comparison between Males and Females. Arch. Sex. Behav. 1999, 28, 63–69. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Schwartz, I.M.; Coffield, E. A Gender-Based Generational Comparison of Sexual Behaviors Adolescents Engage in Prior to First Coitus. Sex. Res. Soc. Policy 2021, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Available online: https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/adolescent-srhr-who-recommendations/en/ (accessed on 23 September 2021).
  5. Bearinger, L.H.; Sieving, R.E.; Ferguson, J.; Sharma, V. Global perspectives on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents: Patterns, prevention, and potential. Lancet 2007, 369, 1220–1231. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Aslan, F. School-Based Sexual Health Education for Adolescents in Turkey: A Systematic Review. Community Health Equity Res. Policy 2020, 42, 135–143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Fonner, V.; Armstrong, K.S.; Kennedy, C.E.; O’Reilly, K.R.; Sweat, M.D. School Based Sex Education and HIV Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE 2014, 9, e89692. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Fortenberry, J.D.; Schick, V.; Herbenick, D.; Sanders, S.A.; Dodge, B.; Reece, M. Sexual Behaviors and Condom Use at Last Vaginal Intercourse: A National Sample of Adolescents Ages 14 to 17 Years. J. Sex. Med. 2010, 7, 305–314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Fortenberry, J.D. Sexual Development in Adolescents; Elsevier BV: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2013; pp. 171–192. [Google Scholar]
  10. Gerressu, M.; Mercer, C.H.; Graham, C.A.; Wellings, K.; Johnson, A.M. Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey. Arch. Sex. Behav. 2007, 37, 266–278. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  11. Kontula, O.; Haavio-Mannila, E. Masturbation in a Generational Perspective. J. Psychol. Hum. Sex. 2003, 14, 49–83. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Carvalheira, A.; Leal, I. Masturbation among Women: Associated Factors and Sexual Response in a Portuguese Community Sample. J. Sex Marital Ther. 2013, 39, 347–367. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Castellini, G.; Fanni, E.; Corona, G.; Maseroli, E.; Ricca, V.; Maggi, M. Psychological, Relational, and Biological Correlates of Ego-Dystonic Masturbation in a Clinical Setting. Sex. Med. 2016, 4, e156–e165. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  14. Sierra, J.C.; Santos-Iglesias, P.; Monge, F.S. Negative Attitudes towards Masturbation Inventory: Validity, reliability and proposal of a reduced version for adolescent population. Rev. Argent. Clin. Psicol. 2013, 22, 57–65. [Google Scholar]
  15. Cervilla, O.; Vallejo-Medina, P.; Gómez-Berrocal, C.; de la Torre, D.; Sierra, J.C. Validation of the Orgasm Rating Scale in the context of masturbation. Psicothema 2022, 34, 151–159. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Coleman, E. Masturbation as a Means of Achieving Sexual Health. J. Psychol. Hum. Sex. 2003, 14, 5–16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Russell, S.T.; Van Campen, K.S.; Muraco, J.A. Sexuality Development in Adolescence. In Sex for Life: From Virginity to Viagra, How Sexuality Changes throughout Our Lives; Carpenter, L.M., Delamater, J., Eds.; New York University Press: New York, NY, USA, 2012; pp. 70–87. [Google Scholar]
  18. Furman, W.; Shaffer, L. The role of romantic relationships in adolescent development. In Adolescent Romantic Relations and Sexual Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practical Implications; Florsheim, P., Ed.; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers: Mahwah, NJ, USA, 2003; pp. 3–22. [Google Scholar]
  19. Dyar, C.; Newcomb, M.E.; Mustanski, B.; Whitton, S.W. A Structural Equation Model of Sexual Satisfaction and Relationship Functioning Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals Assigned Female at Birth in Diverse Relationships. Arch. Sex. Behav. 2020, 49, 693–710. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Ministerio de Salud del Perú. Documento Técnico Situación de Salud de Los Adolescentes y Jóvenes en el Perú. Available online: http://bvs.minsa.gob.pe/local/MINSA/4143.pdf (accessed on 13 October 2021).
  21. Fundación ANAR. Dificultades en Torno a la Sexualidad Expresadas por Adolescentes a Través de un Servicio de Consejería Telefónica Gratuita. el Caso del Teléfono ANAR. Available online: http://www.anarperu.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/200601-200612_Investigacion_sexualidad_ANAR.pdf (accessed on 19 October 2021).
  22. Gil-Llario, M.D.; Giménez, C.; Ballester-Arnal, R.; Lopez, G.C.; Durán-Baca, X. Gender, Sexuality, and Relationships in Young Hispanic People. J. Sex Marital Ther. 2016, 43, 456–462. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  23. Robbins, C.L.; Schick, V.; Reece, M.; Herbenick, D.; Sanders, S.A.; Dodge, B.; Fortenberry, J.D. Prevalence, frequency, and associations of masturbation with partnered sexual behaviors among US adolescents. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2011, 165, 1087. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  24. Burdette, A.M.; Hill, T.D. Religious Involvement and Transitions into Adolescent Sexual Activities. Sociol. Relig. 2009, 70, 28–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Sierra, J.C.; Perla, F.; Santos-Iglesias, P. Sexual guilt in youngsters: The influence of attitudes and sexual experience. Rev. Latinoam. Psicol. 2011, 43, 73–81. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Cervilla, O.; Vallejo-Medina, P.; Gómez-Berrocal, C.; Sierra, J.C. Development of the Spanish short version of Negative Attitudes toward Masturbation Inventory. Int. J. Clin. Heal. Psychol. 2021, 21, 100222. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Kelly, M.P.; Strassberg, D.S.; Kircher, J.R. Attitudinal and experiential correlates of anorgasmia. Arch. Sex. Behav. 1990, 19, 165–177. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Lemer, J.L.; Salafia, E.H.B.; Benson, K.E. The Relationship between College Women’s Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Activity: The Mediating Role of Body Image. Int. J. Sex. Health 2013, 25, 104–114. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Fisher, W.A.; White, L.A.; Byrne, D.; Kelley, K. Erotophobia-erotophilia as a dimension of personality. J. Sex Res. 1988, 25, 123–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Ruiz, P.R.; Molinero, L.R.; De Miguelsanz, J.M.M.; Rodríguez, V.C. Factores de riesgo de la precocidad sexual en adolescentes. Pediatr. Aten. Primaria 2015, 17, 127–136. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  31. Santos-Iglesias, P.; Sierra, J.C.; Vallejo-Medina, P. Predictors of Sexual Assertiveness: The Role of Sexual Desire, Arousal, Attitudes, and Partner Abuse. Arch. Sex. Behav. 2013, 42, 1043–1052. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Zubeidat, I.; Ortega, V.; Del Villar, C.; Sierra, J.C. Un estudio sobre la implicación de las actitudes y fantasías sexuales en el deseo sexual de los adolescentes. Cuad. Med. Psicosom. Psiquiatr. Enlace 2003, 67, 71–78. [Google Scholar]
  33. Ortega, V.; Ojeda, P.; Sutil, F.; Sierra, J.C. Culpabilidad sexual en adolescentes: Estudio de algunos factores relacionados. An. Psicol. 2005, 21, 268–275. [Google Scholar]
  34. Endendijk, J.J.; Van Baar, A.L.; Deković, M. He is a Stud, She is a Slut! A Meta-Analysis on the Continued Existence of Sexual Double Standards. Pers. Soc. Psychol. Rev. 2019, 24, 163–190. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Crawford, M.; Popp, D. Sexual double standards: A review and methodological critique of two decades of research. J. Sex Res. 2003, 40, 13–26. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Sprecher, S.; McKinney, K.; Orbuch, T.L. Has the Double Standard Disappeared? An Experimental Test. Soc. Psychol. Q. 1987, 50, 24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Hogarth, H.; Ingham, R. Masturbation among Young Women and Associations with Sexual Health: An Exploratory Study. J. Sex Res. 2009, 46, 558–567. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Ramiro-Sánchez, T.; Ramiro, M.T.; Bermúdez, M.P.; Buela-Casal, G. Sexism and sexual risk behavior in adolescents: Gender differences. Int. J. Clin. Health Psychol. 2018, 18, 245–253. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Sierra, J.C.; Monge, F.S.; Santos-Iglesias, P.; Aparicio, D.L. Psychometric properties of Spanish versions of Double Standard Scale (DSS) and of Rape Supportive Attitude Scale (RSAS) in Peruvian women. Cuad. Med. Psicosom. Psiquiatr. Enlace 2010, 95, 57–66. [Google Scholar]
  40. Vallejo-Medina, P.; Granados, M.R.; Sierra, J.C. Propuesta y validación de una versión breve del Sexual Opinion Survey en población española. Rev. Int. Androl. 2014, 12, 47–54. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Arcos-Romero, A.I.; Calvillo, C.; Granados, R.; Álvarez-Muelas, A.; Sierra, J.C. The Spanish Version of the Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS-6): Evidence of Validity of a Short Version. Int. J. Psychol. Res. 2020, 13, 40–49. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Sierra, J.C.; Arcos-Romero, A.I.; Calvillo, C. Validity evidence and norms of the Spanish version of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Fantasy. Psicothema 2020, 32, 429–436. [Google Scholar]
  43. R Core Team. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Available online: http://www.R-project.org/ (accessed on 21 February 2021).
