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Psychopathic personality traits, risky sexual behavior, and psychological adjustment among college-age women

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fulton, JJ; Marcus, DK; Zeigler-Hill, V
Published in: Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
February 1, 2014

Psychopathic personality traits are associated with risky sexual behavior (RSB), which itself is associated with various negative consequences. The present study extended previous cross-sectional research by examining whether psychopathic personality traits predicted RSB among women and whether these traits moderated associations between RSB and post-RSB psychological adjustment. Seventy-seven female undergraduates completed self-report measures of psychopathic personality traits and RSB at baseline as well as measures of positive affect, negative affect, state self-esteem, shame, and guilt each week for eight consecutive weeks. Multilevel models revealed that higher levels of Self-Centered Impulsivity were associated with more RSB and that psychopathic personality traits moderated the associations between RSB and post-RSB psychological adjustment such that women with high levels of Self-Centered Impulsivity but low levels of Fearless Dominance reported more positive psychological adjustment when they were engaging in relatively high levels of RSB. These findings suggest that RSB may serve an emotion regulatory function and may also boost self-esteem among women low in Fearless Dominance but high in Self-Centered Impulsivity. © 2014 Guilford Publications, Inc.

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Published In

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0736-7236

Publication Date

February 1, 2014

Volume

33

Issue

2

Start / End Page

143 / 168

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Fulton, J. J., Marcus, D. K., & Zeigler-Hill, V. (2014). Psychopathic personality traits, risky sexual behavior, and psychological adjustment among college-age women. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 33(2), 143–168. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2014.33.2.143
Fulton, J. J., D. K. Marcus, and V. Zeigler-Hill. “Psychopathic personality traits, risky sexual behavior, and psychological adjustment among college-age women.” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 33, no. 2 (February 1, 2014): 143–68. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2014.33.2.143.
Fulton JJ, Marcus DK, Zeigler-Hill V. Psychopathic personality traits, risky sexual behavior, and psychological adjustment among college-age women. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 2014 Feb 1;33(2):143–68.
Fulton, J. J., et al. “Psychopathic personality traits, risky sexual behavior, and psychological adjustment among college-age women.” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, vol. 33, no. 2, Feb. 2014, pp. 143–68. Scopus, doi:10.1521/jscp.2014.33.2.143.
Fulton JJ, Marcus DK, Zeigler-Hill V. Psychopathic personality traits, risky sexual behavior, and psychological adjustment among college-age women. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 2014 Feb 1;33(2):143–168.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0736-7236

Publication Date

February 1, 2014

Volume

33

Issue

2

Start / End Page

143 / 168

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology