Contact: Scott. C. Carvajal, PhD, MPH
(831) 438-4060, ext. 219
scottc@etr.associates.org

Attitudes and Social Norms Delay Adolescents' "First Time"

Beliefs about refraining from sexual intercourse and the norms reflected by peers largely determine an adolescent's decision to refrain from sexual intercourse, new research shows. To a lesser extent, their self-efficacy or ability to say "no" to having intercourse in risky situations also influences whether they will delay their first time or not.

"A modest increase in positive views about teenagers refraining from intercourse can predict a 30 percent reduction in the onset of intercourse," said Scott C. Carvajal, PhD, MPH, lead author of the study.

The age young Americans have been having their first sexual experience has generally been getting younger over the last 25 years. Postponing "onset" is an important health consideration, according to the six-person research team from the University of Texas; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Education, Training, Research Associates who carried out the study.

"It's important because early sexual activity increases risk for AIDS, a leading cause of death in young adults and for other sexually transmitted diseases as well," said Carvajal.

For their study the scientists selected 827 ninth-grade students from Texas about 15 years of age, almost two-thirds of them female, who reported they had never had sex up to that time. They measured psychosocial factors and demographics such as ethnicity and parental education. Then at around six-month intervals across the next two years they asked the students if they had begun to have sex. The results of the study appear in the September issue of Health Psychology.

Over the two years, 222 students reported they had sexual intercourse for the first time, and 605 reported they still had never had sex. The data also strongly showed that not having a parent who graduated from college is associated with likelihood of earlier first intercourse.

"Attitudinal beliefs, social norms and self-efficacy are not the only predictors of when adolescents have sex for the first time," said Carvajal. "Substance use, family functioning, coercion, and the youths' overall sense of their future are other avenues that deserve further investigation."

The research was supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Health Psychology is the official, peer-reviewed research journal of the Division of Health Psychology (Division 38), American Psychological Association. For information about the journal, contact David Krantz, PhD, at (301) 295-3273.