Sexual Communication A research project by Davis Honors Challenge Students Angus Brown. Danielle Cooper. Renae Getlin. Patricia Tompkins. Emily Wasson. Jenine Spotnitz.
Motivation Sex should be a positive experience Students should not feel uncomfortable Assertiveness is a skill
Background What is sex? Includes kissing to intercourse What is assertive communication? Positive / Negative feelings Limits Needs and desires
Aim: To discover… Difficulties Perceptions Resources
Process: Quick Poll Which factors were the most influential factors in defining your comfort level? Which issues do you find difficult to communicate?
No Yes N/A Percentage of students that reported feeling uncomfortable communicating something in a sexual situation (5,753 responses)
Process: Quick Poll If yes, what issues do you find difficult to communicate?
What students find difficult to communicate
What females find most difficult to communicate
What males find most difficult to communicate
Process: Quick Poll If no, What do you believe were the most influential factors in being able to communicate about sex?
Which factors provide help for sexual communication
Significant differences in helpful factors, by ethnicity
Process: Focus Group Why might you find it difficult to talk to your partner about sex? General Findings: Did not want to be seen as overly experienced Did not know what vocabulary to use
Process: Focus Group Why might you find it difficult to talk to your partner about sex? Men: Reputation Lack of trust Women: Conservative upbringing Anxiety about partner’s response Partner felt uncomfortable and created tension
Process: Survey 300 respondents Distributed via Facebook
Process: Survey If you had a question concerning sex, who would you ask? (check all that apply) The internet 23.8% Peers 23.6% Partner 20.5%
Process: Survey If available, where would you be most likely to obtain information about sexual communication? (choose one) Website 61% Medical Professional 8.6% Facebook 6.9%
Direction A self-assessment tool Distribution of tool Recommendations for a short film Target each gender in separate film
Resources UCD Organizations Health Education & Promotion (HEP) Women’s Resources & Research Center (WRRC) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (LGBTRC) Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPs) The House Medical Professionals Sex Therapists Clergy
Many thanks to… Our Sponsors Polly Paulson Moira Delgado Gillian Butler Sabrina Sewell Nate Delaney-Busch Isabel Montanez Carrie Devine Lolita Nelson-Adkins Alana Penn
Works Cited Auslander PhD, Beth A., Michelle M. Perfect PhD, Paul A. Succop PhD, and Susan L. Rosenthal PhD. "Perceptions of Sexual Assertiveness among Adolescent Girls: Initiation, Refusal, and Use of Protective Behaviors." Original Studies 20 (2007): Greene, Kathryn, and Sandra L. Faulkner. "Gender, Belief in the Sexual Double Standard, and Sexual Talk in Heterosexual Dating Relationships." Sex Roles 53 (2005): Liss-Levinson, Nechama, Emily Coleman, and Laura Brown. "A Program of Sexual Assertiveness for Women." The Counseling Psychologist 5 (1975).
Works Cited Morokov, Patricia K., Kathryn Quina, Lisa L. Harlow, Laura Whitmire, Diane M. Grimley, Pamela R. Gibson, and Gary J. Burkholder. "Sexual Assertiveness Scale (SAS) for Women:Development and Validation." Journal of Personality and Social Psycology 73 (1997): Rickert, Vaughn I., Rupal Sanghvi, and Constance M. Wiemann. "Is Lack of Sexual Assertiveness Among Adolescent and Young Adult Women a Cause for Concern?" Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 34 (2002): Stoner, Susan A., Jeanette Norris, William H. George, Diane M. Morrison, Tina Zawacki, Kelly C. Davis, and Danielle M. Hessler. "Women's condom use assertiveness and sexual risk-taking: Effects of alcohol intoxication and adult victimization." Addictive Behaviors 33 (2008):