Sexual attitudes and behaviours among Arab American young adults in the USA

Abstract

While the sexual behaviours of different racial and ethnic groups have been studied extensively in the USA, Arab Americans are relatively understudied. The purpose of our study is to describe sexual attitudes and behaviours of Arab American young adults, to explore gender differences and the factors associated with five primary sexual behaviours (solo and partnered masturbation, oral, vaginal and anal sex). We conducted a cross-sectional quantitative study using a self-administered survey, which included measures of Arab ethnic identity, religiosity and sexual attitudes and behaviours. The survey was completed by 100 Arab American young adults (18-25 years old). Almost half of the sample reported being engaged in at least one of the five primary sexual behaviours in the past six months. In bivariate analysis, there were significant gender differences in sexual attitudes and all the primary sexual behaviours except for anal sex. Sexual attitudes and religiosity were significant predictors of partnered masturbation, oral and vaginal sex. Our findings challenge Arab societal assumptions that unmarried Arab American young adults do not engage in sexual behaviours, including risky behaviours, warranting further research to prevent unintended sexual health outcomes.

Keywords:

• Arab Americans
• young adults
• sexual attitudes
• sexual behaviours

Acknowledgements

We thank the participants who shared personal and sensitive information about their sexual attitudes and behaviours.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 We acknowledge that the Americas comprise North, Central and South America, but the focus here is on people who live in the parts of the Americas called the United States of America (USA).

Additional information

Funding

Sarah Abboud was a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA T32 (T32NR007100, PI: Sommers) postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania during the initiation and conduct of the study. She received financial support from Sigma Theta Tau International and the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science to conduct the study.