Sexual attitudes and knowledge of Southern United States college students on risky sexual behavior: moderation by conservative religiosity, sex, and sexual double standards

Southern college students may be at an increased risk of engaging in risky sexual behavior (RSB) due to the curriculum surrounding sexual education as well as stigma surrounding open sexual communication. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relation of sexual attitudes and knowledge on attitudes pertaining to RSB, while including sex, Sexual Double Standards (SDS), and conservative religiosity as moderators. Participants included 967 emerging adult college students who were asked to complete the Student Sexual Risk Scale (SSRS), Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Test for Adolescents (SKAT-A), and Sexual Double Standard Scale (SDSS). Sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes (higher score indicates more liberal attitudes), and conservative religiosity associated negatively with RSB for female participants. SDS positively associated with attitudes about RSB for men. An interaction occurred among male participants, where greater sexual knowledge was associated with positive attitudes toward RSB when SDS beliefs were higher. Furthermore, among male participants, the interaction of sexual knowledge and conservative religiosity on attitudes about RSB was significant and indicated that religiosity may serve as a protective factor against positive attitudes toward risky behaviors. Among female participants, there was a significant interaction of sexual attitudes and SDS on attitudes toward RSB, which indicated a negative relation between sexual attitudes and RSB attitudes when SDS was low. To understand why individuals have more positive attitudes toward RSB, researchers must delve into the complexities of individuals and understand what shapes their attitudes and knowledge surrounding sex.