Adolescent Debut Research Articles

Parenting Practices during Childhood and Later Adolescent Sexual Outcomes.

Limited empirical evidence exists regarding longitudinal connections between parenting during childhood and adolescents' sexual development. Using structural equation mediation modeling, this study examined how mothers' parenting practices during childhood (ages 8 to 11) directly related to adolescent sexual outcomes (ages 12 to 16) and whether relationships were mediated by parenting practices persisting over time. Two waves of data were used from a large longitudinal national sample including 687 mother-adolescent pairs (Mage = 10.02, SD = 1.15, 50% female, 64% White) in 2002 and 2007. For boys, mothers' knowledge of whereabouts and warmth during childhood had negative direct connections to later frequency of intercourse. However, no parallel connections were found for girls. For both boys and girls, mothers' warmth during childhood was associated with an increased likelihood of sexual debut in adolescence. The findings highlight that parenting practices during childhood directly and indirectly (through parenting trajectories) shape sexual development of children.

Birth Order and First Sexual Experience: Do Siblings Influence Sexual Debut in Adolescents?

Birth order may foster specific roles for individuals within the family and set in train a dynamic that influences the development of specific behaviors. In this paper, we explored the relationship between birth order, sex, timing of sexual initiation, and its consequences for risky sexual behavior and sexual health. We conducted a path analysis to simultaneously estimate direct and indirect effects using data from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL-3). Whereas women born as only-children were more likely to sexually debut at later ages, middle-child boys were significantly more prone to initiate sexual intercourse earlier compared with first-borns. As expected, early sexual initiation was associated with riskier behaviors and sexual health outcomes. These associations were partially moderated by siblings role as confidants about sexuality. Our findings have implications for preventive programs aimed at promoting healthy sexual debuts and behaviors over the life span.

Sexual debut and college entrance among South Korean adolescents

IntroductionFor the past few decades, numerous theoretical perspectives have predicted a negative association between adolescent sexual debut and the probability of college entrance. The present article extends the literature by using nationally representative longitudinal data from South Korea to assess these perspectives. MethodsDrawing on longitudinal data from South Korea, this article examined the impact of becoming sexually active between 8th and 12th grades on the probability of college entrance. We controlled for a wide array of confounding variables by using logit models that account for longitudinal attrition and school-based sampling design. ResultsAnalytical results showed that the initiation of sexual intercourse during adolescence predicted a statistically significant decrease in the probability of college entrance for both boys and girls. Gender-specific analyses suggested that, on average, sexual debut in adolescence was associated with a decrease of 10.3 percentage points in the probability of college entrance for boys and a decrease of 14.7 percentage points for girls. ConclusionsThese findings strongly support the theoretical perspectives of age norm theory and sexual double standards in South Korea, where strictly conservative attitudes toward sexuality and sexual behaviors are dominant.

MRI pattern changes in pelvic muscle and lower limb in patients with dysferlinopathy

Introduction . Dysferlinopathy is a phenotypically heterogeneous group of hereditary muscular dystrophies caused by mutations in the dysferlin gene ( DYSF ). Debut in adolescence, predominantly in physically developed patients, combined with the often subacute development of hypercreatine phosphatemia and edematous muscle changes in MRI often leads to diagnostic errors. Purpose of the study : to determine the most typical MRI pattern of muscle damage of the pelvic girdle and lower limb in patients with dysferlinopathy. Materials and methods . 40 people were examined, among which 20 patients with a clinical picture of dysferlinopathy with an equal ratio of Miyoshi phenotypes and LGMD and an average age of 35 (24; 44) years. Comprehensive clinical and instrumental examination included neurological, electroneuromyographic and molecular genetic studies (NGS). Magnetic resonance imaging of the muscles of the pelvic girdle and lower limb was performed in 20 patients and a control group equivalent in sex and age. Results . The use of semi-quantitative MRI indicators — relative signal intensity — D (D=T1 muscle (STIR) / T1 (STIR) subcutaneous fat layer) made it possible to formulate the characteristics of a common typical MRI pattern of muscle involvement in dysferlinopathy. An increase in the intensity of the relative signal D, T1 in the rear muscle group of the thighs and lower legs, indicating fatty infiltration was observed most frequently, while a decrease in D, STIR values was observed in the anterior and medial muscles of the thighs, reflecting the presence of edema of the previous fatty degeneration of these muscles. Conclusion . In addition to the general idea of muscle involvement in dysferlinopathy, it is advisable to consider the «early», «typical / completed» and «late» MRI patterns of dysferlinopathy that increase the effectiveness of the diagnosis of this disease. In the differential diagnosis of the Miyoshi phenotype from LGMD, one should focus on maintaining normal values of D, T1 from m. gluteus maximus and m. popliteus at all stages of the disease.

Adolescent Sexual Risk Taking: The Distribution of Youth Behaviors and Perceived Peer Attitudes Across Neighborhood Contexts

PurposeSexual activity is a normative part of adolescent development, yet early sexual debut and sex with multiple partners undermine health and well-being. Both structural (e.g., poverty) and social (e.g., norms) characteristics of neighborhoods shape sexual risk taking, yet scholarship remains focused on urban areas. Thus, this study explores sexually permissive attitudes and sexual risk taking across a wider expanse of neighborhood types. MethodsAmong 8,337 nonsexually active respondents in Wave I (1994–1995 [ages 11–18]) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a hierarchical linear model and a hierarchical generalized linear model were used to estimate the effect of neighborhood type and permissive sexual climate on youths' sexual debut, age at debut, and lifetime number of sexual partners by Wave III (2001–2002 [ages 18–26]), controlling for individual, familial, and peer factors. ResultsSexual climates varied in overall permissiveness and internal consistency both across and within neighborhood types and were linked to increased sexual risk taking. Compared with youth from upper middle class white suburbs, the odds of sexual debut and the number of partners were highest among youth from rural (black and white) neighborhoods; youth from almost all other neighborhood types initiated sex earlier. ConclusionsEarly sexual debut in adolescence is a public health issue with immediate and long-term implications. Adolescence unfolds in neighborhood environments, the characteristics of which may spur youth into such risk taking. Continued scholarship on sexual risks should consider further variations in the geographic distributions of such risks to investigate more fully their consequences.

