Risky Sexual Behaviors in Women and Their Relationship with Alcohol Consumption, Tobacco, and Academic Stress: A Multiple Correspondence Analysis Approach

• Published in: Sexes Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 498 - 520
• Main Authors: Luna, David, Vargas de la Cruz, Ivette, Barrera Hernández, Laura Fernanda, Figuerola Escoto, Rosa Paola, Gómez Cotero, Amalia Guadalupe, Toledano-Toledano, Filiberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 10.10.2024
• ISSN: 2411-5118; 2411-5118
• DOI: 10.3390/sexes5040035

University women are vulnerable to engaging in risky sexual behaviors (RSBs), which are related to academic stress, alcohol, and tobacco consumption. The aim of this study was to identify profiles of university women who associate RSBs with alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption level, and frequency of academic stress. A total of 534 female university students from Mexican universities answered an online questionnaire with five instruments related to their sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, and academic stress. They were studying to become professionals in health sciences, administration and social sciences, engineering, and “others” with grade point averages ranging from 5.7 to 10/10. They had to sign an informed consent and acknowledge having had at least one sexual relationship with anal or vaginal penetration before participating. A multiple correspondence analysis yielded a parsimonious solution with the following three dimensions that explained 38.60% of the variance: 1 “pregnancy”; 2 “number of sexual partners”; 3 “substance use”. Using a point cloud clustering strategy based on the Euclidean distance between categories in a two-dimensional space, five profiles were identified: Conservative and Prudent, Active Promiscuous, Vulnerable Reproductive Health, STI Risk, and Moderate Risk Behaviors. The estimation of ellipses with 95% confidence from the calculation of centroids allowed for the integration of two profiles: Lower probability of RSB and Higher probability of RSB. The contribution of academic stress was null with respect to the model solution, so this variable was discarded. The results identified particular risk profiles in female university students. These findings are useful for the development of differentiated intervention strategies to reduce RSB in this vulnerable group.