The moderator effect of future time perspective in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the moderator effect of future time perspective in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour. A random cluster consisting of 497 Grade 12 learners from English medium high schools within the Mangaung Community of Bloemfontein participated in this study. The participants’ risky sexual behaviour was measured by determining the sexual activities in which they take part, namely vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, and withdrawal. Furthermore, an indication of their use of condoms within these activities was also obtained. To determine the presence of elf-efficacy and future time perspective, individual measuring instruments were used. Product term regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour and alternatively the relationship between future time perspective and risky sexual behaviour. The effect of future time perspective as moderator variable in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour was also investigated. The results indicate that both self-efficacy and future time perspective are negatively related to risky sexual behaviour. Additionally, a moderating effect was not found for future time perspective in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour. In other words, future time perspective has a direct relationship to risky sexual behaviour and consequently does not influence self-efficacy.