Academic literature on the topic 'Sexual behaviour surveys'

Alcohol, the oldest drug known to the human race, is widely perceived to affect sexual behaviour. The general public, scientific, medical and judicial establishments share and express interest in the potential effects of alcohol on the sexual behaviour of individuals. The understanding of the current state of medical knowledge, regarding the effect of alcohol on sexual behaviour, is of particular interest for the development of sexually transmitted diseases control strategies, and may be called upon for investigating alleged assault and rape. The perceived effects are influenced by historical, mythological, cultural, religious, physiological, pharmacological, expectancy, personal and legislative factors. The potential effects are investigated through surveys, global/situational association studies and placebo-controlled experiments. This article provides a review of literature and a summary of the current state of knowledge regarding the correlation between alcohol and sexual behaviour.

This article is based on a secondary analysis of non-responses (NR) and “don't know” (DK)-responses in two French surveys on sexual behaviour. The analysis is situated within a problem framework focusing on dissociating the respondent's ignorance concerning an experience or knowledge of a behaviour and the way they are measured by means of DKs and NRs. First, the specificity and diversity of the information collected in these surveys is described. Then the plurality of signification of non-responses (ignorance, embarrassment, selective amnesia) and of DKs is compared and the role of each type of response in the exploitation of survey data discussed. The article ends with a plea in favour of a qualitative approach to such responses in quantitative surveys.

Background: Britain’s National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) have been undertaken decennially since 1990 and provide a key data source underpinning sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policy. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many aspects of sexual lifestyles, triggering an urgent need for population-level data on sexual behaviour, relationships, and service use at a time when gold-standard in-person, household-based surveys with probability sampling were not feasible. We designed the Natsal-COVID study to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the nation’s SRH and assessed the sample representativeness. Methods: Natsal-COVID Wave 1 data collection was conducted four months (29/7-10/8/2020) after the announcement of Britain’s first national lockdown (23/03/2020). This was an online web-panel survey administered by survey research company, Ipsos MORI. Eligible participants were resident in Britain, aged 18-59 years, and the sample included a boost of those aged 18-29. Questions covered participants’ sexual behaviour, relationships, and SRH service use. Quotas and weighting were used to achieve a quasi-representative sample of the British general population. Participants meeting criteria of interest and agreeing to recontact were selected for qualitative follow-up interviews. Comparisons were made with contemporaneous national probability surveys and Natsal-3 (2010-12) to understand bias. Results: 6,654 participants completed the survey and 45 completed follow-up interviews. The weighted Natsal-COVID sample was similar to the general population in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, rurality, and, among sexually-active participants, numbers of sexual partners in the past year. However, the sample was more educated, contained more sexually-inexperienced people, and included more people in poorer health. Conclusions: Natsal-COVID Wave 1 rapidly collected quasi-representative population data to enable evaluation of the early population-level impact of COVID-19 and lockdown measures on SRH in Britain and inform policy. Although sampling was less representative than the decennial Natsals, Natsal-COVID will complement national surveillance data and Natsal-4 (planned for 2022).

the paper discusses factors associated with sexual risk behaviour, i.e. failure to use condoms consistently during sexual intercourse, among unmarried sexually experienced youths in south africa. data from the ‘transitions to adulthood in the context of aids in south africa’ surveys of 1999 and 2001 were analysed to identify factors associated with high sexual risk behaviour among the youth. the multinomial regression models for male and female youths were fitted separately for the 1999 and 2001 data sets. the results show increasingly consistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse and that high sexual risk behaviour among youths is predominantly determined by social factors such as ‘ever-pregnant’ or ‘ever made pregnant’, ‘ever given something for sex’, age of sexual partner, currently in school, pressured by friends to have sex, peer influence on safe sex and education level for males. there is evidence that availability of contraception information is important in strategic interventions that seek to change the sexual behaviour of the youth in south africa.

