Contraception and Sexuality in Heterosexual Emerging Adult Women

Abstract

Our study aimed to gain a comprehensive look into heterosexual emerging adult women's preferred type of contraception, who women identify as primarily responsible for contraception, and how sexual self schemas, sexual attitudes, and sexual satisfaction were associated with contraceptive responsibility and preference. Online, self-report surveys were used to collect data from 264 sexually active women between the ages of 18-25. Results indicated that single women preferred dual contraception, whereas committed women preferred hormonal methods, yet both groups primarily viewed both partners as responsible for providing contraception. There was also a significant relationship between contraceptive preference and feelings of responsibility. Finally, we found a relationship between single women's sexual attitudes and preferred contraception, suggesting that women who preferred non-hormonal methods had more conservative attitudes than women who preferred hormonal methods. Our study has important implications for health providers, therapists, and educators to promote women's sexuality and well-being.