Various studies indicate that 6-11% of girls and 11-14% of boys report having expe­rienced same-sex contact during their adolescent years (Haffner, 1993; Hass, 1979). A recent survey of more than 17,000 adolescents found that about 1 in 10 teenag­ers report having experienced sexual contact with same-sex partners (Pathela, 2011). Most of these contacts took place […]

Recent evidence indicates that adolescent sexual interaction involving multiple simul­taneous partners is an emerging public health concern (Rothman et al., 2011). Multi — multi-person sex (MPS) person sex (MPS), which may be either consensual or forced, increases health risks Adolescent sexual interaction involving of participants, who often engage in unsafe, condomless sex and who may […]

Currently most American adolescents have access to the Internet at home, many via personal computers located in their bedrooms. Teenagers also use all kinds of mobile devices, such as cell phones and iPads, to surf the Internet (Feldman, 2011). Accessing social media sites such as MySpace and Facebook is one of the most common activities […]

Researchers have identified several factors that appear to predispose young adoles­cents to engage in sexual intercourse while very young or to delay coitus until they are older. Various psychosocial factors have been shown to be potentially powerful pre­disposing conditions for early onset of coitus. These include poverty, family conflict or marital disruption, teens living in […]

A number of conditions motivate teenagers to engage in sexual intercourse. An accel­erated output of sex hormones, especially testosterone, increases sexual desire and arousability in both sexes. Some adolescents are motivated by curiosity and a sense of Sexuality During Childhood and Adolescence Critical Thinking Question Assume that you are a parent of a teenager who […]

American Ethnic Diversity in Adolescent Sexual Experiences A variety of studies have consistently reported that African American teenagers are more likely to engage in adolescent coitus than either White or Hispanic American teenagers (Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2011; Centers for Disease Control, 2010i). For example, a nationwide study reported that African American high school seniors were […]

Even though many contemporary teenagers have not experienced sexual intercourse, the results of 13 nationwide surveys reveal a strong upward trend in adolescent coitus from the 1950s through the 1970s (■ Table 12.3). Results of the more recent of these surveys (and other surveys) suggest that this upward trend has leveled off and even decreased […]

A frequently quoted statistic in sex research is the number of people in a given category who have engaged in "premarital sex." As a statistic in sex surveys, premarital sex is defined as penile-vaginal intercourse that takes place between partners before they are married. However, the term premarital sex is misleading for two reasons. First, […]

Recently many states in America have struggled to cope with sexting (Melby, 2011). Sexting—sending sexually suggestive photos or text messages via the Internet, cell phones, or other electronic devices—is often associated with teenagers. However, it is probably more common among young adults as revealed by a recent report from the PEW Research Center’s Internet and […]

Despite the lingering double standard, data indicate that early sexual experiences, both coital and noncoital, are now more likely to be shared within the context of an ongoing relationship than they were in Kinsey’s time. Studies conducted in the United States have shown that from early to late adolescence the percentage of teens involved in […]