Lerner, Jessica Lynne2024-02-232024-02-232010https://hdl.handle.net/10365/33678Currently, 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.NDSU policy 190.6.2https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdfBody image in womenWomen -- Sexual behavior.Women -- Attitudes.Thesis