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Juvenile Sexual Behaviors

Children and teens who engage in sexual behavior are at greater risk for emotional problems, pregnancy, dating violence, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). RAND studies have examined such topics as prevention and intervention strategies, virginity pledges, the influence of the media on adolescent sexual behavior, and the link between romantic teen relationships and later adult marriages.

Research Brief

Few Teens Have "The Talk" Before Becoming Sexually Active

Many American parents and adolescents do not talk about important sexual topics, including birth control and sexually transmitted diseases, before adolescents' sexual debut. Clinicians can facilitate this communication by providing parents with information about sexual behavior of adolescents.

Mar 11, 2010
Journal Article

Predictors of Sexual Behavior Among Early and Middle Adolescents Affected By Maternal HIV

Sexual behavior among adolescents with HIV-positive mothers was less prevalent than among other adolescents, but was more likely to occur with adolescent alcohol use, lack of parental monitoring, and poorer physical functioning of HIV-positive mothers.

Jan 1, 2010
Journal Article

Characteristics of Effective Interventions in Improving Young People's Sexual Health: A Review of Reviews

The authors conducted a review of reviews to identify characteristics of effective sex and relationship education (SRE) interventions and/or programmes in young people to improve sexual health and identify barriers and facilitators for implementation.

Aug 1, 2009
News Release

Drug Education Also Helps Curb Risky Sexual Behavior

School-based drug education programs for adolescents can have a long-term positive impact on sexual behavior in addition to curbing substance abuse.

Apr 29, 2009
Commentary

Virginity Pledges Work for Some Teens

Essentially, the available research suggests that teaching abstinence alone to teenagers does not work — they are no more likely to delay the start of sexual activity than other teenagers. But research has not been so clear regarding virginity pledges specifically, writes Steven Martino.

Apr 1, 2009
Journal Article

Drug Education Also Helps Curb Risky Sexual Behavior

School-based drug education programs for adolescents can have a long-term positive impact on sexual behavior in addition to curbing substance abuse.

Jan 1, 2009
Journal Article

Measurement of Teen Dating Violence Attitudes: An Item Response Theory Evaluation of Differential Item Functioning According to Gender

This article examines data from 2,575 high school students who participated in a teen-dating violence intervention study. The majority of participants were Latino (91%), and the sample was nearly evenly split with respect to gender (51% female). Items from two scales (boy-on-girl violence; girl-on-boy violence) reflecting teens' attitudes about dating violence were calibrated with the graded item response theory (IRT) model and evaluated for differential item functioning (DIF) by gender. Results support the use of IRT scores that account for DIF to minimize measurement error and improve inferences about gender differences in attitudes about dating violence

Jan 1, 2009
Journal Article

It's Better on TV: Does Television Set Teenagers Up for Regret Following Sexual Initiation?

Interventions that limit teenagers' exposure to televised sexual content, that provide a more accurate portrayal of sexuality than typically depicted on television or that help adolescents think critically about televised sexual content may help teenagers make more carefully considered decisions about sexual debut.

Jan 1, 2009
Multimedia

Anita Chandra Discusses "Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregnancy?"

Anita Chandra discusses the first study to demonstrate a link between exposure to sexual content on TV and subsequently becoming pregnant or being responsible for a pregnancy before the age of 20.

Nov 3, 2008
News Release

RAND Study Is First to Link Viewing of Sexual Content on Television to Subsequent Teen Pregnancy

Adolescents who have high levels of exposure to television programs that contain sexual content are twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy over the following three years as their peers who watch few such shows.

Nov 3, 2008
Research Brief

Exposure to Sex on TV May Increase the Chance of Teen Pregnancy

Offers some practical implications based on the first study to demonstrate a link between exposure to sexual content on TV and subsequently becoming pregnant or being responsible for a pregnancy before the age of 20.

Nov 3, 2008
News Release

Virginity Pledges May Help Postpone Intercourse Among Youth

Making a virginity pledge may help some young people postpone the start of sexual activity.

Jun 10, 2008
Journal Article

Understanding Differences in Substance Use Among Bisexual and Heterosexual Young Women

Examines developmental factors that may contribute to higher substance use rates among bisexual than heterosexual women. Adolescent bisexual women were more likely to have been current and solitary substance users and reported poorer mental health.

Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article

Beyond the "Big Talk": The Roles of Breadth and Repetition in Parent-Adolescent Communication About Sexual Topics

Adolescents whose sexual communication with their parents involved more repetition felt closer to their parents, felt more able to communicate with their parents in general and about sex, and perceived that discussions had greater openness.

Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article

Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregnancy? Findings from a National Longitudinal Survey of Youth

Data from a national survey of teens were used to assess whether exposure to televised sexual content predicted subsequent pregnancy for girls or responsibility for pregnancy for boys. Exposure to televised sexual content predicted teen pregnancy.

Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article

Virginity Pledges May Be Appropriate As One Component of Sex Education

Adolescents who made pledges to remain virgins until they are married were less likely to be sexually active over the three-year study period than other youth who were similar to them, but who did not make a virginity pledge

Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article

Linking Media Content to Media Effects: The RAND Television and Adolescent Sexuality Study

This book chapter explores approaches to examining connections between media content and behavior, using a RAND study of media effects on adolescent teen sexual behavior as an example.

Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article

Media Multitasking: Issues Posed in Measuring the Effects of Televison Sexual Content Exposure

Adolescents who see more sexual content on television are more likely to initiate intercourse over the subsequent year.

Dec 31, 2007
Journal Article

Acculturation and Parent-Adolescent Communication About Sex in Filipino-American Families: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study

Acculturation may influence Filipino-American parent-adolescent communication about sex and, consequently, Filipino-American adolescent sexual health.

Jan 1, 2007
News Release

Few Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Teens Tell Their Doctor Their Sexual Orientation

December 28, 2006 News Release: Few Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Teens Tell Their Doctor Their Sexual Orientation, RAND Study Finds.

Dec 28, 2006

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RAND Topic:
Juvenile Sexual Behaviors

Research conducted by

RAND Health Care