Using the IAT to Investigate Implicit Gender-Related Sexual Attitudes Among Emerging Adults

Introduction to the research question(s). Sexual double standard endorsement has been associated with negative (sexual) health outcomes. Yet, there have been inconsistent findings on its continued existence and influence, which have been partially attributed to methodological issues (e.g. cross-sectional methods, student samples). This calls for innovation in the field. In the present study, we investigated whether sexual double standard endorsement can be assessed using an implicit measure. Sexual double standard endorsement is related to gender differences in sexual assertiveness. Therefore, we also investigated whether sexual assertiveness can be assessed using an implicit measure. The study explored gender differences in implicit scores and relationships with explicit (questionnaire) measures. Description of methods. We developed two Implicit Association Tests (IATs; Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998), measuring implicit sexual double standard endorsement and implicit sexual assertiveness. Scores are compared with explicit (questionnaire) measures. For this purpose we used the Scale for the Assessment of Sexual Standards among Youth (SASSY) and an adapted version of the Hurlbert Index for Sexual Assertiveness. Results. Results showed that young men and women both scored low on sexual double standard endorsement on an explicit measure. Yet, the IAT showed an attitude among men in line with the sexual double standard, but with a reverse sexual double standard among young women. Similarly, sexual assertiveness showed no significant gender differences on an explicit measure. Yet, the IAT showed young men scoring significantly higher, compared to young women. Brief discussion. Implicit sexual double standard endorsement is different from explicit sexual double standard endorsement. This may be due to different levels of cognitive processing. Similar differences emerged between implicit and explicit sexual assertiveness. This possibly points towards a discrepancy between sexually assertive behavior and behavioral intentions. Implications. Future research could focus on disentangling the different cognitive levels on which sexual double standards seem to exist. This could in turn help to create interventions at different levels (e.g. personal, family, school) as well as inform legislation (e.g. media, sexual education) to improve gender equality in relationships and sexuality. The results on sexual assertiveness imply that there can be a discrepancy between what a young person might do in the bedroom, and what they think they would do. Thus, attention towards sexual negotiation skills in sexual education seems warranted.