Laura E Prendergast1, John W Toumbourou2, Barbara J McMorris3, Richard F Catalano4. 1. School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Prendergast.Laura@gmail.com. 2. School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3. Center for Adolescent Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 4. Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Limited longitudinal research has examined the adult health and behavioral outcomes associated with early adolescent sexual behavior. This paper examined whether adolescent sexual behavior predicted young adult health and social outcomes within longitudinal cohorts in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Adolescents were recruited in 2002 to be state-representative of school students in Victoria, Australia, and resurveyed in 2003 and 2004. The sample responded to a web-based survey as young adults in 2010/2011. Multivariate negative binomial regression models examined the predictive effect of sex by age 15 on young adult outcomes (average age 21) of sexual risk taking, substance use, antisocial behavior, and psychological distress (N = 2,147). RESULTS: After adjustment for other factors, sex at age 15 or younger (early sex) predicted higher rates of young adult sexual risk taking such as pregnancy, lifetime partners, and sex without using a condom. Early sex also predicted higher rates of young adult substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and/or illicit substance use) and antisocial behavior, but rates of adult psychological distress were not affected. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that early adolescent sex had unique predictive effects on a range of adverse young adulthood outcomes. Public health policies should synthesize longitudinal data on the risks of early sexual behavior, while advocating evidence-based adolescent sexual health promotion interventions.
PURPOSE: Limited longitudinal research has examined the adult health and behavioral outcomes associated with early adolescent sexual behavior. This paper examined whether adolescent sexual behavior predicted young adult health and social outcomes within longitudinal cohorts in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Adolescents were recruited in 2002 to be state-representative of school students in Victoria, Australia, and resurveyed in 2003 and 2004. The sample responded to a web-based survey as young adults in 2010/2011. Multivariate negative binomial regression models examined the predictive effect of sex by age 15 on young adult outcomes (average age 21) of sexual risk taking, substance use, antisocial behavior, and psychological distress (N = 2,147). RESULTS: After adjustment for other factors, sex at age 15 or younger (early sex) predicted higher rates of young adult sexual risk taking such as pregnancy, lifetime partners, and sex without using a condom. Early sex also predicted higher rates of young adult substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and/or illicit substance use) and antisocial behavior, but rates of adult psychological distress were not affected. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that early adolescent sex had unique predictive effects on a range of adverse young adulthood outcomes. Public health policies should synthesize longitudinal data on the risks of early sexual behavior, while advocating evidence-based adolescent sexual health promotion interventions.
Authors: John Santelli; Mary A Ott; Maureen Lyon; Jennifer Rogers; Daniel Summers; Rebecca Schleifer Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2006-01 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Chris E Rissel; Juliet Richters; Andrew E Grulich; Richard O de Visser; Anthony M A Smith Journal: Aust N Z J Public Health Date: 2003 Impact factor: 2.939
Authors: T Wing Lo; John W L Tse; Christopher H K Cheng; Gloria H Y Chan Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-05-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Jianing Ren; Xinran Qi; Wenzhen Cao; Zhicheng Wang; Yueping Guo; Junjian Gaoshan; Xiao Liang; Kun Tang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-26 Impact factor: 3.390