Transcript Katy Poster SRCD Ris.. - University of Virginia

Negative Psychosocial Outcomes of Engaging in Sexual
Intercourse Before the Age of 16
Mary K. Higgins, Erin M. Miga & Joseph P. Allen
University of Virginia
Mary K. Higgins
[email protected]
This study was made possible by funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator (Grant#: 9R01HD058305-11A1)
Copies available online at: www.teenresearch.org
Introduction
Early sexual activity has also been linked to overt aggressive acts
toward peers
- girls who are assessed as being physically aggressive tend to engage
in early sexual intercourse, as well as risky sexual behavior
(Prinstein & La Greca, 2004)
- Teens who engage in early sexual behavior often have greater physical
maturity, and this often introduces them to drugs and alcohol, as well as
sexual activity (Halpern, Waller & Spriggs, 2006)
- teenagers who typically engage in early sexual intercourse will often
use and abuse a variety of different drugs, including alcohol,
nicotine, marijuana, and other illicit drugs (Rosenbaum & Kandel, 1990)
- Having sex at early ages is also correlated with higher rates of
delinquency (Ohene, Ireland & Blum, 2005)
- Fractured relationships with parents and peers often precede first
coitus for many adolescents (McBride & Paikoff, 2003)
- Literature on the outcomes of engaging in early sexual intercourse is
rather sparse, compared to how much research has been done to assess
the predictors of age at first coitus
- much of the research that has been done yields different findings
depending upon teenagers’ race, socioeconomic status, and
gender
Hypotheses
1. Adolescents who experience first coitus before the age of 16 will later
engage in higher levels of delinquent behavior, including drug and
alcohol use, even after accounting for baseline levels.
2. Adolescents who experience first coitus before the age of 16 will later
have less supportive relationships with friends, even after accounting for
baseline levels.
3. Adolescents who experience first coitus before the age of 16 will later
be more aggressive towards peers, even after accounting for baseline
levels.
*All measures were administered to target teens at Times 1 & 2*
Age 13
Ages 13-16
Early Initiation into Sexual Activity – Assessed using the 33-item Sexual
Experiences Questionnaire. The item that was used asked target teens “have
you ever had sexual intercourse?” Those who indicated they had engaged in
intercourse between Times 1 and 2 were considered to have had an early
initiation into sexual activity
First Coitus
Alcohol and Drug Use– Adolescents reported their alcohol and drug use using
the 55-item Self Perception Profile for Adolescents (α at Time 1 = .78, α at Time
2 = .88).
Age 16
-.20*
Overall Aggression
.40***
Overall Aggression
Aggression – Also assessed using the 55-item Self Perception Profile for
Adolescents. This measured overall aggression (compiled from the
participants’ scores on overt and relational aggression) (α at Time 1 = .82,
α at Time 2 = .67).
Delinquency – The 26-item Child Behavior Checklist assesses adolescent
adjustment, including engagement in delinquency. This measure was filled out
about the target teen by the teen’s eighth closest friend
(α at Time 1 = .71, α at Time 2 = .87).
Emotional Support from Best Friend – Participants discussed a problem that
they were having that they could use some advice or support about for 8
minutes. The present study uses coded ratings of the quality emotional
support provided to teens from their best friends (interrater reliability at Time 1
= .88, interrater reliability at Time 2 = .83). Whether or not they asked for
support was also coded (interrater reliability at Time 1 = .83, interrater reliability
at Time 2 = .77).
Results
Figure 2. Hierarchical regression paths controlling for Overall Aggression at Time 1, gender, and
socioeconomic status. Note. N=124; Lower scores mean more aggression. * p ≤ .05, ** p ≤ .01, *** p ≤ .001
Table 3. Predicting Age 16 Delinquency, Drug Use, and Emotional
Support from First Coitus.
Time 1
First Coitus
Delinquency
.07
.21*
Drug and Alcohol
.49***
.24**
Emotional Support Given by Close Peer
.11
-.17+
Note. * p ≤ .05, ** p ≤ .01, *** p ≤ .001
Predicting the Amount of Emotional Support Called for by the Target Teen at
Age 16 from First Coitus
Age 13
Ages 13-16
First Coitus
Method
Age 16
-.19*
Target Teen Calling for
Support
.18
Participants
-Longitudinal, multi-method data were obtained for 138 adolescents (76
female, 62 male), their same-sex close friends, and their eighth closest
friends at Times 1 and 2
-At Time 1, target teens, their close friends, and their eighth closest peers were
all an average age of 13
-At Time 2, target teens, their close friends, and their eighth closest peers were
all an average age of 16
-Median family income was in the $30,000-$39,999 range
-The target sample consisted of 88 Caucasian adolescents, and 50
minority and/or mixed ethnicity adolescents
Predicting Age 16 Aggression from First Coitus
Measures
Target Teen Calling
for Support
Figure 1. Hierarchical regression paths controlling for Target Teen Calling for Support at Time 1, gender, and
socioeconomic status. Note. N=114; Higher scores mean a greater calling for support from the teens’ close
peers. * p ≤ .05, ** p ≤ .01, *** p ≤ .001
Discussion
- Having sex at an early age seems to exacerbate externalizing behaviors,
(including drug and alcohol use, aggression, and delinquency), and decrease
emotional support over and above previous levels of these behaviors
- Engaging in early sexual behavior can leave teenagers emotionally stirred up
- Pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases are also likely outcomes for
teenagers who have an early sexual initiation
- The potential contribution of these sexually relevant stressors could also
encourage adolescents to act out in anger or fear of their uncertain future if
they are faced with an unexpected child or an STD
-However, a third variable could have been driving this model (such as
attachment to parents)
- Having a poor relationship with parents could encourage teenagers to seek
understanding and intimacy with peers, which in turn could lead to early sex,
as well as steadily increasing externalizing behaviors during adolescence
- This study suggests the need to look at the role of parental attachment in
outcomes of early sexual behavior