By Lucian Gil Rey. Mentor Prof. Margo Hurlocker.
Abstract: Dating and sexual protective behavioral strategies (DS-PBS) are associated with reduced sexual risk behaviors and regretted sex among college students. However, little is known about the DS-PBS use among students who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming, a subgroup at greater risk for sexual victimization than their cisgender peers. We examined how gender identity and expression are associated with dating and sexual PBS use by students assigned male at birth (AMAB) and assigned female at birth (AFAB). Participants were college students (N=3984) recruited from 12 universities across the US, who completed the Gender Unicorn (i.e., gender identity, gender expression, assigned sex at birth) and the Sexual and Negative Dating Inventory (i.e., dating and sexual PBS). Separate linear regression analyses were run for AMAB and AFAB groups to evaluate whether PBS differs based on gender identity and expression. AFAB participants endorsed significantly more PBS use than AMAB participants. Among AFAB participants, greater identification with femininity was associated with fewer PBS, while higher levels of both external feminine and masculine expression were associated with more PBS. Among AMAB participants, greater identification with masculinity or “other gender” were associated with more PBS, while there was no significant relationship between external gender expression and PBS. These findings are consistent with previous research indicating that AFAB students endorse dating and sexual PBS use more than AMAB students. However, the relationship between gender and PBS is nuanced and should be further explored to guide interventions for students at risk for sexual victimization.
UROC 2025 Poster by Sara Gil Rey