CONSISTENCY OF ADOLESCENTS SELF-REPORT OF SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IN A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

This study examines three issues relevant to adolescent self-reported sexual behavior: the extent to which adolescents rescind reports of se xual intercourse, changes in reporting of lifetime sexual intercourse, and changes in reported age at first sexual intercourse. Data come fr om a three-year longitudinal study of health-compromising behaviors am ong a cohort a 758 rural adolescents. Students completed a self-admini stered questionnaire on health behaviors annually in eighth, ninth, an d tenth grades. Findings show that 88.8% of students in eighth grade a nd 94.3% in ninth grade who reported having had sexual intercourse gav e the same answer in a subsequent year. Approximately 15% of students reported fewer numbers of lifetime sexual intercourse experiences in t enth grade than they did in ninth grade. Age at first sexual intercour se was reported inconsistently by 67% of the students. Inconsistency r ates differed by racial-gender groups, question sensitivity, and prior sexual experience.