  44. RStudio Team. RStudio: Integrated Development for R (Computer Software); RStudio PBC: Boston, MA, USA, 2020. [Google Scholar]
  45. Lüdecke, D.; Ben-Shachar, M.S.; Makowski, D. Describe and Understand Your Model’s Parameters. Available online: https://easystats.github.io/parameters (accessed on 21 February 2021).
  46. Fletcher, T.D. QuantPsyc: Quantitative Psychology Tools; R Package Version 1.5. Available online: https://CRAN.Rproject.org/package=QuantPsyc (accessed on 21 February 2021).
  47. Fox, J.; Weisberg, S. An R Companion to Applied Regression; Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA, 2018; Available online: https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/jfox/Books/Companion/ (accessed on 21 February 2021).
  48. Olvera, F.J.D.R.; Vega, D.J.L.; Santamaría, F.C. Adaptación del cuestionario Sexual Opinion Survey: Encuesta Revisada de Opinión Sexual. Rev. Int. Androl. 2013, 11, 9–16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Sierra, J.C.; Ortega, V.; Gutiérrez-Quintanilla, J.R. Encuesta de Opinión Sexual: Fiabilidad, validez y datos normativos de una versión reducida en muestras salvadoreñas. Rev. Mex. Psicol. 2008, 25, 139–150. [Google Scholar]
  50. Perla, F.; Sierra, J.C.; Vallejo-Medina, P.; Gutiérrez-Quintanilla, R. Un estudio psicométrico de la versión española reducida del Hurlbert Index of Sexual Fantasy. Bol. Psicol. 2009, 96, 7–16. [Google Scholar]
  51. Santos-Iglesias, P.; Calvillo, G.; Sierra, J.C. A further examination of Levine’s model of sexual desire. Psychol. Sex. 2013, 4, 34–45. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Sierra, J.C.; Santamaría, J.; Cervilla, O.; Álvarez-Muelas, A. Masturbation in middle and late adulthood: Its relationship to orgasm. Int. J. Impot. Res. 2022, 1–7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Sierra, J.C. Medida e importancia de la actitud hacia la masturbación. In Proceedings of the XX Congreso Latinoamericano de Sexología y Educación Sexual, Virtual, 20–23 May 2021. [Google Scholar]
  54. Sierra, J.C.; Gómez-Carranza, J.; Álvarez-Muelas, A.; Cervilla, O. Association of Sexual Attitudes with Sexual Function: General vs. Specific Attitudes. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 10390. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  55. Dekker, A.; Schmidt, G. Patterns of Masturbatory Behaviour. J. Psychol. Hum. Sex. 2003, 14, 35–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. Regnerus, M.; Price, J.; Gordon, D. Masturbation and Partnered Sex: Substitutes or Complements? Arch. Sex. Behav. 2017, 9, 132–2121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  57. Álvarez-Muelas, A.; Gómez-Berrocal, C.; Vallejo-Medina, P.; Sierra, J.C. Invariance of Spanish version of Sexual Double Standard Scale across sex, age, and education level. Psicothema 2019, 31, 465–474. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  58. Álvarez-Muelas, A.; Gómez-Berrocal, C.; Sierra, J.C. Typologies of Sexual Double Standard Adherence in Spanish Population. Eur. J. Psychol. Appl. Leg. Context 2020, 13, 1–7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Gutiérrez-Quintanilla, J.R.; Rojas-García, A.; Sierra, J.C. Comparación transcultural de la doble moral sexual entre estudiantes universitarios salvadoreños y españoles. Rev. Latinoam. Psicol. 2010, 1, 31–51. [Google Scholar]
  60. Driemeyer, W.; Janssen, E.; Wiltfang, J.; Elmerstig, E. Masturbation Experiences of Swedish Senior High School Students: Gender Differences and Similarities. J. Sex Res. 2016, 54, 631–641. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  61. Jones, J.C.; Barlow, D.H. Self-reported frequency of sexual urges, fantasies, and masturbatory fantasies in heterosexual males and females. Arch. Sex. Behav. 1990, 19, 269–279. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Table
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the sample.
