Digital Sexual Risk: Assessing the Interplay of Knowledge, Perception, and Attitudes on Social Media-Driven Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Female Adolescents in Higher Education
1
Public Health, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Adolescent sexual risk taking, social media use, its effects and associated behavior continues to pose a threat to public health. This study explored the interplay between social media use and risky sexual behaviors among female adolescents in a selected private tertiary institution in Ogun state. A survey research design was adopted, through a multi-stage sampling technique, 392 female adolescent were selected. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire, with internal consistency Cronbach’s alpha of 0.769. Descriptive statistics, were used while Pearson correlation coefficient, tested hypotheses at a 5% level of significance. The study revealed that female adolescents exhibited a high level of knowledge about risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) on social media (mean = 4.86 ± 0.52), along with moderately high perception scores (16.46 ± 3.19) and predominantly protective attitudes (21.78 ± 2.93). Despite this, 94.1% of respondents engaged in high-risk behaviors. Kendall’s Tau-b indicated no significant association between age and RSBs (τ_b = -0.041, p = 0.405), but a weak inverse relationship with level of study (τ_b = -0.118, p = 0.015). Logistic regression showed that attitude significantly predicted RSBs (AOR = 1.262, p = 0.005), while knowledge and perception did not. Academic level showed marginal significance (AOR = 0.501, p = 0.051). These findings suggest that protective attitudes alone do not translate into safer behaviors. The study concluded that while a significant correlation between social media and attitudinal disposition towards risky sexual behaviors, actual engagement in such behaviors was insignificant among participant’s female adolescents at the private tertiary institution. These findings underscored importance of addressing knowledge gaps and attitudes towards risky sexual behaviors. Hence, it is crucial to prioritize comprehensive sex education programs in tertiary institutions to specifically address the influence of social media on sexual behaviors, ensuring accessible and confidential healthcare services can provide support to female adolescents
Adolescent sexual risk taking, social media use, its effects and associated behavior continues to pose a threat to public health. This study explored the interplay between social media use and risky sexual behaviors among female adolescents in a selected private tertiary institution in Ogun state. A survey research design was adopted, through a multi-stage sampling technique, 392 female adolescent were selected. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire, with internal consistency Cronbach’s alpha of 0.769. Descriptive statistics, were used while Pearson correlation coefficient, tested hypotheses at a 5% level of significance. The study revealed that female adolescents exhibited a high level of knowledge about risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) on social media (mean = 4.86 ± 0.52), along with moderately high perception scores (16.46 ± 3.19) and predominantly protective attitudes (21.78 ± 2.93). Despite this, 94.1% of respondents engaged in high-risk behaviors. Kendall’s Tau-b indicated no significant association between age and RSBs (τ_b = -0.041, p = 0.405), but a weak inverse relationship with level of study (τ_b = -0.118, p = 0.015). Logistic regression showed that attitude significantly predicted RSBs (AOR = 1.262, p = 0.005), while knowledge and perception did not. Academic level showed marginal significance (AOR = 0.501, p = 0.051). These findings suggest that protective attitudes alone do not translate into safer behaviors. The study concluded that while a significant correlation between social media and attitudinal disposition towards risky sexual behaviors, actual engagement in such behaviors was insignificant among participant’s female adolescents at the private tertiary institution. These findings underscored importance of addressing knowledge gaps and attitudes towards risky sexual behaviors. Hence, it is crucial to prioritize comprehensive sex education programs in tertiary institutions to specifically address the influence of social media on sexual behaviors, ensuring accessible and confidential healthcare services can provide support to female adolescents
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
