A comparison of sexual behavior and self-esteem in young adult females with positive and negative tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

Contracting sexually transmitted diseases is a serious health problem faced by young women, in part, because they may routinely engage in risky sexual behaviors. This study describes the sexual behaviors of eighty-one young adult females who had positive and negative tests for STDs. The STD-negative group consisted of forty-nine African American females and the STD-positive group was thirty African American and two Caucasian females. The women completed the Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. Demographic factors were also examined. The findings revealed that STD-negative females had higher self esteem and practiced safe sex more frequently. Also, women with higher education and incomes above $10,000 a year, plus a higher self-esteem level scored higher on the SSBQ, indicating the practice of safer sex. Age was not related to self esteem or the practice of safe sexual behavior. Implications for nurse practitioner practice are discussed.