Context Nigeria is a high-burden country in terms of young people’s health. Understanding changes in young people’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behaviours and the associated factors is important for framing appropriate interventions. Objective This study assessed changes in SRH behaviours of unmarried young people aged 15–24 and associated factors over a ten-year period in Nigeria. Data and method We analysed datasets from Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys of 2008, 2013 and 2018 to assess changes in inconsistent condom use, non-use of modern contraceptives; multiple sexual partnership; and early sexual debut. Using binary logistic regression, we assessed the association of selected variables with the SRH behaviours. Results Over four-fifths of unmarried young people (15–24) in Nigeria engaged in at least one risky sexual behaviour in each survey year. The pattern of changes in the four risky SRH behaviours was consistent over the 10-year period, with the highest rates of each behaviour occurring in 2018 while the lowest rates were in 2013, thus indicating an increase in the proportion of respondents engaging in risky sexual behaviours over the study period. Comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge, male gender, older age category (20–24), residence in south-west Nigeria, urban residence, higher socio-economic status, secondary/higher education were mostly protective against the four SRH variables analysed across the different data waves. Conclusion Addressing the high and increasing level of risky SRH behaviours among young people in Nigeria is imperative to improve overall national health status and to ensure progress towards achieving SDG target 3.7 focusing on SRH.

SummaryThe question of youth sexual behaviour has been widely debated, with researchers such as Berhan and Berhan (2015) arguing that young adults aged 15–24 are more likely to engage in risky behaviours. However, research has not adequately addressed the issue of positive sexual behaviours, in particular among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. Adapting the compensatory model of risk and resiliency theory, this study examined the determinants of positive sexual behaviours among youth in sub-Saharan Africa. Using recent data from Demographic and Health Surveys of sixteen countries representative of each African region (East, West, Southern and Central), it was hypothesized that positive sexual behaviours of youth (condom use at last sex and single sexual partnership) would be most strengthened by protective factors at the individual and family levels, and that these behaviours would differ by region due to regional variation in socio-cultural practices. Delayed age at sexual debut (first sex after the age of 15) was found to be the strongest protective factor for positive sexual behaviours among males and females in sub-Saharan Africa. Certain socioeconomic variables were found to be positively associated with positive sexual behaviours and the associations differed by gender.

An anonymous HIV surveillance study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HIV amongst patrons attending gay recreational venues, the level of undiagnosed HIV infection and to identify sexual risk behaviour associated with HIV positive, HIV negative and unknown serostatus. 427 men who have sex with men were recruited over a period of one week in various sex on premises venues and gay bars within the inner city of Brisbane. Oral fluid testing for HIV antibodies was undertaken using the Orasure collection system and assay. Each participant was invited to complete a brief behaviour questionnaire and submit an oral fluid specimen. Participants were also asked their HIV status. Surveys and specimens were linked using an anonymous numerical code. Surveys were analysed using Epi-Info. Oral swabs were tested for the presence of HIV antibodies and any reactive specimens were confirmed using an Orasure western Blot. Confirmed serology results were linked to reported sexual behaviours, testing patterns and HIV status. The results of this study - sexual and testing behaviour correlated with serostatus- and implications for HIV prevention programs will be presented. As well as that, discussions will be held regarding the community response to the project.

In the last thirty years there have been many research studies which have examined the reasons why adolescents and young adults engage in sexual behaviours. Most of these studies have lacked a theoretical basis, Consequently there are many links made between variables, but no consistency across studies, or attempts to develop an underlying theory to explain the results. However, there have been theoretical models developed to explain adolescents’ and young adults’ sexual decision making. Unfortunately, many of these models have not been empirically validated. This thesis attempts to address these deficiencies in the literature by utilising a theory of behaviour and applying it to adolescent and young adult sexual decision making. This theory is the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Two longitudinal studies were conducted to examine the utility of an adaptation of the TPB to sexual decision making among adolescents and young adults. In the first study 58 adolescent males, aged between 14 years and 18 years participated in a longitudinal study using a questionnaire adapted from the Depth of Sexual Involvement Scale. In the second study, 194 young adults (156 female, 38 male) aged between 18 years and 21 years participated in a similar study. The first study found that intention to engage in behaviour was well predicted, although some of the variables in the model, did not in fact, contribute significantly to the prediction. The prediction of behaviour was less strong than that of intention. Study two found that intention to engage in behaviours was well predicted by the model. However, the degree to which intention led to behaviour was not well predicted. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that the TPB is a good theoretical basis from which to launch a systematic and theoretically informed explanation of adolescent and young adult sexual decision making. However, other factors may need to be added to the model to fully describe the decision making process and accurately predict behaviour. Suggestions are made for future research, as well as interventions that may arise as more knowledge is gathered using this paradigm.

