“All my friends are doing it:” The Impact of the Perception of Peer Sexuality on Adolescents' Intent to have Sex

Abstract

The purpose of the authors in this study was to determine if the proportionality of peers who believe other youth are having oral sex or vaginal/anal intercourse influence the youth's intention to also have oral sex or vaginal/anal intercourse in the next three months. The results supported the hypothesis that the proportionality of perceiving one's peers as sexually active was correlated with one's intent to have oral sex in the next three months (r = .34 and .39, p < .01) and one's intent to have vaginal or anal sex within the next three months (r = .51 and r = .65, p < .01). Approximately 50% of youth who intent to have oral sex are also likely to have vaginal/anal sex. The results were not moderated by age, gender, or Hispanic/White status, but were moderated by being in a special/committed relationship.