Mental Health
Personality Traits and Sexual Attitudes as Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviors in Health Science Students
Open Access: Yes.
Abstract
Previous research suggests that certain personality traits, such as extraversion and openness, may be associated with sexual risk behaviors (SRB). Exploring psychological and social factors is critical to guide effective sexual health promotion. Background/Objectives: To examine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, personality traits, sexual attitudes, and risky sexual behaviors among health science students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 730 health science students (median age: 21 years, IQR: 20–22 years) using validated questionnaires on personality (BPQ), sexual attitudes (BSAS), and sociodemographic factors. Non-parametric tests and logistic regressions were performed. Results: The results highlight significant differences in sexual attitudes based on sociodemographic characteristics, such as sexual orientation, type of relationship and cohabitation. High levels of pornography consumption are associated with drug use and greater permissiveness. A relationship was established between condom use and openness and intellect. Drug use scored high on extraversion and permissiveness. In relation to the use of dating apps, a positive relationship was found with permissiveness and substance use. Conclusions: The findings reveal a relationship between personality, sociodemographic characteristics, and risky behaviors, underscoring the need for tailored strategies in sexual health education for young adults.
Relevance
Among these students, the “highest scores” for agreeableness were observed for those who, among other characteristics, do not use pornography.
The study also found that “drug consumption, use of dating apps and the permissiveness and instrumentality dimensions of the sexual attitudes test had significant effects on pornography consumption. In relation to gender, the inverted odds ratio reveals that a man is 9.260 times more likely to consume pornographic material than a woman.
(Specifically, the odds of using pornography increased by 2.4 times for drug use, 3.8 times for the use of dating apps, 47.8% for each one-unit increase in the sexual permissiveness scale, and 42.9% for each one-unit increase in the sexual instrumentality scale.)
Conversely, people who consume pornography have “a significant increase in the probability of drug use.” They also have 3.5 times the odds of using dating apps.
Additionally, “those who do not consume pornography were more likely to use condoms.”
Citation
Naranjo-Márquez, M., Bocchino, A., Gilart, E., Cotobal-Calvo, E. M., Mata-Pérez, C., & Palazón-Fernández, J. L. (2026). Personality Traits and Sexual Attitudes as Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviors in Health Science Students. Youth, 6(1), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth6010019
