Adolescent self‐efficacy, self‐esteem and sexual risk‐taking

Abstract This study investigates the sexual self‐efficacy and sexual self‐esteem of males and females and the relation between sexual risk‐taking and these self‐perceptions. Sexually active 18‐year‐olds were administered measures of sexual self‐efficacy and sexual self‐esteem and were asked about their sexual behaviour. Males had higher levels of self‐esteem and were more confident than females of their ability to assert their sexual needs, but less confident that they could say no to sexual demands. For a substantial minority there were some difficulties in dealing with condoms. Competence in the sexual domain accounted for a significant but small amount of variance in sexual risk‐taking. The predictors of sexual risk‐taking were the same for both sexes but differed according to type of partner. Confidence in the ability to say no was the sole predictor of safer sexual behaviour with a casual sex partner. In addition to this factor, lower levels of risk with a regular partner were predicted by these respondents' lower confidence in the ability to assert their sexual needs, together with lower levels of their own sexual self‐worth. There is need for adolescents to achieve a sense of mastery and self‐worth in the sexual domain, as well as an understanding of the nature of ‘regular’ relationships.