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the sample.
Total
M (SD)/n (%)		Boys
M (SD)/n (%)		Girls
M (SD)/n (%)
Age14.93 (1.39)14.91 (1.4)14.94 (1.4)
Academic grade
1st14 (1.3%)4 (0.7%)10 (1.8%)
2nd266 (23.8%)128 (22.9%)138 (24.6%)
3rd223 (19.9%) 152 (27.2%) a71 (12.7%) b
4th285 (25.4%)105 (18.8%) a180 (32.1%) b
5th330 (29.6%)170 (30.4%)162 (28.9%)
Residence
Urban967 (86.3%)481 (86%)486 (86.6%)
Rural153 (13.7%)78 (14%)75 (13.4%)
Note: Different superscript letters (a, b) denote the proportions of groups that significantly differed. M = mean; SD = standard deviation.
Table
Table 2. Differences between the sexes in the observed variables.
Table 2. Differences between the sexes in the observed variables.
Boys (n = 559)
M (SD)/n (%)		Girls (n = 561)
M (SD)/n (%)		t/χ2Cohen’s d
Age14.91 (1.4)14.94 (1.4)−0.43
Religious frequency
Never54 (9.7%)33 (5.9%)6.09
One a year93 (16.6)104 (18.5%)
Once a month106 (19%)106 (18.9%)
Once a week299 (53.5%)309 (55.1%)
Daily7 (1.3%)9 (1.6%)
Erotophilia 24.48 (6.30)19.84 (6)12.63 ***0.75
Negative attitudes toward masturbation 29.66 (5.76)28.48 (5.49)3.50 ***0.21
Positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies14.31 (7.73)5.21 (6.22)20.10 ***1.30
Traditional sexual double standard 27.46 (5.75)22.52 (5.90)14.19 ***0.85
Masturbation frequency
Never228 (40.8%) a507 (90.4%) b315.86 ***
A few times a year132 (23.6%) a35 (6.2%) b
Once a month77 (13.8%) a16 (2.9%) b
Two or three times a month 45 (8.1%) a2 (0.4%) b
Once a week29 (5.2%) a0 (0%) b
Two or three times a week 29 (5.2%) a0 (0%) b
Four to six times a week5 (0.9%) a0 (0%) b
Daily14 (2.5%) a1 (0.2%) b
Sexual relationships frequency 174.73 ***
Never 367 (66.5%) a541 (97%) b
A few times a year115 (20.8%) a14 (2.5%) b
Once a month24 (4.3%) a3 (0.5%) b
Two or three times a month 18 (3.3%) a0 (0%) b
Once a week15 (2.7%) a0 (0%) b
Two or three times a week 5 (0.9%) a0 (0%) b
Four to six times a week2 (0.4%)0 (0%)
Daily6 (1.1%) a0 (0%) b
Note: Different superscript letters (a, b) denote the proportions of groups that significantly differed. *** p < 0.001. For sexual relationships frequency, the sample was composed of 552 boys and 558 girls.
Table
Table 3. Multiple regression models for masturbation frequency in boys and girls.
Table 3. Multiple regression models for masturbation frequency in boys and girls.
