Sexual self-efficacy and sexual communication among adolescent girls: moderated mediation results from a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Guided by the Operating Conditions Framework, the goal of this study was to identify how and for whom an online sexual health program called Health Education and Relationship Training (HEART) worked.

Design

Data come from a randomized controlled trial among 198 U.S. high school girls who completed HEART or an attention-matched control. We conducted mediation and moderated mediation models to determine if sexual self-efficacy was a mediator and if program acceptability and sexual activity status were moderators of HEART efficacy.

Main outcome measure

Sexual communication skills were assessed with a behavioral role-play task.

Results

HEART significantly improved sexual communication skills. These effects were fully mediated through sexual self-efficacy.

SUBMITTER: Brasileiro J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9210825 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature