GENDER DIFFERENCES ASSOCIATED WITH YOUNG PEOPLES EMOTIONAL-REACTIONS TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

The differences between male and female adolescents' emotional reactio ns to their most recent occasion of sexual intercourse were examined T he sample included 932 sexually active Australian secondary school stu dents who completed a self-report questionnaire concerning their sexua l behavior. The majority of young people reported that they felt happy or good following their most recent occasion of sex. Females were mor e likely than males to report negative emotions such as feeling bad an d used, but there was no difference between the percentage of males an d the percentage of females who reported feeling guilty. Girls were mo re likely to feel bad, used, or guilty last time if they were drunk/hi gh or had sex with someone who was not a steady partner, Boys who had sex with someone other than a steady partner last time were more likel y to feel guilty. Peer and parental influences were also associated wi th feelings of guilt. Girls who were more confident that they could ta lk to one of their parents/guardians about sex and boys who believed t hat most of their peers were sexually active, were less likely to have felt guilty.