Personality, sexual behavior, and drug use revealed through latent variable methods

Abstract

The interrelations between personality, sexual behavior, and drug use among adolescents and young adults are studied using recently developed causal modeling methods. Formally known as structural equation models, these methods require the researcher to specify a series of simultaneous hypotheses about the effects of certain latent or unmeasured constructs on other constructs, as well as how observed variables serve as indicators of the latent constructs. Statistical tests of the adequacy of these hypotheses are then made. This paper reviews several studies and reports on a new study designed to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent are masturbatory and coital responsiveness phenomenologically interchangeable aspects of sexuality among young women? (2) Does social assertiveness by women improve their sexual responsiveness? (3) Is adolescent dating and sexual involvement related to their use of drugs and alcohol? The last question is addressed using a new distribution-free statistical estimator.