PredictorsBSEβ95% CItpR2VIF
Boys (n = 559) 0.22
Sexual relationships frequency−0.020.06−0.02[−0.14, 0.13]−0.390.699 1.21
Age−0.090.05−0.07[−0.21, 0.02]−1.820.069 1.17
Religious frequency−0.040.06−0.02[−0.16, 0.07]−0.610.541 1.08
Erotophilia 0.050.010.20[0.03, 0.08]4.44<0.001 1.43
Negative attitudes toward masturbation −0.020.01−0.07[−0.04, 0.00]−1.790.073 1.09
Positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies0.060.010.30[0.04, 0.08]6.21<0.001 1.64
Traditional sexual double standard0.020.010.07[−0.01, 0.05]1.610.108 1.30
Girls (n = 561) 0.03
Sexual relationships frequency0.150.110.06[−0.05, 0.42]1.450.149 1.07
Age−0.020.02−0.06[−0.05, 0.00]−1.520.129 1.06
Religious frequency−0.020.02−0.05[−0.08, 0.02]−1.150.252 1.02
Erotophilia −0.000.00−0.03[−0.01, 0.00]−0.680.494 1.22
Negative attitudes toward masturbation 0.000.000.02[−0.00, 0.01]0.580.559 1.06
Positive attitudes towards sexual fantasies0.010.000.16[0.01, 0.02]3.50<0.001 1.29
Traditional sexual double standard0.010.000.07[0.00, 0.02]1.730.085 1.07
Note: VIF = Variance inflation factor.
Table
Table 4. Multiple regression models for sexual relationships frequency in boys and girls.
Table 4. Multiple regression models for sexual relationships frequency in boys and girls.
PredictorsBSEβ95% CItpR2VIF
Boys (n = 552) 0.17
Masturbation frequency−0.010.03−0.02[−0.09, 0.06]−0.390.699 1.30
Age0.220.040.25[0.15, 0.30]6.06<0.001 1.10
Religious frequency−0.010.05−0.01[−0.12, 0.09]−0.190.849 1.08
Erotophilia −0.000.01−0.00[−0.02, 0.02]−0.100.916 1.48
Negative attitudes towards masturbation −0.010.01−0.05[−0.03, 0.01]−1.300.194 1.09
Positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies0.040.010.30[0.03, 0.06]6.00<0.001 1.65
Traditional sexual double standard0.010.010.06[0.00, 0.04]1.410.160 1.30
Girls (n = 558) 0.06
Masturbation frequency0.020.020.06[0.00, 0.09]1.450.149 1.04
Age0.010.010.07[0.00, 0.02]1.730.084 1.06
Religious frequency−0.020.01−0.07[−0.04, 0.00]−1.800.073 1.01
Erotophilia −0.000.00−0.02[0.00, 0.00]−0.490.624 1.22
Negative attitudes towards masturbation −0.000.00−0.01[0.00, 0.00]−0.160.871 1.06
Positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies0.010.000.20[0.00, 0.01]4.29<0.001 1.28
Traditional sexual double standard0.000.000.03[0.00, 0.01]0.700.486 1.07
Note: VIF = Variance inflation factor.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sierra, J.C.; Álvarez-Muelas, A.; Arcos-Romero, A.I.; Cervilla, O.; Mangas, P.; Muñoz-García, L.E.; Monge-Rodríguez, F.S. Sexual Activity in Peruvian Adolescents: Relevance of Socio-Demographic Variables and Sexual Attitudes. Children 2022, 9, 386. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9030386

AMA Style

Sierra JC, Álvarez-Muelas A, Arcos-Romero AI, Cervilla O, Mangas P, Muñoz-García LE, Monge-Rodríguez FS. Sexual Activity in Peruvian Adolescents: Relevance of Socio-Demographic Variables and Sexual Attitudes. Children. 2022; 9(3):386. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9030386

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sierra, Juan Carlos, Ana Álvarez-Muelas, Ana Isabel Arcos-Romero, Oscar Cervilla, Pablo Mangas, Laura Elvira Muñoz-García, and Fredy S. Monge-Rodríguez. 2022. "Sexual Activity in Peruvian Adolescents: Relevance of Socio-Demographic Variables and Sexual Attitudes" Children 9, no. 3: 386. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9030386

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop