Teen and Tween Sex at Alarming Levels
Early Onset Age of Sexual Initiation for Youth Shockingly High
Nov 9, 2009
Most professionals in youth development and human services would caution against what is known as early-onset sexual activity, or early initiation of sex. According to “Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt Suicide” (The Heritage Foundation, Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D., and Lauren R. Noyes, Center for Data Analysis Report #03-04, June 3, 2003) the problems of teenage sexual activity are well known.
Sexually Active Teens
Overall, the emotional and physical wellbeing between teens who are sexually active and those who are not, may be significant. Problems often include:
- Sexually transmitted diseases (roughly one-quarter of the nation’s sexually active teens have been infected by a sexually transmitted disease);
- Out of wedlock childbearing;
- Long term poverty and impoverishment;
- Abortions and multiple abortions;
- Impairment in intimacy, trust and relationship development issues;
- Sexual addiction;
- And a range of psychological and emotional problems (including findings that both teenage boys and girls who are sexually active are significantly less likely to be happy and more likely to feel depressed, and when compared to teens who are not sexually, active teenage boys and girls who are sexually active are significantly more likely to attempt suicide.)
Age of Onset
A new Iowa State study of nearly 1,000 low-income families in three major cities found that one-in-four children between the ages of 11 and 16 reported having sex, with their first sexual intercourse experience occurring at the average age of 12. Reportedly, the results even shocked the authors of the study.
According to Brenda Lohman, an associate professor of human development and family studies and co-author of the study, "So if 12 years was the average age here, that meant that some kids were starting at 10 or younger. A handful of kids reported having sex as early as 8 or 9. We know from our follow-up interviews that one boy who reported having sexual intercourse for the first time at age nine had fathered four children by the time he was 18." The study also found links between juvenile delinquency and early sexual behavior.
Sex Education for Tweens and Teens
Parents, teachers and social service workers have long been concerned with youth involvement with sexual activity, and the far reaching consequences. Now, perhaps, there is even greater reason to exercise such caution and concern as it is found that the age of onset of sexual activity is much lower for many than previously thought.
The question that remains to be answered is: has sex education truly accomplished the original goals, or has it inadvertently resulted in higher levels of sexual activity and early onset of sexual activity – especially for tweens and teens. Perhaps more important is the question: are parents taking this – and their roles as parents – as seriously as the data would demand.
See Also:
How to Have a Happy and Healthy Family
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