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Differences by Gender and Sexual Experience in Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Implications for Education and HIV Prevention
Author(s) -
Nahom Deborah,
Wells Elizabeth,
Gillmore Mary Rogers,
Hoppe Marilyn,
Morrison Diane M.,
Archibald Matthew,
Murowchick Elise,
Wilsdon Anthony,
Graham Laurie
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2001.tb01314.x
Subject(s) - human sexuality , peer pressure , psychology , feeling , sexual behavior , developmental psychology , perception , reproductive health , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , sexual intercourse , clinical psychology , social psychology , population , medicine , gender studies , family medicine , environmental health , neuroscience , sociology
Researchers examined individual characteristics and peer influences related to adolescents' sexual behavior, taking gender and sexual experience into account. As part of a larger, longitudinal study investigating youth health awareness, 8th, 9th, and 10th graders reported their intentions to engage in sexual activity and use condoms in the next year, the amount of pressure they felt to engage in sexual activity, and their perceptions about the number of their peers engaging in sexual activity. Findings suggest intentions to engage in sexual behavior and use condoms, feelings of pressure to have sex, and perceptions about the number of friends engaging in sexual intercourse differ by gender and sexual experience status. Implications of these findings for health and sexuality education, as well as HIV prevention programs targeted at adolescents, are discussed.