Abstract
Objectives. The concept of sexual self-efficacy has become increasingly cited in the literature due to its associations with risky sexual behaviour in adolescents and young adults. Attachment (characterised by feelings of anxiety or avoidance in relationships) is believed to be an important factor associated with the development of intimate relationships, including sexual relationships. Attachment is also thought to affect the degree to which relationships influence feelings of self-worth and a young person’s confidence in their ability to assert their sexual needs. The aim of the research was to examine whether general self-esteem and sexual self-esteem mediated an association between attachment style and sexual self-efficacy. Design. This study used a cross-sectional survey. Methods. One hundred and forty seven participants aged between 18-22 years completed an online survey. Participants completed measures of attachment, general self-esteem, sexual self-esteem and sexual self-efficacy. A small number of questions on sexual behaviour were also included. Results. Higher attachment anxiety scores and avoidance scores were significantly associated with lower self-esteem (general and sexual) and lower sexual selfefficacy. Lower self-esteem scores (general and sexual) were significantly associated with lower sexual-self-efficacy. Examination of indirect effects using bootstrapping methods showed that self-esteem (both general and sexual) individually partially mediated the negative relationship between attachment (anxiety and avoidance) and sexual self-efficacy. When included in the analysis together, the total indirect effect was larger than for each of the mediators individually. Conclusions. The findings demonstrated that attachment and self-esteem are important factors associated with sexual self-efficacy. The results highlight the need for a developmental perspective in order to provide effective prevention and intervention programmes aimed at increasing sexual self-efficacy in young adults.