This thesis investigates the relationship between identity, behaviour and desire to examine the nature of research among homosexually active men. The hypothesis is that samples of such men necessarily reflect the definitions of sexuality and homosexuality, and their interpretation, by both the researchers themselves and their research subjects, meaning that the research process itself is marked by the subjectivity of the field of sexuality. The relationship between the observer and the observed is intrinsic to research into homosexual subjectivity and the samples obtained, therefore, represent particular kinds of sexual subjects in a particular social and sexual cultural milieu. Research in this field has given pre-eminence to behaviour over identity and desire, and, as such, has usually failed to account for these differences in sexual subjectivities. To investigate this problem, I have reviewed the relevant literature both on subjectivity and on methodological approaches to research among homosexual men, and I have appraised my own ideological and personal relationships with the subject matter. I have examined the nature of the samples of homosexual men I have obtained during my work as a researcher within the Sydney gay community and reanalysed these with regard to the particular problematic I have identified. These investigations and analyses have shown that there are numerous differences within and between the various samples of homosexual men obtained, indicating that methodological frameworks can determine the nature of the samples obtained. These differences in samples also appear to reflect differences in the ways of enacting homosexual desire among the men in the studies. However, they also parallel differences in the definitions and understandings of the target population by the researchers themselves. These differences reflect differences in definition and understanding both of homosexuality and of the population of gay men, but they also represent differing patterns in the ways of being and living ?gay?, differences in sexual subjectivity. ?Gayness? and homosexuality, as concepts in research, are both the subjective basis on which the research endeavour itself is based, as well as its representational outcome.

Since Kinsey and his colleagues (Kinsey, Pomeroy, Martin, & Gebhard, 1948; 1953) first began to empirically examine human sexual behavior researchers have found that heterosexual men tend to report having had more sexual partners than heterosexual women. The purpose of the present study was to explore this phenomena using a within subject design. Participants were 124 undergraduate women who completed a packet of surveys on sensitive topics, such as sexuality, and body image, in two conditions: Anonymity Threat Condition: Participants were led to believe that the principle investigator would come in a view their responses while completing the surveys and Bogus Pipeline: Participants were led to believe that they were `hooked-up' to a lie detector. Results found within as well as between subject effects for measures of social desirability and one sexual attitude measure. However, these results did not generalize to the body image measures or sexual behavior questions.
Department of Psychological Science

This thesis examined whether mental health problems and sexual risk taking were associated in a general population sample and if so, the extent and direction of this association. The thesis begins with a review of theories of risk taking; sexual risk and mental health correlates; and the existing studies linking mental health and sexual risk taking. Three empirical studies were conducted. Study One produced new evidence that a range of psychiatric disorders were linked to early sex (<16 years), risky sex (multiple partners and inconsistent condom use in the past year at age 21) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by the age of 21 years. Young people who present with schizophrenia spectrum disorder were also prone to early and risky sex and STIs. Second, depression, the single most common psychiatric problem in the population, was also associated with risky sex and STIs. The risk increased with comorbid psychiatric conditions. Study Two addressed the issue of directionality, specifically examining if childhood behavioural and emotional problems and early adolescent psychiatric disorder predicted later sexual risk taking and STIs. Main findings showed that childhood antisocial behaviour increased the likelihood of risky and early sex, and that low levels of childhood anxiety increased the likelihood of later risky sex and having STIs. Involvement with delinquent peers mediated the association between childhood antisocial behaviour and risky and early sex. To a lesser degree, attachment to parents mediated the association between antisocial behaviour and early sex. These factors did not mediate the association between low levels of childhood anxiety and later sexual outcomes. No associations were found between adolescent psychiatric disorder and later sexual risk taking, with the exception of conduct disorder. However, it is important to note that by excluding the group who had early sex in order to establish temporality, other behaviours of interest exhibited by this group were also excluded. The third study examined whether sexual risk taking was associated with an increased risk of subsequent mental health problems, addressing the issue of directionality in the other direction. Main findings showed that reports of early sex, multiple sex partners and STIs elevated the risk of later substance dependence disorders. Importantly, this association persisted after controlling for �baseline� levels of psychiatric disorder. Early sex also predicted later conduct disorder, even after controlling for prior conduct disorder. In contrast, early sex, multiple sex partners and acquisition of STIs were unrelated to later diagnoses of anxiety or depression. The significant associations with multiple sex partners and STIs were also shown for incident cases of substance dependence. Moderation analyses revealed no differences between the sexes in any of the studies except in Study Three. Specifically, the association between multiple sex partners and substance dependence appeared to be stronger for males than females for up to 10 sex partners and substantially stronger for females than for males beyond ten sex partners. The final chapter in this thesis reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the studies in this thesis before considering the implications of the results for theory, research and practice.

