Abstract
We explored gender differences in sexual behavior, and their relevance to mental health among high school students in South Korea. This study was based on data from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2018). The subjects were 2460 high school students who reported sexual experiences. Student′s t-test, ANOVA, and Rao-Scott chi-squared test were performed to identify the significance of the differences. Boys had earlier sexual debuts (Rao-Scott χ2 = 53.55, p < 0.001), a lower frequency of using contraceptives (Rao-Scott χ2 = 26.57, p < 0.001), and lower rates of sex education in school (Rao-Scott χ2 = 11.20, p = 0.004). With respect to mental health factors, there was a difference in suicidality according to sexual risk behaviors, with a stronger association found in boys. In girls, there was an association between pregnancy experiences and suicidal ideation (Rao-Scott χ2 = 9.90, p = 0.003), plans (Rao-Scott χ2 = 17.25, p < 0.001), and attempts (Rao-Scott χ2 = 23.11, p < 0.001). Our findings suggest differences by gender and age group in the association between sexual behavior and mental health. It is necessary to devise a sex education strategy for adolescents considering gender and early versus late adolescent development period.
Highlights
Adolescence, derived from the Latin word adolescere, meaning ‘to grow’, is an important period of development [1]
In a previous study in Ethiopia, 29.8% of high school students who participated in the study had sexual experience, and 64.8% of them had their first sex under the age of 18 [5]
A study using the same data source as this study reported that adolescents with sexual experience had higher levels of stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and lower happiness [26]
Summary
Adolescence, derived from the Latin word adolescere, meaning ‘to grow’, is an important period of development [1]. This study intends to explore the sexual behavior of high school students in South Korea from a broader perspective in consideration of this trend regarding adolescent sexuality, using data from a nationally representative sample of adolescents. According to a health behavior survey of approximately 15% of all South Korean adolescents, the rate of sexual intercourse experience was 2.6% for middle school students and 8.5% for high school students [4]. In a previous study in Ethiopia, 29.8% of high school students who participated in the study had sexual experience, and 64.8% of them had their first sex under the age of 18 [5]. Lefkowitz, and Welsh [6] reported that early sexual behavior may be associated with negative health outcomes but could be a positive experience in later adolescence. A study that investigated the differences in sexual knowledge and sex
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