(PS12-C61) Associations Between the Sexual and Negative Dating Inventory (SANDI) and Predictive Validity of Adverse Sexual Experiences in a Sample of Sexual and Gender Minorities

Background: Adverse sexual experiences (ASE) are prevalent among sexual and gender minorities (SGM). Research indicates ASEs are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as decreased use of protective behaviors. The Sexual and Negative Dating Inventory (SANDI) is a measure of dating and sexual protective strategies and includes five factors: Location Sharing, Assertiveness, Self-Protection, Risk Reduction, and Privacy. Research shows that SANDI total scores are linked to lower ASEs in heteronormative samples. The current study examines associations between three types of ASEs and SANDI scores among SGM.

Method: To assess sexual violence, the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization was used. To assess sexual risk behaviors, six ‘yes/no’ items were used to create a dichotomous outcome of sexual risk that assessed behaviors related to condom use, alcohol use, and history of STIs. For sexual regret, the question “Have you ever had a sexual experience you later regretted?” was asked. The SANDI was previously validated in a sample of n = 1,289 college students. Data was examined from n = 313 (24.28%) SGM individuals at baseline, and n = 95 at one-month. Individuals were on average 19.70 (2.98 SD) years old and 25% identified as a non-white. This study is confirmatory, empirical, and data collection is complete.

Results: Regarding sexual violence, logistic regression revealed the SANDI was not associated with history of sexual violence (OR = 1.23, p = 0.153) or sexual violence over the following month (OR = 1.060, p = 0.774). Logistic regression revealed the SANDI to be inversely associated with history of sexual risk behaviors (OR = 0.645, p = 0.005), and prospectively associated with less sexual risk behavior over the following month (OR = 0.528, p = 0.056). Regarding regretted sex, negative binomial regression analyses showed the SANDI was not associated with history of sexual regret (IRR = 0.934, p = 0.619), however the SANDI was moderately associated with decreased sexual regret over the next month (IRR = 0.712, p = 0.069).

Conclusions: Overall, these findings highlight the importance of dating and sexual protective behaviors across dimensions of gender and sexual orientation. Prevention and intervention targets for individuals both with a history of and who are at increased risk of experiencing adverse sexual outcomes are indicated, particularly for sexual and gender minority individuals.