A lack of ethnic and racial diversity in studies is often cited as a limitation of sexual behavior research and psychological research broadly. There is a need for more resources that outline how to effectively recruit diverse samples, including undervoiced, non-college-attending emerging adults. The purpose of this study was to examine effective sampling methods for a sample at the intersection of multiple demographic groups—Black and Latinx/Hispanic non-college-attending emerging adults. A total of 161 participants were recruited using web-based sampling and venue-based sampling. Participants completed an online survey that asked about ecological contexts related to sexual behavior and their life experiences. This tutorial presents a brief description of each sampling approach and key steps that supported the success of each approach. A comparison of sample characteristics across sampling methods revealed that web-based sampling is a cost-effective method for examining sexual attitudes and behaviors among an ethnically diverse sample of non-college-attending emerging adults.

Internet crimes against children are a contemporary social problem which has drawn a great deal of attention from the parents, educators, legislators, and law enforcement officials. This phenomenon has captured national attention in the United States with a number of media reports of this phenomenon. These crimes include child pornography offenses, as well as adults soliciting minors for sexual purposes on line. Drawing upon data from recent national surveys, the characteristics of offenses, offenders, and victims are examined. A multitude of issues related to the assessment and classification of the individuals who commit Internet crimes against children are also explored. Strategies for the prevention of this behavior and enforcement of laws protecting children online are discussed.

This trend study analyzed 9 years (2011–2019) of cross-sectional survey responses to Klein’s Sexual Orientation Grid to explore changes in sexual orientation among emerging adult college students. Categorical regression models based on ordinal responses revealed that participants were moving away from exclusive heterosexuality on attraction, behavior, and identity subscales at a rate of approximately 6% per year. This trend augments for women after 2014, coinciding with increased advocacy efforts related to U.S. marriage equality, but attenuates for men. Participants’ race also related to variations in sexual orientation: Black participants were less likely than White participants to identify as exclusively heterosexual, whereas the pattern reversed for Asian participants relative to White participants. These findings suggest that changes in sexual orientation are occurring among emerging adults in the United States, potentially in response to changing social and political contexts, but these changes are more pronounced in women and Black emerging adults.

The comparative study of indigenous healing practices and modern psychotherapy has revealed the existence of certain universal elements of the healing process that operate as important factors for therapy, whether the therapy is carried out in a primitive or modern form. The universal and nonspecific healing factors identified are: the cultivation of hope, the activation of surrounding support, and the enhancement of culturally sanctioned coping. The study of indigenous healing practices has also pointed out the existence of supernatural dimensions of healing power, which are less intentionally utilized in modern therapy. Despite the general usefulness of folk therapies, the ill effects of some have not been widely studied and reported. Yet, clinical observation has disclosed that some folk therapists cause harm to the clients who seek their services. Under the guise of treatment, tricking a client out of his money by deceit or fraud, or sexual involvement with a client, are examples of disreputable behaviour that are occasionally reported. Harming a client by prescribing dangerous substances, and physically injuring or even killing a client by accident during the performance of an exorcism, are other examples of serious complications that have occurred. No matter what position is taken, there is one simple fact that deserves attention, namely, that there exists a wide range of professional quality among so-called folk healers, and different motivations for practice. Some are benign healers motivated by a desire to serve, while others are not. Some are well-trained in their particular professions and know how to practice within its limitations, while others are not—and are liable for malpractice. The major problem is that, from a public health point of view, in most societies, there still are no formal guidelines for regulating folk therapy, as there are for modern therapy. Folk therapy, whether it is shamanistic practice or faith healing, should be subject to periodic surveys and reevaluation by the public health administration, as is modern clinical work, so that its benefits to clients can be protected and any potential malpractice can be prevented. If any folk therapist refuses to be examined and regulated, he or she should be discouraged or prevented from practicing.

