A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF ADOLESCENT SEXUAL-ACTIVITY - DESCRIPTION, CORRELATES, AND PREDICTORS

This prospective study examined the role of personal and family factor s during early adolescence in forecasting sexual activity, a behavior of major concern in the 1990s. Also, the correlates of late adolescent /young adult sexual activity, including delinquency and psychological adjustment, were examined. One hundred and thirty individuals were ass essed at two points in time, during adolescence and six years later du ring late adolescence/young adulthood. Results supported the existing literature regarding the sexual activity of today's youth, indicating that the majority of both males and females are sexually active by lat e adolescence/young adulthood (age 18-21), and that the average adoles cent/young adult has had multiple partners (females: 2-3; males: 3-4). For both males and females, adolescent sexual activity was correlated with problem behavior (i.e., delinquency), but rarely with prosocial behavior, during late adolescence/young adulthood. For females, but no t for males, parental divorce during early adolescence was associated with earlier onset and greater frequency of sexual activity, as well a s more sexual partners.