engleski

CHARACTERISTICS OF RISK SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF STUDENT POPULATION IN THE CAPITAL OF CROATIA

Risk sexual behaviours include sex without protection, frequent changing of partners, consumption of psychoactive substances and unwilling sexual experiences (Moon, Fornili and O´Briant, 2007), which can led to unwilling pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual victimization (Štulhofer and assoc. 1999.). Researches (Potard and assoc. 2008, Donenberg and assoc. 2006, Brady and assoc. 2008) show that sexual behaviour of individuals is not mainly the result of his or her individual characteristics but is determinated by many factors from surrounding from which the most importance is given to family, peers and school (Boden and Horwood, 2006 ; by Rajhvajn Bulat, 2011). The paper is focused on research among students in the capital city of Croatia (Zagreb) and the influence of their peers on risk sexual behaviour and alcohol consumption. The main goal was to investigate the characteristics of risk sexual behaviour of first year students and to determine the correlation between peer pressure and alcohol consumption with risk sexual behaviour. The participants of the research were students (N=222) studying first year on two different faculties in Zagreb: Faculty of Law and Construction Faculty in Zagreb. The research was conducted through web survey by using Questionnaire about peer pressure (consisted of 24 items, authors: Lebedina-Manzoni and Ricijaš, 2008.), 4 questions from European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 2013. and questions about the construct of risk sexual behaviour form the Questionnaire AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviour as predictors of condom use among young adults in Croatia (authors: Štulhofer and associates, 2007.) Also, there were some socio- demographic questions about gender, age and leisure time. Data were analysed with descriptive statistic and Pearson`s correlation coefficient. Ethical principles were respected: anonymity, voluntariness, right to give up, privacy, objectivity and right to be informed about the results. The results show that student population in Zagreb can generally not be described as risk sexually behaviour population. Also, the peers do not have much influence on risk sexual behaviour for student population but results show that peers do influence alcohol consumption by student population. There is a correlation between alcohol consumption and “having sex for one night”. Those students who are more under pressure of their peers have more often sexual intercourse under alcohol influence. Although student population is specific population, probably more responsible that youth in generally, prevention and education about the danger of risk sexual behaviour is needed, as well as prevention of alcohol consumption. This is a task for media influence, school programs, social care and health care services.

students, risk sexual behaviour, alcohol consumption, peers pressure, prevention

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