Sex and Teens: When Knowledge Does Not Translate Into Action
Little by little, the American public is becoming aware that providing teens with a small amount of accurate sexual information seldom leads to avoiding sexual contact. Communities around the country are saying "no" to "Just Say No" as a reliable way to deter the initiation of sexual activity with a partner during the teen years. But, we still have some learning to do as providers of sex education. Here's a study that shines a bright light on one aspect of the problem.
A study done in New York City involving 92 men and women between 18 and 24 enrolled at an urban city college found that even when armed with information, students often overestimated their safety from sexually transmitted diseases. What researchers O'Sullivan, Udell and Patel (reported in The Journal of Sex Research, Nov. 2006) found was a seeming paradox in which young people continued to engage in unsafe sexual practices despite a moderate to high level of general knowledge about the risk of contracting HIV. These college students were ethnically diverse and resided in inner-city neighborhoods characterized by very high rates of HIV. They recorded their sexual activity over a two-week period.
Despite their knowledge about HIV transmission and the need to use condoms during intercourse, students engaged in risky sexual activity over the two-week period at relatively high levels -- as well as during the two months that preceded the study. This tells us that these young people had not effectively integrated general knowledge about HIV into their personal lives in ways that could help them prevent infection. Or it tells us that they were unwilling or unable to incorporate the few means of prevention available -- abstinence, sexual behaviors that did not exchange bodily fluids, or condom use.
How much were they ignoring what they knew?
Many were having intercourse within what they believed to be a monogamous relationship. Whether that was, in fact, the case we cannot know -- about 80% had a romantic partner, but only one was married and nearly all of them did not live with their sexual partner but at the home of their parent(s).
Nevertheless, one fifth of them had two or more sexual partners during the two-week period, as well as in the two months preceding the study. These are likely to be underestimates of the actual rates of multiple sexual partners since under-reporting in sexual surveys is quite common and generally more common than over-reporting -- particularly among women.
Women did link some of their beliefs of being safe from sexually transmitted conditions to the use of a condom, but they also reported this feeling of safety when there were no condoms used and bodily fluids were exchanged. It seems they based this feeling on a hunch, trust, or wishful thinking.
People may plan to refrain from intercourse, engage in foreplay with the expectation of using a condom at the next stage, or initiate sex believing that they will interrupt the process to do so. Yet they may underestimate: the power of the situation, their desires, or possibly the concerns in the moment about their partner's reactions to their plan for safer sex. Resolutions do break down in the "heat of the moment." It's my strong suspicion that this scenario is not limited to inner-city young adults.
Lessons from sex education and sexually transmitted disease efforts nationwide have not been sufficiently integrated into the private lives of young people in ways that motivate or enable them to choose and follow through on safer sexual practices. It means that we still have a long way to go in reaching and influencing the decision-making processes related to the risks of sexual behaviors. We need to develop more public health and educational interventions to promote healthy sexual behaviors.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: sex education, parenting, public health, HIV
A study done in New York City involving 92 men and women between 18 and 24 enrolled at an urban city college found that even when armed with information, students often overestimated their safety from sexually transmitted diseases. What researchers O'Sullivan, Udell and Patel (reported in The Journal of Sex Research, Nov. 2006) found was a seeming paradox in which young people continued to engage in unsafe sexual practices despite a moderate to high level of general knowledge about the risk of contracting HIV. These college students were ethnically diverse and resided in inner-city neighborhoods characterized by very high rates of HIV. They recorded their sexual activity over a two-week period.
Despite their knowledge about HIV transmission and the need to use condoms during intercourse, students engaged in risky sexual activity over the two-week period at relatively high levels -- as well as during the two months that preceded the study. This tells us that these young people had not effectively integrated general knowledge about HIV into their personal lives in ways that could help them prevent infection. Or it tells us that they were unwilling or unable to incorporate the few means of prevention available -- abstinence, sexual behaviors that did not exchange bodily fluids, or condom use.
How much were they ignoring what they knew?
Many were having intercourse within what they believed to be a monogamous relationship. Whether that was, in fact, the case we cannot know -- about 80% had a romantic partner, but only one was married and nearly all of them did not live with their sexual partner but at the home of their parent(s).
Nevertheless, one fifth of them had two or more sexual partners during the two-week period, as well as in the two months preceding the study. These are likely to be underestimates of the actual rates of multiple sexual partners since under-reporting in sexual surveys is quite common and generally more common than over-reporting -- particularly among women.
Women did link some of their beliefs of being safe from sexually transmitted conditions to the use of a condom, but they also reported this feeling of safety when there were no condoms used and bodily fluids were exchanged. It seems they based this feeling on a hunch, trust, or wishful thinking.
People may plan to refrain from intercourse, engage in foreplay with the expectation of using a condom at the next stage, or initiate sex believing that they will interrupt the process to do so. Yet they may underestimate: the power of the situation, their desires, or possibly the concerns in the moment about their partner's reactions to their plan for safer sex. Resolutions do break down in the "heat of the moment." It's my strong suspicion that this scenario is not limited to inner-city young adults.
