Week 11 Sexuality Sex During Adolescence STDs and Teen Pregnancy 70 have had sex by age 19 This generation more likely to have sex than previous generations Decline in sexual activity among teens Less likely to have sex before 13 Less likely to have 4 or more partners Less likely to be currently sexually active o Compared to adolescents in the early 90s Contraceptive use o 90 will become pregnant within 1 year if they re not using contraceptives o Usage Rate has been increasing But teens aren t using it consistently more sporadic than adults Still at risk for STDs and pregnancy o Condoms are the most used form 94 The pill is the 2nd most common choice withdrawal is the 3rd Condoms a good choice for teens since they protect against pregnancy and STDs Birth control varies depending on race ethnicity age and sexual orientation Black teens most likely to use condoms Whites birth control Older teens more likely to use the pill Gay teens less likely to use condoms than straight teens no risk of pregnancy Easier to get no prescription o Why aren t condoms used more often Negative experiences with them A generalized disregard for risk Lower ability to interpret risk cognitive development Personal fable they know STDs and pregnancy can happen but they don t think it will happen to them invincibility A lack of self efficacy Cant advocate for safe sex with their partner Partner might think they have STD don t trust them An unwillingness to take responsibility for oneself and the perception that condoms are ineffective 97 effective Users have to be knowledgeable of the method and be willing to admit they are sexually active to obtain contraceptives Do not believe pregnancy will happen to them personal fable Misinformed about when they re likely to get pregnant o Availability of contraceptives is controversial Should they have contraceptives In 1977 the supreme court ruled it should be available to all people regardless of age and Dr s do not have to contact a parent if they are prescribing contraceptives to a minor Availability has minimal effect on sexual activity doesn t increase who is having sex Use greatly decreases chances of pregnancy and STDs STDs o 50 of all new STD causes each year are persons 25 years old o Chlamydia and gonorrhea are especially common in teens o Girls are at a greater risk then boys More likely to be asymptomatic More likely to contract if partner is infected Unintended pregnancy o US has the 2nd highest teen pregnancy rates in the industrialized world o Rates are declining though 15 fewer than in 70s or 80s o About 20 of sexually active American teenage girls get pregnant each year Causation Theories to higher teen preg 80 are unplanned o American teens are no more likely to be sexually active o American teens are less likely to use contraceptives o Less likely to use the most effective methods methods consistently o The poverty rate is higher in the US greater preg o US govt provides fewer health care services to middle class citizens o Primary care physicians are less likely to concern themselves with birth control teens have to bring it up with their Doc o Youths in other countries are more likely to receive assistance from outside source which decreases poverty and pregnancy o Parental leave policies in the other nations provide incentives to postpone childbearing o Attitudes toward teen sexual behavior are more accepting in many European nations More likely to admit when they are sexually active o American society is more tolerant of teen childbearing than other nations o Comprehensive sex education is favored in other nations Abstinence only programs doesn t decrease the number of teens having sex only decreases the knowledge about pregnancy and contraception Comprehensive programs do not increase the number of teens having sex Pregnancy outcomes o will give birth 57 o 29 will get an abortion o 14 will miscarry o Of those who carry their baby to full term will end up keeping their baby o Motherhood 97 of adolescent mothers decide to keep their babies More likely to be poor engage in risky behaviors have poor relationships with their parents already at risk for pregnancy o Fatherhood contact usually steadily decreases after the child s birth The mother acts as a gatekeeper Teen mother s say it s a result of a lack of their interest o Abortion rate lowered Less teens getting abortion Morning after pill emergency contraceptive more readily available o Adoption those who place their babies for adoption generally feel quite comfortable Have better outcomes than those who decide to keep their babies or abort with this decision Teen Parents are at risk for them o Dropping out of school o Living in poverty lack of education employment o Likely to have subsequent children while still an adolescent o Their kids are also more likely to be teen parents themselves Gay and Lesbian Youth Working through their sexual identity Discrimination stereotypes Many homosexual men are stereotypically masculine in appearance and actions some are outstanding athletes Many lesbians are stereotypically feminine in appearance and behavior the media has done a better job portraying this than manly gay men The majority of gay men recognized their homosexual orientation early in life Less typical for lesbians to be aware of their sexuality during adolescents 2 5 males exclusively homosexual 1 2 of females exclusively homosexual 3x those rates have reported having a homosexual experience Sexuality is a continuous characteristic most people fall somewhere in between Determinants of sexual orientation o Biological theories have the most empirical evidence Suggest orientation is tied to genes prenatal exposure to hormones and brain anatomy Twin studies have shown a genetic component If you have a gay twin you are more likely to be gay Sexuality more heritable than handedness some consider to be innate Prenatal exposure to testosterone hypothalamus Hypothalamus is enlarged among gay men o Psychoanalytic Theories Parenting Theories outdated Thought homosexuality resulted from poor relationships with family Having trouble being attracted to opposite sex Relationship quality with parents is very similar to heterosexual teens and their parents o Social Learning Theories no empirical proof They had a negative heterosexual experience Learned to be homosexual No research link Homosexuality Adjustment o Face more challenges in developing sexual identity o More difficult than heterosexual youth to
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