Abstract

Objective: Sexual assertiveness (SA), i.e., the ability to communicate thoughts and desires that may be translated into satisfying sexual activity within an intimate relationship, is important for safe and satisfying sexual behavior. In an attempt to unravel which cultural, relational, and individual variables are related to the development of SA in emerging adults, an exploratory study was conducted in Cuenca, Ecuador. Methods: Five hundred and thirty-eight participants completed scales that measured their levels of SA, endorsement of the sexual double standard, relationship satisfaction, and mental well-being. Results: This study showed a negative effect of the sexual double standard on SA in both men and women and this effect was slightly tempered by the level of education. Women reported higher levels of SA than men. In women, SA was associated with general mental well-being and relationship satisfaction; but not in men. For both women and men, no association was found with relationship status or duration. Conclusions: These findings corroborate evidence highlighting the importance of SA for healthy sexual relationships and emphasize the importance of (sex) education for SA for lower educated women and men. The results are discussed in relation to findings on SA in other contexts.

 抽象的

目的：性自信（SA），即在亲密关系中交流思想和欲望的能力，这些想法和欲望可以转化为令人满意的性活动，对于安全和令人满意的性行为很重要。为了阐明哪些文化、关系和个人变量与新生成年人 SA 的发展相关，在厄瓜多尔昆卡进行了一项探索性研究。方法： 538 名参与者完成了量表，测量他们的 SA 水平、对性双重标准的认可、关系满意度和心理健康。结果：这项研究表明，性双重标准对男性和女性的性行为都有负面影响，并且这种影响因教育水平而略有减弱。女性报告的 SA 水平高于男性。对于女性来说，SA 与总体心理健康和关系满意度相关；但男性则不然。对于女性和男性来说，没有发现与关系状态或持续时间存在关联。结论：这些发现证实了强调性行为对健康性关系重要性的证据，并强调了性行为（性）教育对受教育程度较低的女性和男性的性行为的重要性。讨论的结果与其他情况下 SA 的发现有关。