Cannabis policies are continuously evolving, over half of U.S. youth now live in a state with a form of legalized cannabis. Monitoring risk and protective factors is critical to ensure evidence-based youth prevention in this post cannabis-prohibition era. Massachusetts has enacted and implemented three forms of legalization: (1) Decriminalization (2008), (2) medical cannabis (2012), and (3) adult-use cannabis (2016). This study used state Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data of participants in grades 9-12 from 2007-2017 (N=17,691). Logistical regression models were run to assess effects of varying cannabis policy and risk or protective behaviors on cannabis use outcomes: (1) Lifetime use; (2) Past 30-day; and (3) Past 30-day heavy use. The enactment of cannabis policies was not associated with greater odds of youth reporting Lifetime and Past 30-day cannabis use behaviors. Any adult-support [heavy use OR=0.43 (95% CI=0.37,0.50), p<.001], better grades [heavy use OR=0.25 (95% CI=0.21,0.29), p<.001], and being heterosexual [heavy use OR=0.42 (95% CI=0.34,0.51), p<.001] were associated with lower odds of all cannabis use outcomes. Multiple risk factors broadly categorized under: risky sexual behaviors, non-heterosexual orientation, weapon carrying/exposure, hopelessness and suicidality behaviors, driving behaviors, and disability were associated with greater odds of cannabis use. Sensitivity analyses showed only one risk behavior was moderate by cannabis policy enactment. Results suggest that cannabis prevention efforts should not occur in a silo, rather evidence-based models for reducing risky behaviors generally may have the largest impact. Building and supporting relationships with trusted adults for youth at higher risk should be emphasized.

Background: The Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire [MACQ] assesses marijuana-related problems. This 8-factor (50-items) measure covers a broad array of multiple dimensions encompassing 50 negative consequences of gradient severity that are particularly relevant in the context of college. The present study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the 50-item Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (S-MACQ) by analyzing the psychometric properties of internal, convergent, and concurrent validity and estimating internal consistency. We also examined the correlation between the brief (SB-MACQ) and the full S-MACQ and whether they similarly correlate with marijuana outcomes and marijuana-related variables. Method: College students from the two largest public universities of Cordoba city (Argentina) completed an online survey as part of a broader study focused on marijuana use and risky sexual behaviors. Only data from students that reported last-year marijuana use (n=470; 70.6% women; Mean age 22.67±3.52 years; 45.7% enrolled in psychology) were included in the study. We conducted independent samples t-tests to evaluate differences in the number of negative consequences (for the total scale and for each S-MACQ dimension) as a function of biological sex or frequency of use. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) was conducted to examine the factor structure of the S-MACQ. We conducted Pearson correlation analyses to examine the association between the number of marijuana-related consequences as measured by the S-MACQ and scores (a) in the CUDIT, a standardized measure of marijuana-related problems (i.e., convergent validity), (b) frequency and quantity of marijuana use (i.e., concurrent validity), (c) motives for marijuana use (i.e., concurrent validity). We examined the Pearson correlation between the SB-MACQ and the S-MACQ and then we estimated the difference between the Pearson correlation of the SB-MACQ and the S-MACQ with all the marijuana outcomes and marijuana-related variables. Results: Results from the CFA supported an 8-factor structure. The scores of the S-MACQ showed appropriate internal, concurrent and convergent validity, alongside with adequate internal consistency. The S-MACQ was largely correlated with the SB-MACQ and the correlations between these two versions and marijuana outcomes/marijuana-related variables did not significantly differ. Discussion: Findings supported the S-MACQ as a valid measure to assess marijuana-related problems in Spanish-speaking students. The instrument can be used to identify a broad diversity of marijuana problems in this population.

