The Sexual Attitudes of Iranian Students

1. Background

Sexual behaviors differ in various cultures. Although sexual relations are common in western countries, they are often restricted to marriage in most eastern countries due to the predominant Islamic culture (1). Nevertheless, biological (age of puberty), social (peers and parental norms), and environmental factors (media) affect the first sexual relations, and the role of common attitudes and beliefs in this context cannot be overlooked (2).

Sexual attitude is an aspect of individual attitudes, which plays a key role in determining personal behaviors. The association between sexual attitude and behavior is a basic chain in the decision-making of the youth for engaging in premarital sexual relationships (3). Sexual attitude is also a central concept in the study of sexuality and refers to the acceptance of sexual activities whether for self or for others (4). Sexual attitude is defined as the tendency to the positive or negative evaluation of sexual behaviors (5). Lacey believes that individuals have varied attitudes toward sexual relations (6).

Extensive research has been focused on various sexual attitudes, which are generally divided into two categories of conservative and permissive attitudes. The permissive sexual attitude reflects a positive tendency to casual sexual intercourse (unplanned) and the multiplicity of sexual partners. In contrast, the conservative sexual attitude emphasizes on having sexual relations with only one known sexual partner or only within marriage or a romantic framework (5).

Various studies have indicated that the gender differences between men and women have a definite impact on sexual attitudes. In general, most researchers claim that men have more permissive attitudes toward sexual relations, especially premarital and casual relations (unwanted/unplanned), while women tend to have relatively more conservative attitudes toward sexual relations (7-10).

Some findings have been indicative of sexual double standards or the cultural beliefs that premarital sexual relationship is unforgivable for women, whereas forgivable and even appropriate for men (7). In general, sexual double standards refer to the idea that men are socially rewarded for sexual activities, while women become socially condemned (11). In this context, the social structure theory suggests that sexual double standards are structured and may vary depending on the power hierarchy and sexual division of labor in every community (12). For instance, sexual double standards are weak in egalitarian societies, and men and women equally engage in sexual behaviors. In contrast, there are gender differences in the behaviors related to sexual issues in the societies where men have more control in power. The social structure theory could also predict the gender differences in sexual desires given the differences in the power of men and women in most of the countries across the world (13).

Age also plays a key role in sexual attitudes (14), and researchers have stated that engagement in sexual behaviors increases with increased age (15). Moreover, older adolescents have been reported to exhibit more sexual behaviors and permissive sexual attitudes (16), while adults have more permissive attitudes toward sexual issues compared to adolescents (17).

2. Objectives

Sexual attitude is a characteristic that affects mate selection during lifetime, especially in early adulthood. After admission to the university, the youth tend to establish relationships that may lead to marriage. With the development of these relationships, most individuals select their lifelong mates based on sexuality, love, and attraction (6). Since the pervasive beliefs regarding sexuality could determine mate selection and such relationships (18) and considering that the nature of sexual desires is a sensitive issue and there is inadequate knowledge about the impact of this phenomenon on various life issues, the present study aimed to address the following questions:

1) Is there a difference in the sexual attitudes (permissive/conservative) of male and female students?

2) Is there a difference in the sexual attitudes (permissive/conservative) of the students of different age groups?

3. Methods

This study was conducted on 280 students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran, who were selected via multistage random sampling from different the schools and disciplines of the university. The sample population consisted of 110 males (39.3%) and 170 females (60.7%). In terms of age, 181 students (64.6%) were aged 18 - 22 years, and 99 students (35.4%) were aged 23 - 26 years.

3.1. Data Collection Tool

3.1.1. Short-form Sexual Attitude Scale

The short-form sexual attitude scale (SAS) has been developed by Hudsun et al. (19), with the aim of examining permissive and conservative sexual attitudes. The scale consists of 25 items that are scored based on a five-point Likert scale (0 = Totally Disagree, 4 = Totally Agree); the higher scores than 50 indicate a conservative attitude, and the lower scores show a permissive attitude. The items in the SAS have been back-translated with respect to cultural values. In the current research, items four, 12, 15, 16, 23, 24, and 25 were eliminated due to cultural values, and 18 items remained in the study (e.g., "I think there is too much sexual freedom for adults these days. Sex education should be given only when people are ready for marriage.").

Hudsun et al. have reported the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale to be 0.94 (19), while Wong and Mak have estimated the values of 0.87 and 0.78 for patients and employees, respectively (20), and Byers et al. and Lefkowitz et al. have agreed upon the value of 0.88 (9, 21). In the present study, the Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the scale were estimated at 0.85 for all the participants, 0.82 for the females, and 0.80 for the males. In addition, the scale had a significant correlation with the sexual attitude scale (r = 0.68; P < 0.001) (20).

3.2. Procedures

After obtaining the required permit from the university officials, the participants were selected from the students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The research procedures and objectives were explained to the students. After obtaining oral informed consent in the early phases of the research and ensuring the participants regarding the confidentiality and anonymity of the data, the research was initiated in compliance with ethical professional and research guidelines.

3.3. Statistical Analysis

Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using the factorial analysis of variance.

4. Results

According to the information in Table 1, the mean total score of the participants was 21.43 ± 1.93. The mean scores of various age ranges and sex variables are also presented in the table.

