Citation

Leigh BC, Morrison DM, Trocki K, Temple MT. J. Adolesc. Health 1994; 15(2): 117-125.

Affiliation

Medical Research Institute of San Francisco, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8018684

Abstract

Research was conducted at Temple University over the period January-July 1990 using a multi-stage area probability sample of the 48 contiguous states of the US. 598 in-person interviews were completed with individuals aged 12-17 years in an effort to learn about their sexual histories, contraceptive use, and motivations, attitudes, and expectations with regard to sexual behavior and risk. Findings are presented in weighted percentages to better ensure representativeness of the national population. 5%, 6%, 24%, 29%, 48%, and 67% of interviewed boys aged 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 years, respectively, had ever had sexual intercourse. 0%, 3%, 3%, 37%, 48%, and 56% of interviewed girls aged 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 years, respectively, had ever had sexual intercourse. Overall, 29% of boys and 28% of girls had ever had sexual intercourse. About 25% of white respondents compared to 40% of black respondents had ever had sexual intercourse; among Hispanics, 35% of boys compared to 13% of girls have ever had intercourse. Overall, 16% of girls reported that they had been pregnant and 9% reported ever having a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Less than 4% of boys, however, reported involvement in pregnancies and none reported an history of STD. There were no significant ethnic group differences. Sexually active boys and girls had had sexual intercourse an average of 17.2 and 14.2 times in their lives, respectively, with virtually all sexually active respondents having intercourse during the preceding twelve months. In those twelve months, the boys and girls had had intercourse an average of 10.2 and 11.3 times, respectively. 58.1% of the sexually active boys and 63.4% of the sexually active girls had had sexual intercourse in the preceding 30 days. The vast majority of lifetime sexual intercourse among the sexually active respondents therefore occurred during the twelve months preceding the interview. Sexual activity was otherwise episodic given the percentage of respondents who reported having intercourse during the preceding 30 days. Many sexually active respondents expressed less desire to have sex than confidence that they would have sex. 33% of the boys and 15% of the girls expect and desire to have sex, while 17% of the boys and 3% of the girls desire, but do not expect to have sex. 67% of the boys and 47% of the girls reported using a condom during most recent intercourse, although condom use at last intercourse was unrelated to perceptions of risk and concern about AIDS.

Language: en