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Abstract

Background: In emerging adulthood, youth often become involved in more serious romantic relationships. However, many lack the skills to avoid an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI), and to ensure a healthy dating relationship. Community college students serve nearly half of all undergraduate students in the United States; yet, community colleges typically lack resources for sexual health promotion. Purpose: To assess the need and receptivity for a web-based integrated healthy sexual and dating relationships intervention among community college students. Methods: In summer 2016, we partnered with three community colleges in South Central Texas to conduct an online survey of students’ sexual behaviors and dating relationships, and usability testing of activities from an integrated, web-based healthy sexual and dating relationship intervention. Results: Online survey participants (n=271) were 70% female, 38% Hispanic, 24% White, 17% Black, and 16% Asian; 20% self-identified as sexual minority; mean age was 20.8 years (SD = 2.05). Participants reported high rates of sexual risk behavior including sex without a condom or an effective birth control method, low use of long-acting reversible contraception, frequent use of emergency contraception, and low use of dual protection to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Two-thirds reported experiencing any type of dating violence perpetration or victimization in the past year. Usability testing participants (n=14) were 86% female, 42% Hispanic, 50% Asian/Pacific Islander, 14% Black, and 7% White; 71% were sexually experienced; mean age was 20.7 years (SD = 1.64). The web-based activities were highly rated in terms of usability parameters, and positively impacted short-term psychosocial outcomes related to condom use, accessing contraceptive health services, and constructive interpersonal conflict resolution. Conclusion: Findings underscore the high need and receptivity for an integrated healthy sexual and dating relationship web-based intervention among community college students, an understudied subgroup of youth in emerging adulthood.

Key Take Away Points

  • Community college students experience high rates of sexual risk behavior and dating violence perpetration and victimization
  • Community colleges typically lack resources for sexual health promotion
  • A web-based integrated healthy sexual and dating relationship intervention for community college students may provide a low-cost, scalable approach to enhance students’ health and well-being.

Author Biography

Christine Markham, PhD, Associate Professor and Associate Department Chair of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has 25 years’ experience in adolescent sexual health research. Melissa Peskin, PhD, Associate Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has expertise in adolescent sexual health and dating violence prevention. Robert Addy, PhD, Faculty Associate in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, serves as data analyst for multiple adolescent sexual health studies. J. Michael Wilkerson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has expertise with sexual gender minority youth Kimberly Johnson-Baker, DrPH, MPH, Faculty Associate in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has expertise in adolescent sexual health research. Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor and Dorothy T. Nicholoson Distinguished Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Nursing, has expertise in public health nursing and adolescent health. Belinda Hernandez, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has expertise in young adult sexual health. Vanessa Schick, PhD, Assistant Professor of Management, Policy, and Community Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has expertise in sexual gender minority youth. Ross Shegog, PhD, Associate Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has expertise in instructional technology for health promotion. Susan Tortolero Emery, PhD, Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and Epidemiology, and Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Research Affairs at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, has 25 years’ experience in adolescent sexual health. Yok-Fong Paat, PhD, Assistant Professor in Social Work at the University of Texas at El Paso, has expertise in dating violence research among college students. Jeff Temple, PhD, Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, has expertise in adolescent dating violence research.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements: This study was funded in part by the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research and the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. The authors thank the collaborating community college personnel and students for their participation.

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