Lessons from sex education and sexually transmitted disease efforts nationwide have not been sufficiently integrated into the private lives of young people in ways that motivate or enable them to choose and follow through on safer sexual practices. It means that we still have a long way to go in reaching and influencing the decision-making processes related to the risks of sexual behaviors. We need to develop more public health and educational interventions to promote healthy sexual behaviors.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: sex education, parenting, public health, HIV
9 Comments:
What a great read!
I'm a 19 year old University student at the U of Lethbridge (AB., Canada), and, even with "rumors" running rampant around campus about syphilis and chlamydia, my peers are still enganging in sexually risky behaviour. I myself have always been cognizant of the risks involved (due to careful observation of my sisters mistakes), so I've always made sure I had protection.
I'd like to address the issue of "in the heat of the moment." I've been there. And I know how distracting it can be to bust out a condom. However, there are ways around this... particularly if the guy is sneaky ;) ... If while preforming oral sex on gal he is erect, simply put it on then! If you can coordinate it properly, they may not even notice!
Another trick, is to have the condoms very close at hand, and lubricant too. Some girls don't lubricate very well before sexual intercourse has begun (even with oral stimulation), and unlubricated or minimally lubricated condoms can turn them away from the idea of using them... a little "Hot'n'Passionate" lube should fix that.
As far as an explanation as to why some teens/young adults engage in risky behaviour goes, it could be that they haven't had a direct experience with STD/I's, so they don't quite realize how traumatic they can be. You can die from chlamydia! And, lots of young adults hadn't had the chance in their early teens to experience sexual encounters, let alone safe ones. So, when the moment finally arrives, all cognition to the wind!
All in all, I think it's great that these issues are finally being approached from a sensible point of view.
Chlamydia won't kill you. In fact, it's totally curable. It's like the sniffle of STDs :-)
Do your research. Although Chlamydia does not directly cause death, if left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening health problems. This includes passing it from mother to newborn as well.
It is thoughts like these, that certain STD's are just 'sniffles' is why people are getting them repeatedly throughout their lives. And, subsequently, passing it on tho others repeatedly as well.
Even those with so-called cures, can reinfect the same individuals. You are not immune from one just because you took a magic pill the first time you had it.
The other topic brought up is the risk of other STD"s that ARE known to cause life threatening health problems. If you are having enough unprotected sex to catch one, you are risking catching them all.
NO ONE is COMPLETELY honest about their sexual history. Many will lie to avoid being told NO. They will say they are clean to avoid using a condom.
NOT ONE single STD has an immediate symptom. Someone can have one, and be contagious and not even know it.
THAT is the entire point of safe sex. If all of those not having it were so smart, then NO ONE would have STDs.
I'm not saying not to wear condoms. I AM saying that it's absurd to try to scare people by deliberate half-truths and outright misinformation. Yes, untreated chlamydia can sometimes lead to PID, which, btw, ALSO won't kill you. Leave you infertile, maybe, but you're not going to die from it.
Look, it's important to be informed and to take responsibility for your own health. In my opinion, regular STD testing is essential for all sexually active people. Being prepared and always having/wearing condoms is important. But freaking out over the risks of contracting STDs is ridiculous. Sex is just not the danger you seem to think it is--or that our (US) government would like it to appear.
So, the reality is that if you're old enough to be sexually active, you're old enough to take responsibility for your health. Use condoms. Ask your partner his/her HIV and other STD status. Get tested regularly. And finally, most importantly, enjoy your sexuality. You don't have to be afraid.
You're in Canada, but I think you'd also benefit from reading "America's War on Sex" by Marty Klein.
I had untreated chlamydia for a long time and the result was I was never able to get pregnant. When I was younger that didn't bother me, but when I was in my 30's and really wanted kids, I couldn't have them. It's an insidious disease.
i never use condoms
I was not sexually active as a teen because I grew up in an area where partner swapping was the norm. I didn't want to a part of that and catch something. Yes, I was virgin until shortly before my wedding night. I know in this day and age that you are supposed to lose your virginity young, but I feel better knowing that my husband is the only man that I have been with. And, yes we did use condoms before we were married. I was not his first and he wanted to protect me, just in case. His previous girlfriend had been cheating on him and he cared enough about me to be safe.
there is a differance between being afraid of your sexuality and being smart enough to protect yourself and the other people that you are having sex with. the risk of getting a std is real and even if you dont care if you have one, your partner might. there are stds that will kill you. there are stds that will NEVER go away and you will pass to everyone that you have sex with. its not that you should be afraid of your sexuality but maybe you should use some sence and protect yourself and if you dont care about yourself, that other person...
April 26,2007
I'm a recently turned 17 years of age, female junior in high school. Sexually inactive, and for the majority of my life have been.
Six months ago (NOV.06) I was taken advantage of, or raped... after being administered a drug that made me pass in and out of consciousness.
I believe I now have an STD.
(The reason I say believe, is because I haven't gone to get tested due to a lack of an income and transportation)
I have searched for free or even very low costing treatment, but have yet to come across anything, 40 dollars is quite expensive, if that's considered low, even $30!
I've decided to tell my mother (an ultimate last resort and single parent), but I'm not exactly sure how to, and am questioning whether I should. We live from pay check to pay check, and any sort of clinic visit would be strenuous.
Has anyone else had to confess to their parents about a STD? How should I start the conversation?
Seeking any advice, especially regarding free, very low cost clinics and treatment.
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