Adolescent Sexual Behavior and Friendship Choice

Abstract

This study investigates whether there is structure in adolescent same-sex friendships along the dimension of sexual behavior. Specifically are those who have (have not) had sexual intercourse more likely to name as friends adolescents who have (have not) had sexual intercourse? Data used in this analysis are a part of a larger study of biological and social factors affecting adolescent sexuality. In the fall of 1978 self-administered questionnaries were completed by 504 adolescents in their homes. This sample represents 81% of the eligible respondents at 1 junior high school in an urban area of North Carolina. The sample is representative of all the junior high schools in North Carolina and a wide range of socioeconomic levels. Log odds ratios and a nested contingency table model are used to investigate homogeneity bias in adolescent friendship choice along the dimension of sexual behavior. Females both black and white tend to name friends whose sexual behavior is like their own even when grades other more visible deviant behaviors and a composite index of deviance proneness are taken into account. In contrast neither sexual intercourse nor any other deviant behavior considered in this analysis is a significant factor in accounting for male adolescent friendship structure. It is suggested that the differential reputational consequences for males and females who have intercourse may account for the observed difference by sex in the friendship choice-sexual behavior relationships. With the nested contingency table approach variables could not be controlled simultaneously and grade control had to be dropped. Future studies of homogeniety bias for sexual behavior could include: 1) a longitudinal analysis to disentangle the selection and influence processes; 2) expanding of the concepts of sexual behavior and friends; 3) investigation of the homogeneity bias for the sexual behaviors other than intercourse; and 4) examination of the relationship between opposite-sex friends after eliminating males and females who have been sex partners. That there is no significant homogeneity bias along any dimension of deviant behavior for males leads one to question whether any characteristics e.g. athletic prowess account for friendship choice among this group other than such explicit selection criteria as race and grade. Athletic prowess or participation in organized sports could be a possible criterion for male adolescent friendship choice.