Aim/Purpose: This paper provides the results of the preliminary analysis of the findings of an ongoing study that seeks to examine the social media use, cultural and political awareness, civic engagement, issue prioritization, and social activism of Gen Z students enrolled at four different institutional types located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The aim of this study is to look at the group as a whole as well as compare findings across populations. The institutional types under consideration include a mid-sized majority serving or otherwise referred to as a traditionally white institution (TWI) located in a small coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean, a small Historically Black University (HBCU) located in a rural area, a large community college located in a county that is a mixture of rural and suburban and which sits on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and graduating high school students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs in a large urban area. This exploration is purposed to examine the behaviors and expectations of Gen Z students within a representative American region during a time of tremendous turmoil and civil unrest in the United States. Background: Over 74 million strong, Gen Z makes up almost one-quarter of the U.S. population. They already outnumber any current living generation and are the first true digital natives. Born after 1996 and through 2012, they are known for their short attention spans and heightened ability to multi-task. Raised in the age of the smart phone, they have been tethered to digital devices from a young age with most having the preponderance of their childhood milestones commemorated online. Often called Zoomers, they are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation and are on track to be the most well-educated generation in history. Gen Zers in the United States have been found in the research to be progressive and pro-government and viewing increasing racial and ethnic diversity as positive change. Finally, they are less likely to hold xenophobic beliefs such as the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority that have been popular with by prior generations. The United States has been in a period of social and civil unrest in recent years with concerns over systematic racism, rampant inequalities, political polarization, xenophobia, police violence, sexual assault and harassment, and the growing epidemic of gun violence. Anxieties stirred by the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded these issues resulting in a powder keg explosion occurring throughout the summer of 2020 and leading well into 2021. As a result, the United States has deteriorated significantly in the Civil Unrest Index falling from 91st to 34th. The vitriol, polarization, protests, murders, and shootings have all occurred during Gen Z’s formative years, and the limited research available indicates that it has shaped their values and political views. Methodology: The Mid-Atlantic region is a portion of the United States that exists as the overlap between the northeastern and southeastern portions of the country. It includes the nation’s capital, as well as large urban centers, small cities, suburbs, and rural enclaves. It is one of the most socially, economically, racially, and culturally diverse parts of the United States and is often referred to as the “typically American region.” An electronic survey was administered to students from 2019 through 2021 attending a high school dual enrollment program, a minority serving institution, a majority serving institution, and a community college all located within the larger mid-Atlantic region. The survey included a combination of multiple response, Likert scaled, dichotomous, open ended, and ordinal questions. It was developed in the Survey Monkey system and reviewed by several content and methodological experts in order to examine bias, vagueness, or potential semantic problems. Finally, the survey was pilot tested prior to implementation in order to explore the efficacy of the research methodology. It was then modified accordingly prior to widespread distribution to potential participants. The surveys were administered to students enrolled in classes taught by the authors all of whom are educators. Participation was voluntary, optional, and anonymous. Over 800 individuals completed the survey with just over 700 usable results, after partial completes and the responses of individuals outside of the 18-24 age range were removed. Findings: Participants in this study overwhelmingly were users of social media. In descending order, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Tik Tok were the most popular social media services reported as being used. When volume of use was considered, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Twitter were the most cited with most participants reporting using Instagram and Snapchat multiple times a day. When asked to select which social media service they would use if forced to choose just one, the number one choice was YouTube followed by Instagram and Snapchat. Additionally, more than half of participants responded that they have uploaded a video to a video sharing site such as YouTube or Tik Tok. When asked about their familiarity with different technologies, participants overwhelmingly responded that they are “very familiar” with smart phones, searching the Web, social media, and email. About half the respondents said that they were “very familiar” with common computer applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite or Google Suite with another third saying that they were “somewhat familiar.” When asked about Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Blackboard, Course Compass, Canvas, Edmodo, Moodle, Course Sites, Google Classroom, Mindtap, Schoology, Absorb, D2L, itslearning, Otus, PowerSchool, or WizIQ, only 43% said they were “very familiar” with 31% responding that they were “somewhat familiar.” Finally, about half the students were either “very” or “somewhat” familiar with operating systems such as Windows. A few preferences with respect to technology in the teaching and learning process were explored in the survey. Most students (85%) responded that they want course announcements and reminders sent to their phones, 76% expect their courses to incorporate the use of technology, 71% want their courses to have course websites, and 71% said that they would rather watch a video than read a book chapter. When asked to consider the future, over 81% or respondents reported that technology will play a major role in their future career. Most participants considered themselves “informed” or “well informed” about current events although few considered themselves “very informed” or “well informed” about politics. When asked how they get their news, the most common forum reported for getting news and information about current events and politics was social media with 81% of respondents reporting. Gen Z is known to be an engaged generation and the participants in this study were not an exception. As such, it came as no surprise to discover that, in the past year more than 78% of respondents had educated friends