Psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour in young adulthood: cross sectional study in birth cohort

BMJ. 2000 July 29; 321(7256): 263–266.

PMCID: PMC27440

Psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour in young adulthood: cross sectional study in birth cohort

Sandhya Ramrakha, junior research fellow,^a Avshalom Caspi, professor,^c Nigel Dickson, senior research fellow,^b Terrie E Moffitt, professor,^c and Charlotte Paul, associate professor^b

^aDunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand, ^bDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, ^cInstitute of Psychiatry, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, London SE5 8AF

Contributed by

Contributors: SR participated in the study design, analysed and interpreted the data, and wrote the first draft of the paper. AC coordinated the collection of the mental health data, participated in the study design, and assisted with the analysis and interpretation of the data and writing of the paper. ND coordinated the collection of the sexual health data, participated in the study design, and critically edited the paper. TEM coordinated the collection of the mental health data, participated in the study design, and assisted with the interpretation of the data and writing of the paper. CP participated in the design of the study, provided advice on interpretation of the results, and revised the paper. SR, AC, and ND are guarantors of the study.

Correspondence to: S Ramrakha sramrakha/at/gandalf.otago.ac.nz

Accepted April 25, 2000.

See editorial "Adolescent mental health and risky sexual behaviour " on page 251.

This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract

Objective

To determine if risky sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual intercourse at an early age are associated with psychiatric disorder.

Design

Cross sectional study of a birth cohort at age 21 years with assessments presented by computer (for sexual behaviour) and by trained interviewers (for psychiatric disorder).

Setting

New Zealand in 1993-4.

Participants

992 study members (487 women) from the Dunedin multidisciplinary health and development study. Complete data were available on both measures for 930 study members.

Main outcome measures

Psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, eating disorder, substance dependence, antisocial disorder, mania, schizophrenia spectrum) and measures of sexual behaviour.

Results

Young people diagnosed with substance dependence, schizophrenia spectrum, and antisocial disorders were more likely to engage in risky sexual intercourse, contract sexually transmitted diseases, and have sexual intercourse at an early age (before 16 years). Unexpectedly, so were young people with depressive disorders. Young people with mania were more likely to report risky sexual intercourse and have sexually transmitted diseases. The likelihood of risky behaviour was increased by psychiatric comorbidity.

Conclusions

There is a clear association between risky sexual behaviour and common psychiatric disorders. Although the temporal relation is uncertain, the results indicate the need to coordinate sexual medicine with mental health services in the treatment of young people.

Introduction

The onset of psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour both peak in young adulthood.¹^,2 Although it is generally accepted that both problems have important public health implications,³^,4 little is known about the relation between the two. We examined whether psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour occur in the same individuals and, if so, whether there are specific relations. Information about concurrence of mental health disorders and risky sexual behaviour can be used to identify populations at risk for both problems and may help to inform prevention and intervention practices.

Previous studies of clinic and general population samples have reported associations between psychiatric problems and risky sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases.⁵^–⁹ Most of these studies, however, used highly selected samples or relied on global indicators of psychiatric status. Additionally, most studies have concentrated solely on substance use. Other common major psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, have rarely been considered. Those studies that have used representative samples and standardised measures of psychiatric disorders have focused on a restricted range of sexual health outcomes (for example, HIV). As a result of these limitations the existing findings are less than optimal for informing clinical practice or public health policy. Indeed, most studies of psychiatric disorders tend not to examine sexual behaviour in the same sample and vice versa.

We examined the links between a range of psychiatric problems and aspects of sexual behaviour at age 21 years using data from an epidemiological study of an unselected birth cohort.

Method

Participants

Participants were members of the Dunedin multidisciplinary health and development study,¹⁰ which investigates the health and behaviour of a birth cohort born during a one year period between 1 April 1972 and 31 March 1973 in Dunedin, a city of about 120

000 on New Zealand's South Island. The cohort was established when the children were three years old and were traced for follow up; 91% of the eligible children (still resident in the province) participated in the assessment. We used data gathered at the assessment at age 21 years when 97.3% (n=992, 487 women) of the living study members participated. Data on mental health were collected for 961 study members and data on sexual behaviour for 935 study members, with complete data available for 930. Ethical approval was received, and confidentiality was guaranteed for each component of the assessment.

