| dc.contributor.author | Lerner, Jessica Lynne | |
| dc.description.abstract | Currently, an increasing number of women report sexual difficulties, and previous
research has shown that both sexual attitudes and body image have a significant impact on
women's sexual activity. While previous studies measured the influence of sexual attitudes
and body image separately on sexual activity, the present study instead used mediational
analyses to determine the direction of effects that sexual attitudes and body image have on
sexual activity. Online surveys were administered to 401 emerging adult undergraduate and
graduate female students. The surveys included self-report measures of conservative versus
liberal sexual attitudes, body image, and frequency of sexual activity. Results indicated that
liberal sexual attitudes predicted greater sexual activity. While mediation was not evident,
indirect effects existed such that more liberal sexual attitudes led to higher body image
which, in turn, led to increased sexual activity. Results also indicated that higher body
image satisfaction predicted greater sexual activity. Evidence of partial mediation
suggested that body image satisfaction led to more liberal sexual attitudes which, in turn,
led to increased sexual activity. Although body image and sexual attitudes are both
important factors that affect sexual activity, each influence alone is not enough to explain
the complex cognitive process that leads to decisions regarding sexual activity. Therefore,
prevention and intervention work for sexual difficulties should focus on how both factors
work together to influence women's sexual experiences with a vigilant focus on reducing
the effects of women's body and sexual objectification as one step toward improving their
overall health and well-being in family, couple, or dating contexts. | en_US |
| dc.publisher | North Dakota State University | en_US |
| dc.rights | NDSU policy 190.6.2 | en_US |
| dc.title | Women's Sexual Attitudes, Body Image, and Sexual Activity: A Mediation Analysis | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-02-23T16:19:44Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-02-23T16:19:44Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10365/33678 | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Body image in women | en_US |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Women -- Sexual behavior. | en_US |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Women -- Attitudes. | en_US |
| dc.rights.uri | https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf | en_US |
| ndsu.degree | Master of Science (MS) | en_US |
| ndsu.college | Human Sciences and Education | en_US |
| ndsu.department | Human Development and Family Science | en_US |
| ndsu.program | Human Development and Family Science | en_US |
| ndsu.advisor | Blodgett-Salafia, Elizabeth | |
