Sex Between Young Teens and Older Individuals: A Demographic Portrait

Abstract

This research brief draws on recently released data on first sexual experiences from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG 2002) to present an updated look at sexual relationships between young teens and older individuals. Specifically, we examined males and females whose first sexual intercourse was at age 15 or younger with an individual who was three or more years older. We examined prevalence and trends in first sexual experiences between young teens and older individuals and identified family and individual factors associated with these young adolescents having sex with individuals three or more years older. We also looked at how the characteristics of the relationships that young teens have with older individuals differ from the characteristics of other adolescent sexual relationships, and we assessed whether sex between young teens and older individuals is correlated with other risky adolescent behaviors. Results of these analyses reinforce the findings of previous research, while also providing new information. For example, Child Trends’ analyses show that a significant proportion of young male teens ‐ not only of young female teens ‐ have engaged in a first sexual relationship with an older individual of the opposite sex. Among other key findings derived from these analyses are that the youngest sexually experienced teens are the most likely to have sex with an older individual, and that early sex with older individuals is linked with nonvoluntary and forced sex.