Assessing base rates of sexual behavior using the unmatched count technique

Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
Amy J Starosta, Mitch Earleywine

Abstract

Estimating the prevalence of sexual behaviors is difficult because of self-report biases. This is particularly relevant in assessing high-risk sexual behaviors for the purpose of reducing the transmission and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. The present study employed the unmatched count technique (UCT), which provides estimates of the prevalence of risky sexual behaviors without requiring participants to confess to socially undesirable or stigmatized behaviors. Compared to a standard, anonymous self-report questionnaire, the UCT protocol revealed that people were less likely to notify their partners about STIs or discuss their history of sexual experiences. Effects were particularly large in women suggesting that women may be more likely to misrepresent their sexual behaviors. The findings suggest that conventional, anonymous self-report questionnaire data of base rates of risky sexual behavior and sexual communication are consistently inaccurate. These discrepant base rates suggest that the UCT might provide a better estimate of the frequency of these behaviors. Results suggest that inconsistent sexual behavior is more rampant than anonymous questionnaires suggest. They also underscore the n...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 30, 2017·Biometrical Journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift·Pier Francesco PerriBeatriz Cobo Rodríguez
Dec 25, 2015·Journal of American College Health : J of ACH·Amy J StarostaMitch Earleywine

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Software Mentioned

UCT
SPSS

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