Abstract
This study attempted to provide basic data for creating a program to help promote safe sexual behavior among runaway female at-risk adolescents by identifying factors related to the sexual experiences. This study conducted a logistic regression analysis using data regarding 182 female at-risk adolescents, which were sourced from the 2016 survey of Korean adolescents’ contact with media usage and harmful environment. This study showed that adolescents’ age, smoking, and harmful environments are associated with the occurrence of sexual activity among at-risk female adolescents. One significant outcome of this study was the identification of harmful environmental factors and their impact on sexual behavior. Since smoking and sex-related problems among adolescents can act as risk factors for adult sexual health in the future, schools should institute direct and indirect channels for assessing sex-related problems among runaway female at-risk adolescents and establishing proactive and preventive measures for promoting their sexual health. In addition, a social cooperation system should be established in order to assess, and mediate within, the environments around schools in order to minimize adolescents’ exposure to harmful environments.
Highlights
An “at-risk adolescent” can be defined as a young person aged from 10 to 18 years who experiences difficulties in studying or practicing social adaptation due to family problems, economic problems, or psychological disorders [1], that is, “those who are not be able to get a job or achieve a full life as adults due to their inadequate adaptation to school life, and as a result, adolescents who are unlikely to contribute enough to society” [2]
A 2016 study [18] reported a steady increase in the amount of sexual experiences among adolescents in the 14–18 age group and argued that adolescents who began to have sexual intercourse at an early age were more likely to engage in dangerous sexual behaviors, such as having multiple sexual partners or practicing inaccurate or inconsistent use of condoms; these are behaviors that increase the risk of exposure to many sexual and reproductive health problems
This study aimed to identify factors that are related to sexual intercourse experiences among runaway female at-risk adolescents in order to create interventions aimed at improving their daily lives in terms of sexual health promotion
Summary
An “at-risk adolescent” can be defined as a young person aged from 10 to 18 years who experiences difficulties in studying or practicing social adaptation due to family problems, economic problems, or psychological disorders [1], that is, “those who are not be able to get a job or achieve a full life as adults due to their inadequate adaptation to school life, and as a result, adolescents who are unlikely to contribute enough to society” [2]. South Korean adolescent population (about 780,000), and this trend has continued; the percentage of such adolescents increased from 17.6% of high risk groups and 27.3% of potential risk groups, in 2010, to 19.3% and 29.8%, respectively, of such groups in 2015 [1]. At-risk adolescents often become runaways who have run away from their family or institutions due to personal and/or family problems or difficulties in adapting to school. Their runaway rate has been reported to be 69.8%, which is higher than that of ordinary adolescents (11%) [3]. Runaway adolescents are more likely to experience mental health problems such as depression, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal attempts [4]; they are more susceptible to problems such as academic interruption, theft aimed at making a livelihood [5], and misconducts related to physical assaults [6]
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