Online Sexual Exposure and Risky Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Sensation Seeking

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between online sexual exposure and risky sexual behaviors among Canadian adolescents and young adults, with sensation seeking tested as a mediating variable.Methods and Materials: A descriptive–correlational design was employed with a sample of ۴۰۰ adolescents and young adults in Canada, selected based on Morgan and Krejcie’s sample size determination table. Participants completed validated self-report questionnaires measuring risky sexual behaviors, online sexual exposure, and sensation seeking. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses using SPSS version ۲۷, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS version ۲۱ were applied to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was evaluated using chi-square, CFI, TLI, GFI, AGFI, and RMSEA indices.Findings: The results revealed that online sexual exposure was significantly and positively correlated with risky behaviors (r = .۴۶, p < .۰۰۱), while sensation seeking also showed a significant correlation with risky behaviors (r = .۵۲, p < .۰۰۱). SEM analysis demonstrated good model fit (χ² = ۱۴۲.۸۳, df = ۷۱, χ²/df = ۲.۰۱, CFI = ۰.۹۶, TLI = ۰.۹۵, GFI = ۰.۹۴, RMSEA = ۰.۰۵۱). Online sexual exposure had a significant direct effect on risky behaviors (β = .۲۹, p < .۰۰۱) and an indirect effect through sensation seeking (β = .۰۹, p = .۰۰۲). The total effect of online sexual exposure on risky behaviors was β = .۳۸ (p < .۰۰۱), confirming partial mediation.Conclusion: These findings highlight that sensation seeking plays a crucial mediating role in linking online sexual exposure to risky sexual behaviors. Digital platforms not only increase exposure opportunities but also align with sensation-seeking tendencies, thereby heightening vulnerability to sexual risk. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between online sexual exposure and risky sexual behaviors among Canadian adolescents and young adults, with sensation seeking tested as a mediating variable. Methods and Materials: A descriptive–correlational design was employed with a sample of ۴۰۰ adolescents and young adults in Canada, selected based on Morgan and Krejcie’s sample size determination table. Participants completed validated self-report questionnaires measuring risky sexual behaviors, online sexual exposure, and sensation seeking. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses using SPSS version ۲۷, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS version ۲۱ were applied to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was evaluated using chi-square, CFI, TLI, GFI, AGFI, and RMSEA indices. Findings: The results revealed that online sexual exposure was significantly and positively correlated with risky behaviors (r = .۴۶, p < .۰۰۱), while sensation seeking also showed a significant correlation with risky behaviors (r = .۵۲, p < .۰۰۱). SEM analysis demonstrated good model fit (χ² = ۱۴۲.۸۳, df = ۷۱, χ²/df = ۲.۰۱, CFI = ۰.۹۶, TLI = ۰.۹۵, GFI = ۰.۹۴, RMSEA = ۰.۰۵۱). Online sexual exposure had a significant direct effect on risky behaviors (β = .۲۹, p < .۰۰۱) and an indirect effect through sensation seeking (β = .۰۹, p = .۰۰۲). The total effect of online sexual exposure on risky behaviors was β = .۳۸ (p < .۰۰۱), confirming partial mediation. Conclusion: These findings highlight that sensation seeking plays a crucial mediating role in linking online sexual exposure to risky sexual behaviors. Digital platforms not only increase exposure opportunities but also align with sensation-seeking tendencies, thereby heightening vulnerability to sexual risk.

کلیدواژه ها:

Online sexual exposure ، risky behaviors ، sensation seeking ، adolescents