Social Class And Safe Sex Practices: Analyzing Socioeconomic

Social Class and Safe Sex Practices: Analyzing Socioeconomic Impact on Sexual Health Behaviors

This is a research proposal investigating whether being from a low socio-economic social class increases the likelihood of not practicing safe sex. The study aims to examine the relationship between socio-economic status and safe sex practices, including condom use, number of sexual partners, history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and engagement with paid sex services. The primary independent variable is household income level, specifically focusing on income levels below $25,000 and supporting 1-3 persons under the same roof. The dependent variable is whether individuals engage in safe sex practices, measured through survey responses on behaviors such as condom use and risky sexual activities. Control variables include age, gender, and sources of sex education, which help contextualize individual differences in sexual health behaviors.

The study employs a questionnaire comprising five variables: age, gender, household income, social class, and sources of sex education. Age is considered as a measure of generational differences affecting sex education and knowledge about STD prevention. Gender identifies respondents as male, female, or transgendered. Household income serves as a proxy for socio-economic status, which may influence access to information and resources. Social class reflects societal hierarchy based on economic success and possessions. The sources of sex education explore the extent and quality of information received about contraception and STD prevention, which can impact safe sex practices.

Responses to the questionnaire will be analyzed to determine whether lower socioeconomic status correlates with less consistent use of safe sex practices. The hypothesis testing will involve statistical analyses such as T-tests and ANOVA to compare groups based on income and social class categories. Data collection will involve administering the questionnaire to a sample of 50 students at SUNY College at Old Westbury, ensuring anonymity and voluntary participation per research ethics standards. The collected data will be entered into PSPP for descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, including measures of central tendency, dispersion, and hypothesis testing results, to establish if significant relationships exist among the variables examined.

Paper For Above instruction

Understanding the influence of social class on safe sex practices is essential for developing targeted public health interventions and promoting sexual health equity. Socio-economic disparities have long been associated with variation in health behaviors, including sexual health. Lower socio-economic groups often face additional barriers such as limited access to comprehensive sex education, healthcare services, and contraceptive resources. This research aims to explore how these disparities may translate into differences in safe sex practices among college students, a relatively accessible population for behavioral studies.

The theoretical foundation for this study is built on social determinants of health, which emphasize how social and economic conditions influence health behaviors and outcomes (Marmot, 2005). Existing literature suggests that individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors due to lack of access to reliable information, social norms, and economic pressures (Finer & Philbin, 2014). For example, a study by Santelli et al. (2006) highlights the significant role of socio-economic status in condom use and other safe sex practices among adolescents and young adults.

The research design involves a quantitative survey method, which provides measurable data on sexual behaviors and related variables. By focusing on household income as a primary indicator of socio-economic status, this study aligns with prior research that uses income as a reliable proxy for socio-economic disparities (Singer & Couper, 2017). Analyzing responses from a diverse sample of college students helps to identify patterns and correlations relevant to this demographic, which faces unique social and economic challenges concerning sexual health (Blake et al., 2018).

Key variables such as age and gender are included to account for differences in sexual maturity, knowledge, and societal expectations. Older students may have different experiences or access to sex education compared to younger peers, while gender differences often influence perceptions and behaviors around condom use and sexual risk-taking (Davis et al., 2019). The source and extent of sex education received is crucial, as external sources like peers or the internet may not provide accurate information, potentially leading to riskier behaviors (Widman et al., 2017).

Statistical analysis through descriptive statistics will illustrate the distribution and central tendencies of responses related to safe sex practices across different socio-economic groups. Measures such as mean, median, and mode will summarize responses, while skewness and dispersion metrics will reveal patterns in the data. Hypothesis testing using T-tests or ANOVA will determine if differences between groups are statistically significant. For example, a T-test could compare condom use frequency between students from income brackets below and above $25,000, while ANOVA could analyze differences across social class categories.

Preliminary results are expected to show that students from lower-income households and disadvantaged social classes are less likely to consistently practice safe sex, reflecting broader health disparities. Identifying these patterns can contribute to the development of tailored intervention programs that address the specific needs of socio-economically marginalized groups. For example, increasing access to comprehensive sex education in lower-income communities and integrating culturally sensitive health promotion strategies could improve safe sex practices among vulnerable populations.

Moreover, this research underscores the importance of socio-economic context in shaping health behaviors. The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence that health promotion efforts must consider social determinants to be effective. Addressing barriers faced by low socio-economic groups can lead to significant improvements in sexual health outcomes and reduce the prevalence of STDs and unintended pregnancies among young adults. Ultimately, these insights emphasize that disparities in health behaviors are rooted in broader social and economic inequalities, necessitating multifaceted policy and program responses.

References

• Blake, S. M., Choi, K. H., & Davis, F. (2018). Socioeconomic disparities and sexual behavior among college students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(2), 135-141.
• Davis, S., Scott, T., & Patel, V. (2019). Gender differences in condom use and sexual risk-taking: A study of young adults. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 95(4), 276-282.
• Finer, L., & Philbin, J. (2014). Disparities in health care access and sexual health among low-income adolescents. Public Health Reports, 129(Suppl 2), 24-31.
• Marmot, M. (2005). Social determinants of health inequalities. The Lancet, 365(9464), 1099-1104.
• Santelli, J. L., Rosenberg, M., Dooley, D., et al. (2006). Patterns of condom use among U.S. adolescents and young adults. Pediatrics, 117(2), 333-342.
• Sheng, C., & Capaldi, D. (2017). Socioeconomic status and health behaviors: Examining the impact of income and education. Social Science & Medicine, 191, 105-112.
• Singer, E., & Couper, M. P. (2017). Electronic questionnaires. In L. M. Newton & M. D. Rubinstein (Eds.), Medical informatics and healthcare informatics (pp. 315-330). Academic Press.
• Widman, L., Choukas-Bradley, S., & Noar, S. M. (2017). Sex education and risky sexual behavior among adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(6), 702-712.