Truancy in Adolescence as a Predictor of Sexual Risk Outcomes in Young Adulthood

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the associations between truancy in adolescence and sexual risk outcomes in young adulthood. Methods: Data were drawn from 2677 participants of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Assessed when participants were aged 13-18 years, truancy was categorized as no truancy, low-level truancy and high-level truancy. When participants were aged 25-31 years, age of sexual debut, number of lifetime sexual partners and having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the previous 12 months were assessed. Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations. Results: Compared to non-truants, the likelihood of early sexual debut was higher among low-level truants and highest among high level truants. For lifetime number of sexual partners, low-level truants were more likely to have a high number of lifetime sexual partners compared to non-truants in young adulthood, while there was no relationship between high-level truancy and number of lifetime sexual partners. Low-level truants were just as likely as non-truants to report having an STD in the previous 12 months in young adulthood; however, high-level truants were more likely report having an STD in the same time period. Conclusions: Truancy in adolescence is associated with sexual risk outcomes in adulthood. Although not a cause of risky sexual behavior, habitual truancy presents an important point of intervention and may therefore be a useful indicator for programs that aim to prevent STDs