Early intercourse

According to the most recent federal Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 39 percent of 9th grade students report having had sexual intercourse, and about 12 percent of them had done so before they were 13 years old.

One factor that helps predict whether youngsters will have sex at such an early age is self-esteem, according to a recent study by a team of IU School of Medicine researchers. The scientists, Jennifer Spencer, Gregory Zimet, Matthew Aalsma and Donald Orr, followed 188 adolescents from seventh to ninth grades.

They found that self-esteem worked differently in boys and girls. Girls with high self esteem were less likely to start sexual behavior early, while boys with high self-esteem were more likely to have sex at a young age.

The difference, researchers said, may reflect a continuing double standard in society in which early sex is viewed as worse for girls than for boys. Early sex may be seen as a "badge of honor" for boys and high self-esteem may encourage them to seek it. Girls with low self-esteem, meanwhile, may have sex at a young age in hope of feeling better about themselves.

Resources

Read more about national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System at the CDC Web site.