Abstract

Drawing on the Health Adversity Risk Model, this study examines the relationship between mental health and sexual risk behaviors in British and European Union (EU) university students in the United Kingdom. Four hundred and thirty-one undergraduate students completed a cross-sectional survey. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests, multiple regression and structural equation modeling. Results showed that female students and British students exhibited higher levels of psychological distress, self-harm and sexual risk behaviors than males and EU students; and that female and EU students were more likely to adopt adaptive coping styles than male and British students, respectively. The structural equation model suggests that the relationship between gender and citizenship and sexual risk-taking is mediated by identity threat, psychological distress, coping styles and self-harm. Adaptive coping styles are not necessarily protective against sexual risk-taking but rather determine the type of sexual risk behavior: re-thinking/planning is associated with volitional risk behaviors and social engagement with non-volitional behaviors. Social and cultural norms may shed light on mental health outcomes and sexual risk-taking in university students.

摘要

本研究基于健康逆境风险模型，研究了英国英国和欧盟（EU）大学生的心理健康与性风险行为之间的关系。413名大学生完成了横断面调查。使用独立样本数据进行了分析吨测试，多元回归和结构方程建模。结果显示，女学生和英国学生的心理困扰，自我伤害和性风险行为的水平高于男学生和欧盟学生；而且女生和欧盟学生分别比男生和英国学生更有可能采用适应性应对方式。结构方程模型表明，性别和公民身份与性冒险之间的关系是通过身份威胁，心理困扰，应对方式和自我伤害来调节的。适应性应对方式不一定能预防性冒险，而可以决定性风险行为的类型：重新思考/计划与自愿风险行为和社会参与非自愿行为有关。