Sexual behavior of American adolescents: Results from a U.S. national survey

Abstract

Purpose: This paper reports on data from a 1990 U.S. national survey of the sexual behavior of male and female adolescents aged 12–17. Methods: A household survey using a multi-stage area probability sample of the United States was undertaken in 1990. Adolescents were interviewed about sexual history, contraceptive use, and motivations, attitudes, and expectations with regard to sexual behavior and risk. Results: The majority of 17-year-olds and about half of 16-year-olds, both male and female, had initiated sexual activity, with males initiating at younger ages than females. Sexual activity was episodic; only half of sexually experienced adolescents reported having sex in the month prior to the interview. Many sexually active respondents expressed less desire to have sex than confidence that they would have sex. Over half of respondents reported using a condom at most recent intercourse, with boys being more likely than girls to report condom use. Condom use at last intercourse was unrelated to perceptions of risk and concern about AIDS. Conclusions: Given the importance of some of the undesirable consequences of sexual activity in adolescents, such as AIDS and unwanted pregnancy, accurate and upto-date information on sexual behavior of this age group is crucially important. The results of this study underscore the need for in-depth, population-based research on adolescent sexual behavior.