As is depicted in Figure 1, 44.6% of the students (n = 125) had a permissive sexual attitudes, and 55.4% (n = 155) had a conservative sexual attitude. According to the information in Table 2, the obtained F ratio of the factor gender was 12.21 (P < 0.001), which indicated a significant difference between the sexual attitudes of the male and female students. In other words, the sexual attitudes of the female students (score: 38.16) were mainly conservative compared to the male students (score: 33.73). In addition, the obtained F ratio of the age group factor was 7.37 (P < 0.007); in other words, the age group of 18 - 22 years (score: 37.67) mostly had conservative sexual attitudes compared to the age group of 23 - 26 years (score: 34.23). However, no significant correlations were observed between the age and gender of the groups (F = 0.08; P = 0.765).

Frequency of Conservative and Permissive Sexual Attitudes

Figure 1.

Frequency of Conservative and Permissive Sexual Attitudes

5. Discussion

According to the findings of the current research, the sexual attitudes of the female students was mostly conservative compared to the male students (3, 8-10, 21), which indicated a significant difference in the sexual attitudes between the male and female students as the females had conservative sexual attitudes, while the males had permissive sexual attitudes. The difference in this regard could be explained based on an evolutional viewpoint; due to the different investments of men and women in childbearing, it is not surprising that men have permissive and women have conservative sexual attitudes. Considering the number of the male and female sexual cells (sperms and eggs), women have to use more resources and energy to reproduce than men and spend considerable resources for pregnancy. With respect to the difference between man and woman in the attempt for successful reproduction, any poor choice for women would be costly both mentally and physically, which urges women to be more careful with their mate selection. If a woman has a poor choice of mate, she might get to raise her child without her partner's help, but if a man has a poor choice of mate, he has not invested as much in the process. In addition, women may take fewer advantages of unrestraint sexual relations, while men may benefit from reproduction with any new partner. Therefore, men have more permissive sexual attitudes, and women have conservative attitudes in this regard (7).

Sociologists believe that the factor of role largely influences sexual differences. In addition, social learning theorists believe that men and women are rewarded for the behaviors that comply with traditional gender roles, and inconsistent behaviors would be punished. Therefore, it is expected that men have more sexual activity, while women are more oriented toward the emotional aspects of sexual matters and invest more in committed relationships. Social learning theorists believe that the stereotypes of men's gender role in the society are more active and more exploratory, which justifies the permissive sexual attitude of men (18). According to this theory, men and women socialize in different gender patterns. As such, premarital intercourse and focus on sexual pleasure are considered more acceptable for men, while women are more concerned about the background of the relationship (commitment and safety) as the necessary conditions for the expression of their sexual desires (10).

In this regard, Oliver and Hyde (22) have described the difference in the sexual attitudes of men and women based on the social learning theory. They believe that the youth are more likely to be engaged in casual sexual relations as they perceive that adults are rewarded for engaging in sexual behaviors. On the other hand, women might not be rewarded for such behaviors and might even be punished for these behaviors. Furthermore, these scholars believe that based on the social pattern and role theory, men might have more permissive attitudes toward sexual relations since they need to be the initiator of sexual behaviors. In addition, the difference in the sexual attitudes of men and women in Iran could be attributed to social, cultural, and religious norms, which impede premarital sexual contacts between the two genders. This religious prohibition for women, who are traditionally expected to maintain their chastity until the first marriage and even prove their chastity in the marital ceremony, is more inflexible and in line with religious, legal, and social punishments (2). Therefore, women are more concerned about their relationship with men before marriage and pay more attention to interpersonal relations than men, with an outlook for a committed relationship, such as marriage, as they consider it necessary for sexual interaction. As a result, women have more conservative attitudes about sexual relations compared to men.

Other findings in this regard have also demonstrated that young students are more conservative than older students (3, 15, 16, 23). It could be argued that the time of presence in the university could affect the sexual attitudes of students. Several factors may be involved in the evolution of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Personal philosophy in life (spirituality), exposure to sexual contents (sexual experience), ethical teachings of parents, peers, and the society, religious background, sociocultural norms, and a combination of these factors could form the beliefs of individuals about sexual relations and behaviors. Family plays a determining role in the formation of attitudes as individuals are controlled by their parents before entering the university. After attending the university, students begin to foster relationships that are not controlled by the family anymore and become more influenced by their peers. Therefore, entering the university, communication and friendship before marriage, the phenomenon of love, and deep relationship with the opposite sex during the course of higher education are a few reasons that lead to the formation of permissive sexual attitudes as the social environment is considered to be an important influential factor in the formation of sexual attitudes. Moreover, the social environment plays a key role in the development or modification of premarital sexual behaviors and attitudes (24).

5.1. Limitations of the Study

One of the limitations of the current research was that the sample population was limited to university students, and the results should be generalized to other populations with caution. The questions of sexual attitudes are culturally sensitive, and the participants had inhibitions in their responses and were sensitive in this regard, which might have affected the final results. Considering that our sample population consisted of students, it is suggested that similar investigations be conducted on other populations. Since religion plays a key role in the decisions of individuals, it is also recommended that variable religions, along with the variables of the current research, be used in the studies conducted in the future.

5.2. Conclusion

According to the results, sexual attitudes varied between the male and female students and different age groups. The female students had conservative sexual attitudes, while the males had permissive sexual attitudes. Furthermore, the elder students had permissive sexual attitudes, and the younger students had conservative sexual attitudes. These findings could be beneficial in recognizing the sexual attitudes of Iranian students and preventing high-risk sexual behaviors in students.