The Risks and Rewards of Sexual Debut

Publication Date

11-1-2016

Document Type

Article

Organizational Units

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology, The Relationship Center

Keywords

Sexual debut, Sexual onset, Sexual intercourse, Adjustment, Substance use

Abstract

The sex-positive framework of sexual development hypothesizes that healthy sexual experiences can be developmentally appropriate and rewarding for adolescents despite the risks involved. Research has not examined whether risky behaviors and rewarding cognitions actually change with sexual debut at a normative or late age. This study measured the longitudinal impact of sexual debut using 7 waves of data from 88 male and 86 female adolescents from a western U.S. city who were in the 10th grade at the study’s onset. We used piecewise growth curve analyses to compare behaviors and cognitions before and after first sexual intercourse for those whose debut was at a normative or late age. These analyses revealed that sexual debut was related to rewards, including increases in romantic appeal and sexual satisfaction. In addition, internalizing symptoms declined over time after sexual debut, and substance use grew at a slower rate after sexual debut. We also examined whether differences existed among those whose debut was at an early, normative, or late age. Linear growth curve analyses revealed early sexual debut was related to risks, such as greater substance use, more internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and lower global self-worth. Rewards associated with an early debut included greater romantic appeal, dating satisfaction (males only), and sexual satisfaction (males only). Although there are some inherent risks with sexual activity, the results suggest that sexual debut at a normative or late age is also associated with a decrease in some risks and an increase in rewards.

Copyright Date

11-1-2016

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Rights Holder

American Psychological Association

Provenance

Received from CHORUS

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

13 pgs

File Size

191 KB

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by American Psychological Association. User is responsible for all copyright compliance. This article was originally published as:

Golden, R. L., Furman, W., & Collibee, C. (2016). The risks and rewards of sexual debut. Developmental Psychology, 52(11), 1913–1925. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000206

Accepted Manuscript is openly available through the "Link to Full Text" button.

The published Version of Record is available at libraries through Compass or Worldcat.

Publication Title

Developmental Psychology

Volume

52

Issue

11

First Page

1913

Last Page

1925

ISSN

1939-0599

PubMed ID

27709996

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