Association of Sexual Debut in Adolescents With Microbiota and Inflammatory Markers.

To investigate the association of sexual debut and vaginal, anorectal, and oral microbiota and vaginal inflammatory markers in female adolescents. We conducted a school-based study in adolescents in Antwerp, Belgium. During three visits over 8 months, participants answered questionnaires and self-collected vaginal, anorectal, and oral swabs. Five Lactobacillus species, Lactobacillus genus, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae were quantified; and seven inflammatory markers were measured in the vaginal specimens. In the oral and anorectal specimens, Lactobacillus genus, G vaginalis, and A vaginae were ascertained. Of the 93 adolescents (mean age 16.2 years) at the first visit, 41 (44.1%) had passed sexual debut (penile-vaginal intercourse) and five (5.4%) had sexual experience without passing sexual debut. Having sexual experience at the first visit was not found to be associated with species presence or concentrations (acknowledging an underpowered study because the required sample size was not attained). Modeling the longitudinal data on all girls showed that sexual debut was associated with increased odds of vaginal and anorectal G vaginalis (P=.021; P=.030) and A vaginae (P=.041; P=.012) with increments of interleukins (interleukin [IL]-1α P<.001, IL-1β P=.046, IL-8 P=.033) and chemokines (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted P<.001; macrophage inflammatory protein-1β P=.040), whereas no difference was seen when modeling (before-after) the girls initiating and girls staying without sexual intercourse. The association of sexual intercourse with IL-1α (P<.001), IL-1β (P=.030), and IL-8 (P=.002) at the first visit was (greater than 70%) mediated by vaginal G vaginalis and A vaginae concentrations. Sexual debut in adolescents is associated with an inflammatory vaginal reaction and with the presence of bacterial vaginosis-related species. Strategies preventing the colonization of bacterial vaginosis-related organisms during early sexual debut are urgently needed and may prevent acquisition of sexually transmitted infections including human immunodeficiency virus in early life.

Is Sexual Debut in Adolescence an Accelerator of Life History Strategy?

Extant research supports the hypothesis that biometric indicators of life history (LH) strategy, such as the timing of sexual debut, are calibrated in response to cues sampled early in development (before age 7). Herein, we theorize that the experience of sexual debut itself may further calibrate women’s LH-related behavioral phenotypes across adolescence by modulating subsequent investment in mating effort, which is associated with faster (vs. slower) LH speed. We tested this hypothesis using longitudinal data, which included Q-Sort LH scores at ages 14, 18, and 23, and a report of whether or not sexual debut occurred between ages 14 and 18. Results demonstrated that women (but not men) who experienced their sexual debut between the ages of 14 and 18 showed greater relative acceleration of LH speed during this period than women who had not debuted by age 18. However, these same effects had weakened by age 23—which underscores the broader idea that LH-related behavioral phenotypes exhibit substantial cue-based plasticity across adolescence and into adulthood. Although alternative explanations for the observed patterns remain unfalsified, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that developmental LH trajectory is regulated in relation to the timing of sexual debut in adolescence. This possibility could be further investigated in future research.

Modern Teenager (Highlander) and Sex

The age at which you can start or be sexually active - a very interesting question, whichconcerned not only parents, but also psychologists. Usually, you can not answer the question ofwhen and to whom to start having sex. However, there are certain statistics that the average age ofsexual debut in adolescents - is 15 years for girls and 14 for boys. Now we are talking aboutEuropean society, about what is happening in Ukraine, particularly in mountainous areas.The fact that the willingness in principle to sexual intercourse is associated with physiologicalaspects. There is a notion in sexology - sexual constitution.There are several factors play a role, of course, one of which is constitutional, but not always,psychological maturity and sexual constitution, rather, because of the need for sexual constitutionin holding intercourse can match.That is, some teens may be physiologically ready for sexual intercourse at 12-13 years, but thequestion arises: Are they psychologically? And probably we can not give a definite answer to thisquestion, because curiosity taboo in society, which in the majority rejects teen sex, pushing theminto early sexual relations. Nevertheless, probably still age readiness and psychological andphysiological - is 18-19 years if we are talking about teen sex

The effects of Internet use on adolescents’ first romantic and sexual relationships in Taiwan

Internet use and digital networking are increasingly an integral part of adolescents’ social lives. This study examines the influences of Internet use in Taiwan on two important adolescent social behaviors: first romantic relationship and sexual debut. Using data from the Taiwan Youth Project (TYP), 2000–2009, the results of event history analyses suggest that adolescents’ Internet use for educational purposes reduces the rates of having a first romantic relationship and a sexual debut in adolescence, whereas using the Internet for social networking, visiting internet cafés, and surfing pornographic websites increase the rates. There are gender differences in the effects of these Internet activities on adolescents’ intimate experiences. Logistic analyses further show that Internet activities also affect the likelihood of whether adolescents have a sexual debut before a first romantic relationship. The implications of these findings are discussed in the conclusion.

CHAPTER 7. Comparison between the child debut group (CD group) and the adolescent debut group (AD group)

CHAPTER 7. Comparison between the child debut group (CD group) and the adolescent debut group (AD group)