073 Socio-Demographic Factors, Sexual Attitudes, Sexual Self-Efficacy, and Sexual Satisfaction on Sexual Health-Seeking Behaviors: A Structural Equation Model
Authors: De Guzman S. , Dee V. 
Published: May 2022

Introduction

While the World Health Organization (WHO) actively promotes sexual health, the research on sexual health-seeking behaviors are extremely limited. Individuals are entitled to attain sexually satisfying relationship without coercion or force and is driven by free-will and respect. The information-driven promotion of sexual health worldwide has been instrumental to keep individuals responsible for their own sexual health. However, the general population of men are hesitant to seek sexual health care until end stage of sexual issues due to masculinity embarrassment, and stigma. Furthermore, the effects of individuals’ sociodemographic factors such as age, educational level, and sexual orientation, sexual attitudes, sexual self-efficacy, and sexual health-seeking behaviors are poorly understood.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the influence of socio-demographic factors such as age, educational level, and sexual orientation, sexual attitudes including permissiveness, birth control, communion, and instrumentality, sexual self-efficacy, and sexual satisfaction on sexual health-seeking behaviors among Filipino men.

Methods

The study subjects included Filipino men 18 years old and above, able to write and read English, and able to use internet connected devices including smartphones, tablets, or personal computers. After IRB approval, a cross-sectional correlational study was conducted. Using Survey Monkey® platform, the data was collected from Filipino men who qualified based on the inclusion criteria. Structural equation modelling (SEM) technique was used for data analysis.

Results

A total of N= 464 Filipino men completed the survey. The result shows that sociodemographic factors such as age (β= .13, p=&lt;0.05) and educational level (β= .12, p=&lt;0.05), significantly influenced active and decision-making sexual health-seeking behavior. While, educational level (β= .14, p=&lt;0.05) and heterosexuality (β= -.17, p=&lt;0.05) significantly influenced intellectual sexual health seeking behavior. Furthermore, the sexual attitude communion (β= -.13, p=&lt;0.05) and self-efficacy (β= .12, p=&lt;0.05) demonstrates significant effect on interactional sexual health seeking behavior. The data analysis also presents that heterosexuality and sexual attitude communion are significant negative predictors of interactional sexual health-seeking behaviors among Filipino men. However, sexual satisfaction and sexual attitudes including permissiveness, birth control, and instrumentality failed to demonstrate effects on any of the sexual health-seeking behaviors. See Figure 1 for the SEM.

Conclusions

This research study presents a landmark model for sexual health-seeking behaviors. It is important to consider the individuals socio-demographic factors including age, educational level, and sexual orientation in determining the sexual health-seeking behaviors, as men in general are hesitant to seek sexual health care, therefore, clinicians including primary care physicians and advanced practice nurses such as nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists are at the best position to initiate discussions concerning men's sexual health. Furthermore, it is recommended to assess sexual attitude communion and sexual self-efficacy in the primary care settings. The negative effects of heterosexuality and sexual attitude communion needs further investigation. Future research on application of De Guzman sexual health-seeking behavior model is needed.