Can Technology Decrease Sexual Risk Behaviors among Young People? Results of a Pilot Study Examining the Effectiveness of a Mobile Application Intervention. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jackson, Dawnyéa D.; Ingram, Lucy Annang; Boyer, Cherrie B.; Robillard, Alyssa; Huhns, Michael N.
• Is Part Of: American journal of sexuality education. Volume 11:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Sexual health -- technology -- risk reduction; Sex instruction -- Periodicals; 613.9071
• DOI: 10.1080/15546128.2015.1123129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1554-6128

Abstract

ABSTRACT: College students represent an important population for studying and understanding factors that influence sexual risk given the populations' high risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Using a quasi-experimental design, the efficacy of a brief and theory-driven mobile application intervention designed to decrease sexual risk behaviors among young college students (N = 118) was tested. Ninety-six percent (n = 114) of the participants showed an increase in contraceptive use knowledge from pretest to posttest (p = .013). Participants did not show a statistically significant change in intention to reduce sexual risk behaviors or actual risk reduction. This study supports the use of technology to educate college students about sexual health.