Preview
Faculty Mentor
Katherine Bonafide, Kaitlin M. Flannery
Creation Date
4-2023
Description
College students have sex; however, there is little research regarding what sexual discussions look like, especially across different relationship types. Therefore, this study recruited different dyad types (female friends, male friends, cross-gender friends, and romantic partners) and observed them engaging in conversations about a sex-related prompt. Conversations were transcribed and coded for total words spoken (TW) and number of sex-related words (SW). Preliminary analyses using ANOVA indicated a significant difference in TW across dyad types with male friends speaking the least. A second ANOVA revealed significant differences in SW across dyad type. Cross–gender dyads said significantly more SW than male friends and heterosexual romantic partners. Upon completion of coding, planned follow-up analyses will examine gender differences, in proportionate time spent talking about sex within cross-gender friends and heterosexual romantic partners. Understanding sex communication can help inform psychoeducational interventions aimed to increase safe sex behaviors.
Keywords
Sexual Communication, College Students, ANOVA, Transformations