Attitudes Toward People in Exclusive Dating Relationships who Initiate Condom Use
Jennifer Davidson-Harden, Queens University, William Fisher, University of Western Ontario, and Paul Davidson, Queen’s University.

This study assessed attitudes toward young adults who initiate condom use in the context of exclusive dating relationships. Male and female undergraduates (N=120) were randomly assigned to read one of three scenarios in which a university aged couple engaged in sexual intercourse for the first time with each other one month into such a relationship. The scenarios differed only in that one did not mention condom use, another had the female initiate condom use, and the third had male initiation of condom use. In all cases, it was stated that the female was using oral contraception. The participants rated their perceptions of the characters on scales designed for that purpose. Contrary to hypotheses developed from a review of the relevant literature, individuals who initiated condom use, and their partners, were rated as being more rather than less responsible than in the no condom condition. Ratings of commitment to partner, kindness, and social attractiveness were unaffected (i.e., not diminished) by condom initiation or use. Both initiator and partner were rated as more sexually knowledgeable, but not more sexually experienced, than in the no condom condition. The sex of the rater had little impact on the foregoing assessments but sex of character had an effect on pooled ratings for responsibility (female character higher). In general, the findings suggest that the undergraduates in this study looked favourably rather than unfavourably on individuals of either sex who initiated condom use in an exclusive dating relationship even when oral contraception was already being used. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2000; 9: 1-14)

The Relations of Power and Intimacy Motives to Genitoerotic Role Preferences in Gay Men: A Pilot Study
Will Damon, University of Illinois at Chicago.

The objective of this study was to explore the relationships between power and intimacy motives and genitoerotic role preferences in gay men. Twenty European-American gay men, ten with a preference for insertive anal sex (MIPs) and ten with a preference for receptive anal sex (MRPs), participated in the study. There were no significant differences between MIPs and MRPs in general power or intimacy motivation; however, there were significant differences in terms of directional power motivation in the sexual context. MIPs were more likely to desire exerting power over their partners during sex whereas MRPs were more likely to desire being overpowered during sex. Role preferences in anal sex generalized to oral sex with nonprimary partners. MIPs were significantly more likely to engage in insertive oral sex , and MRPs were significantly more likely to engage in receptive oral sex. In addition, MIPs and MRPs preferred sexual behaviours and sexual partners that amplified the power differential. For example, MIPS were significantly more likely to enjoy having their partners worship their bodies during sex and to prefer sexual partners who were younger, shorter, and smaller than they were. Implications for HIV prevention efforts are discussed. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2000; 9: 15-29).

La Determination Du Degre de Relation Entre L’estime de Soi et Quarte Elements de L’Experience Sexuelle
Lyne Piche, Gilles Trudel, & Jean Belanger, Universite du Quebec a Montreal.

The objective of this study was to examine the link between self-esteem and four elements of sexuality: sexual desire; sexual excitement (female subjects only); sexual satisfaction; and sexual behaviour. Statistical analyses were completed on the responses to questionnaires of 123 women and 28 men (N=151). At the time of experimentation, the majority of participants, 71.7% were aged between 19 and 24 years. Correlational analyses indicated that three sexual satisfaction variables were significantly related to self-esteem scores: satisfaction linked to the sexual pleasure perceived in the partner; sexual pleasure reported regarding a sexual activity; and sexual satisfaction. A multiple regression was performed to determine the effect of each variable on self-esteem scores. All of the variables explained 18% of the variance. Overall, one satisfaction variable, the satisfaction linked to the sexual pleasure perceived in the partner, demonstrated significant results. These results indicate that sexual satisfaction is linked to self-esteem. (Article is in french) (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2000; 9: 31-40).

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Canada: A Review of National Data Sources and their Limitations
Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale, University of Windsor, Michael Barrett, University of Toronto, and Alexander McKay, Sex Information and Education Council of Canada.

Canada has a reliable national data-base on rates of teen pregnancy and reportable sexually transmitted infection (STI) and these measures are often used as indicators of trends in adolescent sexual health. In contrast, access to routinely-gathered, national-level information on the sexual health-related behaviour of adolescents and young adults is more limited. This paper used data from the 1996 National Population Health Survey to track, for various age groups, the age at first intercourse, number of intercourse partners in the past year, and condom use at last intercourse. The findings were then employed to determine the association of these measures with immigrant status, household income, and school/work status. In addition, the 1995 General Social Survey provided data on trends in currently-used contraceptive method across age groups as a basis for comparison with the few other national studies available on contraceptive practices in Canada. Median age at first intercourse has not only declined in the last 40 years, it is now almost the same for females and males. Both this measure and the other behavioural indicators were shown to be associated, to varying degrees in both males and females, with the social and economic indicators. The findings demonstrate the value of such national information for the planning of interventions to prevent STI and unintended pregnancy among teens and young adults. They also highlight the need for better national data on a wider range of sexual behaviours pertinent to reproductive health (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2000; 9: 41-65).