Citation

Smith ML, Wilson K, Menn M, Pulczinski JC. J. Sch. Health 2014; 84(6): 363-369.

Affiliation

Assistant Professor, (health@uga.edu), Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 330 River Road, 315 Ramsey Center, Athens, GA 30602; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, TAMU 1266, College Station, TX 77843.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/josh.12162

PMID

24749918

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intrapersonal and external factors, including social pressures and the desire for acceptance from peers, influence sexual activity among adolescents. This study examined how personal characteristics, risky behaviors, normative beliefs, household factors, and engagement in extracurricular activities were related to high school freshman girls' reported reasons for having sexual intercourse.

METHODS: Baseline data were analyzed from 158 girls enrolled in high school-based abstinence-only-until-marriage education programs during their freshman year. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with Pressures and Reasons for Engaging in Sex Scale (PRESS) scores.

RESULTS: Results indicate that girls with high PRESS scores were significantly more likely to have had sex (OR = 4.29), consumed alcohol within the previous year (OR = 6.13), reported strict household rules (OR = 1.49), and thought more girls their age had sex (OR = 1.67).

CONCLUSION: School- and family-based interventions should be developed to encourage and strengthen parent-teen communication within the household and reinforce self-worth and positive self-perceptions among adolescent girls.

Language: en