Measurement of psychiatric disorder

Data on mental health were collected in a private interview by using the diagnostic interview schedule.¹¹ Its procedures, reliability, validity, and descriptive epidemiology in this sample have been described elsewhere.¹² Using a reporting period of the past year, we assessed the following disorders according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised (DSM-III-R)¹³: anxiety (which included any of social phobia, simple phobia, agoraphobia, generalised anxiety, and panic disorder), depression (major depressive disorder or dysthymia, or both), eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia, or both), substance dependence (marijuana or alcohol, or both), antisocial disorder (antisocial personality or residual conduct disorder, or both), mania, and schizophrenia spectrum. This spectrum category included individuals who responded “yes, definitely” to questions about the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, including bizarre beliefs such as being “sent special messages through the television or radio” and sensory perceptions such as “hearing voices other people could not hear.” Any symptoms with plausible explanations or that occurred solely under the influence of drugs or during a major depressive episode were ruled out. Structured psychiatric interviews are known to identify people who endorse psychotic type experiences and beliefs, some of whom have clinical psychosis but many of whom do not,¹⁴ and whose symptoms lie on a continuous spectrum from schizotypal personality disorder to schizophrenia. We expect only one quarter of our spectrum cases to develop schizophrenia, but their mental health was clearly impaired: 85% had comorbid diagnoses, 77% reported that the symptoms interfered with their lives, 54% had corroboration from an informant, 39% had contact with treatment, and 10% were prescribed psychiatric medication, though none was admitted to hospital that year.¹²

Measurement of sexual behaviour

Sexual behaviour in the previous 12 months was assessed with a questionnaire based on the 1990 British national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles.¹⁵ Questions were presented by computer, with an interviewer present who could not see the subjects' responses but was available to assist. We used the following measures to assess sexual behaviour and outcomes.

Risky sexual intercourse—Those who reported having sexual intercourse with three or more partners in the past year and who “never or only sometimes” used a condom were defined as engaging in risky sexual behaviour. Condom use reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases,¹⁶ and there is a definite increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in those who have had three or more partners.¹⁷

Sexually transmitted diseases—Study members were introduced to questions about sexually transmitted diseases with the statement: “There are some diseases, or infections, that can be passed on during sex. These are called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs.” Common examples were given, and those who responded positively were questioned on how often this had occurred in their life (recurrent episodes of the same infection were treated as one disease).

Early sexual intercourse—Study members were asked about their age at first intercourse. Study members who had sexual intercourse before the age of 16 years were considered to have had early sexual intercourse. Their characteristics have been reported elsewhere.¹⁸

Statistical analysis

To examine the relation between psychiatric disorder and risky sexual behaviour and outcomes we used 2×2 contingency tables (disorder versus no disorder and risky sexual behaviour versus no risky sexual behaviour) and obtained risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals. All risk ratios were adjusted with the Mantel-Haenszel test to take account of sex difference in the prevalence of disorder or risky sexual behaviour variables. Adjustment for socioeconomic status was also investigated. The socioeconomic status of the study members' families was coded into six categories according to occupation.¹⁹To examine whether people with more than one psychiatric problem were more likely to have risky sexual intercourse we used multivariate logistic regression. The cumulative risk associated with psychiatric comorbidity was tested by estimating the linear combination of coefficients and standard errors.

Using moderated regression analyses we also tested whether the links between psychiatric disorder and risky sex differed for men and women and for people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. To do this we computed a multiplicative interaction term between each of the disorders and sex (or socioeconomic status) and then estimated hierarchical logistic regression analyses for each of the outcomes of risky behaviour. Disorder and sex (or socioeconomic status) were entered on the first step and the interaction term on the second step. Significant interaction terms indicate that the links between psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour vary across different groups.

Results

Table Table11 shows the links between psychiatric disorders and risky sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, and early sexual intercourse. In the first row prevalence of outcomes for study members who were free from disorder are presented; they represent the control group against which disorder groups are compared. The tests for sex showed that these links did not differ significantly for men and women, so our data are combined in table table1.1. (Prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders¹² and sexual outcomes¹⁷^,18^,20 have previously been reported by sex for this sample.) In addition, the links were not moderated by socioeconomic status—that is, the links reported in table table11 were the same, and obtained equally, across all socioeconomic groups.

Table 1

Relation between psychiatric disorders and sexual behaviour outcomes at age 21 in a birth cohort. Figures are adjusted risk ratios (95% confidence intervals). All comparisons are between diagnostic group named versus those with no disorder in (more ...)

Compared with people with no psychiatric disorder study members with anxiety disorders were more likely to report sexually transmitted diseases. Study members with depressive disorders, substance dependence, and antisocial disorders were more likely to engage in risky sexual intercourse and report sexually transmitted diseases and were younger at first sexual intercourse. If study members were diagnosed with mania they were more likely to have engaged in risky sexual intercourse and to report sexually transmitted diseases. Finally, those with symptoms in the schizophrenia spectrum were more likely to engage in risky sexual intercourse and report sexually transmitted diseases and were younger at first sexual intercourse.

