Differences by gender and sexual experience in adolescent sexual behavior: implications for education and HIV prevention.

Researchers examined individual characteristics and peer influences related to adolescents' sexual behavior, taking gender and sexual experience into account. As part of a larger, longitudinal study investigating youth health awareness, 8th, 9th, and 10th graders reported their intentions to engage in sexual activity and use condoms in the next year, the amount of pressure they felt to engage in sexual activity, and their perceptions about the number of their peers engaging in sexual activity. Findings suggest intentions to engage in sexual behavior and use condoms, feelings of pressure to have sex, and perceptions about the number of friends engaging in sexual intercourse differ by gender and sexual experience status. Implications of these findings for health and sexuality education, as well as HIV prevention programs targeted at adolescents, are discussed.

[1]  C. Abraham,et al.  Health beliefs and teenage condom use: a prospective study. , 1996, Psychology & health.

[2]  Beck Jg,et al.  Teen contraception: a review of perspectives on compliance. , 1987 .

[3]  R. Barth,et al.  Gender differences in knowledge, intentions, and behaviors concerning pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention among adolescents. , 1992, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[4]  J. Collins,et al.  School-based programs to reduce sexual risk behaviors: a review of effectiveness. , 1994, Public health reports.

[5]  J. A. Epstein,et al.  Determinants of Intentions of Junior High School Students to Become Sexually Active and Use Condoms: Implications for Reduction and Prevention of AIDS Risk , 1994, Psychological Reports.

[6]  B. H. Thomas,et al.  Adolescent Sexual Behaviour: Results from an Ontario Sample , 1998, Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique.

[7]  L. Zabin,et al.  Gender Differences in Factors Influencing First Intercourse Among Urban Students in Chile , 1998 .

[8]  S. Weed,et al.  Understanding gender differences in adolescent sexuality. , 1996, Adolescence.

[9]  M. Gillmore,et al.  Condom use among high-risk heterosexual teens: A longitudinal analysis using the theory of reasoned action , 1998 .

[10]  P. Sheeran,et al.  Predicting intentions to use condoms: a meta-analysis and comparison of the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. , 1999 .

[11]  B. Leigh,et al.  Sexual behavior of American adolescents: results from a U.S. national survey. , 1994, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[12]  J. Brooks-Gunn,et al.  Adolescent sexual behavior. , 1989, The American psychologist.

[13]  J. Stevens.  Childbearing Among Unwed African American Adolescents: A Critique of Theories , 1996 .

[14]  B. Stanton,et al.  Longitudinal stability and predictability of sexual perceptions, intentions, and behaviors among early adolescent African-Americans. , 1996, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[15]  J. Price,et al.  Junior high school students' perceptions regarding nonconsensual sexual behavior. , 1998, The Journal of school health.

[16]  B. Stanton,et al.  Sexual practices and intentions among preadolescent and early adolescent low-income urban African-Americans. , 1994, Pediatrics.

[17]  C Abraham,et al.  Psychosocial correlates of heterosexual condom use: a meta-analysis. , 1999, Psychological bulletin.