or family about an important social or political issue, about half (48%) had donated to a cause of importance to them, more than a quarter (26%) had participated in a march or rally, and a quarter (26%) had actively boycotted a product or company. Further, about 37% consider themselves to be a social activist with another 41% responding that aren’t sure if they would consider themselves an activist and only 22% saying that they would not consider themselves an activist. When asked what issues were important to them, the most frequently cited were Black Lives Matter (75%), human trafficking (68%), sexual assault/harassment/Me Too (66.49%), gun violence (65.82%), women’s rights (65.15%), climate change (55.4%), immigration reform/deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) (48.8%), and LGBTQ+ rights (47.39%). When the schools were compared, there were only minor differences in social media use with the high school students indicating slightly more use of Tik Tok than the other participants. All groups were virtually equal when it came to how informed they perceived themselves about current events and politics. Consensus among groups existed with respect to how they get their news, and the community college and high school students were slightly more likely to have participated in a march, protest, or rally in the last 12 months than the university students. The community college and high school students were also slightly more likely to consider themselves social activists than the participants from either of the universities. When the importance of the issues was considered, significant differences based on institutional type were noted. Black Lives Matter (BLM) was identified as important by the largest portion of students attending the HBCU followed by the community college students and high school students. Less than half of the students attending the TWI considered BLM an important issue. Human trafficking was cited as important by a higher percentage of students attending the HBCU and urban high school than at the suburban and rural community college or the TWI. Sexual assault was considered important by the majority of students at all the schools with the percentage a bit smaller from the majority serving institution. About two thirds of the students at the high school, community college, and HBCU considered gun violence important versus about half the students at the majority serving institution. Women’s rights were reported as being important by more of the high school and HBCU participants than the community college or TWI. Climate change was considered important by about half the students at all schools with a slightly smaller portion reporting out the HBCU. Immigration reform/DACA was reported as important by half the high school, community college, and HBCU participants with only a third of the students from the majority serving institution citing it as an important issue. With respect to LGBTQ rights approximately half of the high school and community college participants cited it as important, 44.53% of the HBCU students, and only about a quarter of the students attending the majority serving institution. Contribution and Conclusion: This paper provides a timely investigation into the mindset of generation Z students living in the United States during a period of heightened civic unrest. This insight is useful to educators who should be informed about the generation of students that is currently populating higher education. The findings of this study are consistent with public opinion polls by Pew Research Center. According to the findings, the Gen Z students participating in this study are heavy users of multiple social media, expect technology to be integrated into teaching and learning, anticipate a future career where technology will play an important role, informed about current and political events, use social media as their main source for getting news and information, and fairly engaged in social activism. When institutional type was compared the students from the university with the more affluent and less diverse population were less likely to find social justice issues important than the other groups. Recommendations for Practitioners: During disruptive and contentious times, it is negligent to think that the abounding issues plaguing society are not important to our students. Gauging the issues of importance and levels of civic engagement provides us crucial information towards understanding the attitudes of students. Further, knowing how our students gain information, their social media usage, as well as how informed they are about current events and political issues can be used to more effectively communicate and educate. Recommendations for Researchers: As social media continues to proliferate daily life and become a vital means of news and information gathering, additional studies such as the one presented here are needed. Additionally, in other countries facing similarly turbulent times, measuring student interest, awareness, and engagement is highly informative. Impact on Society: During a highly contentious period replete with a large volume of civil unrest and compounded by a global pandemic, understanding the behaviors and attitudes of students can help us as higher education faculty be more attuned when it comes to the design and delivery of curriculum. Future Research This presentation presents preliminary findings. Data is still being collected and much more extensive statistical analyses will be performed.

The results of the anonymous online survey of people living in Latvia age 18 and over, using internationally (I-SHARE) and nationally validated questionnaire. Data include following variables: Selection, socio-demographics, social distancing measures, couple and family relationships, sexual behavior, access to condoms and contraceptives, access to reproductive health services, antenatal care, pregnancy and maternal and child health, abortion, sexual and gender-based violence, HIV/STI, mental health, and nutrition. (2021-02-08)

From 2000 to 2003, FRONTIERS supported a study by the Center for Research on Environment, Health, and Population Activities to test communication-based models for improving young couples’ access to and use of reproductive health (RH) information and services in the Udaypur district of eastern Nepal. The 14-month intervention, undertaken as part of an RH project implemented by the Nepal Red Cross Society and the Center for Development and Population Activities, sought to improve social norms that leave young women vulnerable to health risks related to early marriage and childbearing and limited access to RH services. The study compared two experimental models with two control groups. The two experimental groups received training, assistance with group interaction, outreach, and educational materials about sexually transmitted infections and condom use. Researchers administered surveys to young married women in both the control and experimental sites before and after the intervention. As noted in this brief, communication-based support for mothers’ groups and newly formed youth communication groups improved RH knowledge and behavior among young married women in Nepal.