Table Table22 shows the associations between comorbid psychiatric conditions and risky sexual behaviour. We examined the comorbidity of the three most common psychiatric disorders that are linked with risky sexual behaviour (depression, substance dependence, and antisocial disorders). Comorbid psychiatric conditions show stronger associations with risky behaviour compared with any single psychiatric disorder.

Table 2

Relation between psychiatric comorbidity and sexual behaviour outcomes at age 21 in birth cohort. Figures are adjusted risk ratios^* (95% confidence intervals). All comparisons are between psychiatric comorbid groups named versus those (more ...)

Discussion

The results provide evidence that psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour occur in the same people at age 21 with unusual prevalence. Although risky sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases are common among this age group, a disproportionate burden is carried by those with psychiatric disorders. The associations were not moderated by sex. This effect does not seem to be due to social disadvantage in the family of origin because adjustment for socioeconomic background made no difference to the results. Even if the associations were partly mediated by other aspects of social or educational background, the primary association is important clinically. Young people with psychiatric disorder function with more difficulty in society than those without disorder.¹²The damaging consequences to health of risky sexual behaviour, such as unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, compound the impairments those with psychiatric problems already experience. Psychiatric comorbidity, which occurs in half of psychiatric cases¹²^,21 and is associated with increased risk of impairment,²² signals additional sociosexual risk.

Our results confirm previous findings of an association between sexual risk taking and externalising problems such as conduct disorder and substance abuse.⁵^–⁷ The strongest association of risky sexual behaviour was with disorders characterised by disinhibition or a pattern of impulsive behaviour (for example, antisocial personality, mania, and drug and alcohol dependence). Two additional findings are noteworthy. Firstly, young adults who present with symptoms in the schizophrenia spectrum were more likely to take part in risky sexual intercourse, develop sexually transmitted diseases, and have sexual intercourse at an early age. Secondly, depression, the most common psychiatric problem in the population, was also linked with these three outcomes. Furthermore, depression combined with an antisocial disorder or substance disorder increased the risk. This link is noteworthy as rates of depression escalate from age 15 to 21 years,²³ the period when sexual activity likewise emerges. About one third of people who use primary care services exhibit depressive symptoms.²⁴ On the one hand, depressed young adults may engage in risky sexual behaviour (and substance abuse) because of feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and disregard for self or in an attempt to self treat their depression. On the other hand, harmful consequences from a sexual relationship may precipitate a depressive episode.

We did not assess the full spectrum of DSM-III-R disorders, making it possible that we underestimated the extent of concurrence of psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour. We also examined the concurrence of psychiatric disorders and sexual behaviour cross sectionally. To inform prevention and intervention efforts, longitudinal analyses are needed to determine the temporal nature of this association, which may vary by disorder. Bad sexual experiences may lead to depression, but antisocial personality may lead to spreading sexually transmitted diseases.

To our knowledge this is the first report that establishes strong links between a wide range of psychiatric disorders and sexual behaviour. Prevalence and incidence rates of psychiatric disorders and sexual behaviour in the Dunedin sample are similar to those found among young adults in the United States and United Kingdom,¹²^,20 thereby lending confidence to the generalisability of the data. The results show that the most common psychiatric disorders in young people (substance dependence and depression) are the disorders that are linked to sociosexual problems. The findings highlight the need to coordinate sexual medicine with mental health services in the treatment of young people. Awareness of this potential comorbidity may also assist with prevention strategies. Moreover, early detection will be facilitated if practitioners are aware that risky sexual behaviour may be associated with mental health problems.

What is already known on this topic

Onset of psychiatric disorders and risky sexual behaviour both peak in young adulthood

What this study adds

A disproportionate burden of risk and disease associated with sexual behaviour is borne by young people with psychiatric problems

Depression, substance dependence, antisocial personality, mania, and schizophrenia spectrum are associated with risky sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases

Psychiatric comorbidity increases the likelihood of sexual risk taking

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr P A Silva, founder of the Dunedin study, and the study members and their families for their long term involvement. We thank Dr Richie Poulton, director of the Dunedin study, for his valuable comments on earlier drafts of this paper.

Notes

Editorial by Bennett and Bauman

Footnotes

Funding: Health Research Council of New Zealand, US National Institute of Mental Health (MH-4507, MH-49414, MH-56344), and UK Medical Research Council. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Competing interests: None declared.

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