THE IMPACT OF FAMILY-STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL-CHANGE ON ADOLESCENT SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR

This paper applies a biopsychosocial perspective to adolescent sexual feelings and behavior, In particular, it explores sexual attraction, d esire, and mate selection as evolutionary adaptations just as necessar y to species survival as sweating to cope with summer heat or shiverin g in response to winter cold, Sex differences in mating strategies are described as part of this evolutionary adaptation, and recent researc h findings are summarized that demonstrate how these strategies explai n contemporary sexual and reproductive behavior in Western societies t oday, as they do sexual behavior in the past or across diverse culture s, The implications of these findings are discussed for their signific ance to intervention efforts to postpone sexual initiation and avert b irths outside marriage. The author urges greater emphasis on the early pubertal years; increased attention to teaching adolescents more abou t their own sexual development; a less absolutist focus on sexual abst inence, which may be appropriate and feasible for 12-year-olds but not for 16-year-olds; better and more widespread sex education at earlier ages and throughout the school curriculum; frank discussion of all th e options available for those who experience an unwanted pregnancy; an d as much attention to adolescent boys as to adolescent girls.