Sexual Activity during Adolescence:

Risks, statistics, and influences involving pre-marital sex.

Nearly half of all 15-19 year olds in the United States have had sex at least once…

FAMILY

PEERS

BIOLOGY

What influences drives them to have pre-marital sex?

FAMILY…

Putting attention to their children

Spending time with them

Talking about sexual relations and their

consequences

Knowing their whereabouts

PEERS…

Peers add pressure Friends follow friendsThe “FITTING IN” factor

BIOLOGY…

The more intense pubertal maturation an adolescent has, the higher the sexual activity is seen.

The environment is also an influence?

Less attentions to adolescents

Girls having

boyfriends and being alone

SEX

Poor neighborhoo

ds Parents working more

MEDIA is a huge influence…

More exposure leads to more sexual action…

Kids should be limited to at most 1-2 hours per day

Kids should not have a TV in their room

Most sexual facts are informed through the media

Abercrombie and Fitch Ads

Consequences

Increase in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)

Increase in Unwanted pregnancies Higher school drop out rates Increase in help for low income

families

ADOLESCENTS NEED?

Positive

PEERS

Parents being involve

d

High self-

esteem

Monitored

media

References

Abma J. C. (2003). Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing. Vital and Health Statistics, 23 ( 24).

American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Public Education. American Academy of Pediatrics: children, adolescents, and television. Pediatrics. 2001;107 :423 –426[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Brody, G.H., Murry, V.M., Kogan, S.M., Gerrard, M., Gibbons, F.X., Molgaard, V., Brown, A.C., Anderson, T., Chen, Y., Luo, Z., & Wills, T.A. (2006). The Strong African American Families Program: A cluster-randomized prevention trial of long-term effects and a mediational model. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(2),

356-366. Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (1998). The ecology of human development. In W. Damon

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Children’s Hospital Boston; Children who view adult- targeted TV may become sexually active earlier in life. (2009). Biotech Week, 3039. Retrieved from ProQuest Health and Medical Complette. Document ID: 1707945831

Commendador, K. A. (2010).Parental Influences on Adolescents Decision Making and Contraceptive Use. Pediatric Nursing, 36 (3), 147.

Commendador, K. A. (2007). The relationship between female adolescent self-esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 19(11), 614-23.  Retrieved September 18, 2010, from ProQuest Health and Medical Complete. (Document ID: 1385010131).

References Cont.

DiCenso, A., Guyatt, G., Willan, A., & Griffith, L. (2002). Interventions to reduce unintended pregnancies among adolescents: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMJ, 324, 1426.

Friedlander, L., Connolly, J., Pepler, D., & Craig, W.. (2007). Biological, Familial, and Peer Influences on Dating in Early Adolescence. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(6), 821-30.  Retrieved September 18, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1396577251).

Guttmacher Institute. (2010). U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity. Retrieved from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html#9

Gravenor, K. (2005). Poverty in Montreal: Where it’s at, where it came from, where it’s going. Retrieved from http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/102005/watn24.html

Katchadourian, H. (1990). Sexuality. In S. S. Feldman & G. R. Elliot (Eds.), At the threshold: The developing adolescent (pp. 330-351). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Marcia, J. E. (1980). Identity in adolescence. In J. Adleson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 159-187). New York: Wiley.

Schofield, H., Bierman, K., Heinrichs, B., & Nix, R.. (2008). Predicting Early Sexual Activity with Behavior Problems Exhibited at School Entry and in Early Adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(8), 1175-88.  Retrieved September 18, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1571804951).

University of Montreal; Troubled girls from poor neighborhoods more likely to have sex in early adolescence. (2008, October). Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week,190.  Retrieved September 18, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1560499401)

Wimberly, Y. (2005). STDs, pregnancy risk, and fertility: Practical tips to address adolescent misconceptions and reproductive needs. Retrieved from http://www.srm-ejournal.com/article.asp?AID=8610