Citation

Young M, Cardenas S, Donnelly J, Kittleson MJ. J. Sch. Health 2016; 86(12): 855-863.

Affiliation

School of Health and Human Performance, SUNY Brockport, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY 14420.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/josh.12455

PMID

27866383

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to (1) examine attitudes of adolescents toward peer models having sex or choosing abstinence, and (2) determine whether a "double standard" in perception existed concerning adolescent abstinence and sexual behavior.

METHODS: Adolescents (N = 173) completed questionnaires that included 1 of 6 randomly assigned vignettes that described male and female peer models 3 ways: (1) no information about model's sexual behavior, (2) model in love but choosing abstinence, and (3) model in love and having sex. Participants read the vignette to which they had been assigned and responded to statements about the peer model. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance.

RESULTS: Results did not show evidence of a sexual double standard among male participants, but did show some evidence of a sexual double standard among female participants. Additionally, both male and female participants evaluated more harshly peer models that were having sex than peer models that chose abstinence.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide insight concerning the lack of a sexual double standard among male participants, the existence, to some degree, of a sexual double standard among female participants, and demonstrate the existence of a social cost to both young men and young women for choosing to have sex.

© 2016, American School Health Association.

Language: en