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Why Do They Start It? Explaining Reported Early-Teen Sexual Activity

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Sociological Forum

Abstract

This paper seeks an account of why young teens initiate consensual sexual activity. It does so by constructing statistical models aimed at distinguishing those who report having initiated sexual activity from those who have not in four samples of eighth graders from an Upstate New York county. Theoretical selection of the model variables is guided by insights from “problem syndrome,” control and differential association theories. From our findings we conclude the following: (1) Risk behaviors foreseen by the “problem syndrome” approach, including having used marijuana and having been drunk, are significant, powerful predictors of early-teen sexual activity. (2) The social setting of consensual sexual activity differs by sex at the eighth grade level. For example, having a boyfriend is a more consistent, powerful predictor variable for girls than is having a girlfriend for boys and there is evidence to support the hypothesis that boys initiate sexual activity in the context of status-seeking while girls are more likely to do so as a way of attaining approval. (3) Our findings do not give clear primacy to parents or peers as an influence on early-teen consensual sexual activity. Both control theory, usually associated with “parental-influence” variables, and differential association theory, usually associated with “peer-influence” variables, receive support. (4) The results of the research spanning a 2-year period of intensive community antiteen-pregnancy efforts by a Zero Adolescent Pregnancy (ZAP) campaign are consistent with the conclusion that such a multifaceted approach might help lower early-teen initiation of sexual activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology/Anthropology, SUNY Cortland, Cortland, New York, 13045

    Craig B. Little

  2. Cortland County Health Department, Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health, Cortland, New York

    Andrea Rankin

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  1. Craig B. Little
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  2. Andrea Rankin
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Correspondence to Craig B. Little.

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Little, C.B., Rankin, A. Why Do They Start It? Explaining Reported Early-Teen Sexual Activity. Sociological Forum 16, 703–729 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012890013666

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