Background Understanding sexual behavior and its determinants among college students is crucial for promoting sexual health and well-being. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may play a role in shaping sexual behaviors. The current study investigates the association between ACEs, condom use frequency, demographics, and consensual sexual intercourse among undergraduate college students. Methods Upon IRB approval, a paper survey was administered among undergraduate college students enrolled in the Health Promotion and Education classes at a midwestern urban campus. A total of 152 participants were recruited through convenient sampling. Results A univariate regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between sexual intercourse and categories of ACEs, age, condom use frequency, racial/ethnic identity, sexual orientation and sex assigned at birth. Age, condom use frequency, racial/ethnic identity as Asian and Caucasian were significant at p < 0.05. Furthermore, a final logistic regression model was significant (χ² = 127.740, df = 4, p < .001). Participant age and racial/ethnic identity as Caucasian emerged as significant in the model. Discussion The findings of this study encourage universities to expand their focus beyond traditional socio-demographic and educational factors when addressing risky sexual behaviors among college students. It highlights that ACEs may be a lingering influence driving sexual activity, suggesting that trauma-informed, tailored approaches can more effectively promote safe practices and address diverse student needs.
Chaliawala et al. (2025) studied this question.