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Social media usage as a correlate of STI risk-related sexual behavior on the college campus: Moderating effects of gender

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Abstract

With an increase in social media applications, college students have a way of connecting with others more efficiently and with greater frequency than ever. The present study identified whether amount of time spent on Facebook, currently the most popular social networking application, was related to sexual behavior proxies of sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk (i.e. sex without a condom, multiple concurrent sex partners, and pursuing “hookups”). The hypotheses tested whether Facebook usage would be associated with having sex without a condom, having concurrent sex partners, and pursuing “hookups” on Facebook. Gender was tested as a moderator in these relationships as well, given the gender differences in sexual behaviors and online dating behavior. Data were gathered from 236 African American college-aged students. Facebook usage of 3 or more daily hours was associated with having sex without a condom and using Facebook to pursue hookups. In addition, females who spent 3 or more hours on Facebook were less likely to have sex without a condom, but more likely to have concurrent sex partners than men whose usage was 3 or more hours daily. Men who spent 3 or more hours on Facebook were more likely to pursue “hookups” via Facebook than women whose usage was 3 or more hours daily. This study provides a starting point to further explore how social media consumption can be used to perpetuate or reduce STI risk-related sexual behavior among a vulnerable population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Chakema Carmack & Lycinda Rodriguez

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  1. Chakema Carmack
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  2. Lycinda Rodriguez
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Correspondence to Chakema Carmack.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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All procedures in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

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Carmack, C., Rodriguez, L. Social media usage as a correlate of STI risk-related sexual behavior on the college campus: Moderating effects of gender. Curr Psychol 39, 1696–1704 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9869-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9869-8

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