To what extent does socio-economic background affects sexual life of teenagers?
On the one hand, the topic of sexual development and sexual activity of teenagers and young adolescence becoming more and more popular as our world aims to face and solve problems rather then hide and deny them. On the other hand, this topic usually reviewed from the physical health, STD and early pregnancy perspective (which is no doubt absolutely crucial for humanity [and that what are the articles below about]). However, I sow a gap in academic papers in the Mental health section of this problem. I have also stated a hypothesis that there will be differences, depending on the region (developing/developed) due to not similar economical and social backgrounds (or "environments" as I call them in that research.
Adolescent childbearing is more likely among women with low levels of income and education than among their better-off peers. Levels of childbearing are also strongly related to race, ethnicity and immigrant status, but these differences vary across countries.
Early sexual activity has little association with income, but young women who have little education are more likely to initiate intercourse during adolescence than those who are better educated. Contraceptive use at first intercourse differs substantially according to socioeconomic status in some countries but not in others.
Within countries, current contraceptive use does not differ greatly according to economic status, but at each economic level, use is higher in Great Britain than in the United States. Regardless of their socioeconomic status, U.S. women are the most likely to give birth as adolescents. In addition, larger proportions of adolescents are disadvantaged in the United States than in other developed countries.
"A study of sexual behavior among teenagers was carried out in a random sample of 884 second degree school (high school) students of Porto Alegre (South Brazil) by means of a self-report questionnaire.
The students' ages ranged from 13 to 22 years old, and 59% of them were females. The students believed themselves well-informed about physiologic phenomena involved in human reproduction (95.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI):93.5–96.5) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) (82.1%; 95%CI:79.1–84.7). In addition, 42.4% (95%CI:39.0–45.8) said that they has had a sexual relationship. However, 51.5% (95%CI: 45.9–57.0) did not use contraceptive precautions systematically, and 12% (95%CI:7.2–19.0) of girls had already undergone an abortion.
Considering these results, it is important to stimulate programs for sexual education strictly focused on teenagers."
"In this paper we use the 1994–1997 Youth Surveys of the British Household Panel Study to examine the wellbeing of young adolescents.
We conceptualize wellbeing as a multi-dimensional construct and we develop and test models of gender and age differences. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we find clear gender differences in self-esteem, self-efficacy, unhappiness and worries. We confirm that wellbeing and some health-risk behaviours (fighting and smoking) are linked. We test models that examine how family structure, father's occupation, tenure, and household income, affect adolescent wellbeing. While socio-economic factors affect health-risk behaviours and also adolescents' reported worries, they have little impact on other aspects of youth wellbeing. The implications of these findings are discussed."
"Here is where we find ourselves in the 1990s - in a paradox of the best and the worst of times. Right now, when national attention and public health priorities are riveted on preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a fatal sexually transmitted disease (STD), it should be the best of times to have an impact.
Yet, the rates of adverse sexual consequences among our teenagers have not fallen and risky sexual behaviors seem to be increasing. Thus, it is the worst of times from the standpoint of results. To focus on this paradox, I will draw on my recent experiences with STD data, although the trends in unplanned pregnancy are quite similar. I will specifically discuss trends of STD in teenagers, factors affecting these trends, and some implications for STD control activities directed to this high-risk group.
Over the past three decades, the field of STD has changed remarkably. Through 1970, syphilis was predominant. Now, over 50 organism/syndrome combinations are known to be sexually transmitted. Likewise for adolescent sexuality. During the 1960s and 197Os, both the number of sexually active teenagers arid the incidence of sexually related conditions in this group had one thing in common-they were growing to unprecedented levels. In the 198Os, despite the widespread perception that HIV prevention messages had reversed trends in adolescent high-risk sexual behaviors, a larger proportion of American teenagers had experienced coitus at younger ages in 1988 than in 1982. This, in turn, fueled the STD momentum from earlier decades and kept rates of genital infections in adolescents at’record high levels."
Sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing of teenagers aged 15–19 in the United States
July 2015
"Monitoring sexual activity and contraceptive use among U.S. adolescents is important for understanding differences in their risk of pregnancy.
Key findings:
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In 2011–2013, 44% of female teenagers and 47% of male teenagers aged 15–19 had experienced sexual intercourse; the percentage has declined significantly, by 14% for female and 22% for male teenagers, over the past 25 years.
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In the early teen years males were more likely than females to have had sexual intercourse. But the percentage of older teenagers who had sexual intercourse was similar for female and male teenagers.
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In 2011–2013, 79% of female teenagers and 84% of male teenagers used a contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse.
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The condom remained the most common contraceptive method used among teenagers.
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Young women who did not use a method of contraception at first sexual intercourse were twice as likely to become teen mothers as those who used a method."
