Self-discrepancies, negative emotions, cognitive strategies, and sexual behavior among young adult Thai women

Among young Thai women, there has been a dramatic drop in age of first intercourse and a concurrent rise in HIV infections. In all likelihood, these changes have been accompanied by significant conflict over the appropriate way to behave. On the one hand, there is growing pressure on young Thai women to engage in early sexual behavior. On the other hand, there are still many conservative, cultural messages about the ideal and responsible woman. In this climate, young women may experience significant conflict and distress. Using concepts drawn from self-discrepancy theory, as well as research on emotion and cognition, a model of sexual behavior among young Thai women was proposed and tested. Specific links between self-discrepancy, negative emotion, cognitive strategies and sexual behavior in both hypothetical and actual situations were explored.; Four hundred thirty three female college students (average age = 20.7 years) participated. They completed questionnaires measuring demographic characteristics, relationship and sexual behavior history, self-discrepancies, negative emotions (depression and anxiety), cognitive strategies (gain thinking and punishment-avoidance thinking), and sexual behavior. Analysis of the sexual history data indicated that 38% of the participants had experienced sexual intercourse, with an average age of debut of 18.7 years. Overall, the participants had low to moderate self-discrepancies and anxiety, but relatively high levels of depression.; In a hypothetical sexual situation, significant predictors of risky sexual behavior were GPA, gain-thinking and degree of commitment in a relationship. With respect to actual sexual situations, the significant predictors of risky sexual behavior were gain thinking, punishment-avoidance thinking and degree of commitment in the relationship. Furthermore, a discriminant function analysis revealed that these significant predictors differentiated between the risky sex and abstinent/safer sex groups. Model testing did not support fully the expected relationships among self-discrepancies, negative emotions and cognitive strategies. However, evidence supported a causal relationship between depression, gain thinking, punishment-avoidance thinking and sexual behavior. In addition, self-discrepancy had a direct influence on gain thinking.; These findings contribute to greater understanding of processes involved in sexual risk-taking and can guide individualized interventions. Implications for nursing practice, and research and theorizing about sexual behavior are discussed.