Predictors of sexual miscommunication in adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the sex differences in prevalence and what factors that contribute to miscommunication of sexual intention (i.e. use of token resistance and compliance with unwanted sex) among adolescents. A large and representative sample of high school students in Norway (N = 1531) responded to a questionnaire that included self-report of sexual miscommunication, as well as several measures of attitudes, behaviors and personality characteristics. Results: More women than men had used both forms of sexual communication during the last school year. Token resistance and sexual compliance were found to be associated with each other, suggesting that using one increases the likelihood of using the other form of miscommunication. Among both women and men, token resistance was predicted by stronger belief that token resistance is common among members of one's own sex. Attitudes related to traditional gender roles (sexism) and stereotypes about the rape of women did not predict sexual miscommunication over and above the contributions of behavioral and personality factors for either gender. The different dimensions of sociosexuality (i.e. interest in short-term sex) predicted both forms of sexual miscommunication for both women and men. Several behavioral factors also contributed to sexual miscommunication, and an interaction effect was found between frequency of alcohol consumption and relationship status. Findings are discussed with regard to possible explanations and theoretical implications.