Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviors of Emerging Adults in a Post-Roe World

Recent changes in abortion law have created a need to study how these changes may affect risky sexual behaviors among emerging adults. This study investigated whether abortion attitudes and political identity predict risky sexual behavior of emerging adults while accounting for permissive sexual attitudes. Forty-one unmarried emerging adults were recruited through snowballing and convenience sampling. Results revealed that a more conservative political identity was a significant predictor of risky sexual behavior while accounting for permissive sexual attitudes, whereas abortion attitudes were significant on their own. The implications of the study are discussed, including how risky sexual behaviors among emerging adults. Other strategies to mitigate abortion rates and risky sexual behaviors can be utilized to promote the physical, sexual, and mental health of emerging adults.