Paper Title
Sexual Development in Adolescents
Keywords
- adolescent sexuality
- sexual development
- abstinence
- masturbation
- partnered sexual activities
- healthy adolescent development
- sexual behavior
- first intercourse
- contraceptive use
- sexually transmitted infections (sti)
- human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
- adolescent pregnancy
- sexual coercion
- non-coital sexual behaviors
- sexually explicit media
- same-sex experiences
- public health
- sexual health policy
- adolescent sexual expression
- risk behavior
- sexual health trajectories
- adolescent sexuality research
- social influences on sexuality
- adolescent reproductive health
- sexual health education
- behavioral development
Article Type
Book review
Journal
Handbook of Child and Adolescent Sexuality Developmental and Forensic Psychology
Research Impact Tools
Publication Info
Volume: 7 | Pages: 171-192
Published On
March, 2013
Downloads
FULL PDF
Abstract
This chapter examines adolescent sexuality development framed by three key aspects of sexual behavior: abstinence; masturbation; and partnered sexual activities. This framing resonates with recent trends in theory and research that emphasize the roles of sexuality in healthy adolescent devel- opment (Fortenberry, 2003; Halpern, 2010; Welsh & Kawaguchi, 2000). In contrast, many perspectives on adolescent sexuality development are lim- ited by focus on problematized aspects of adolescent sexual development: the timing and context of first heterosexual penile-vaginal intercourse; association of sexual activity with substance use and other health-harming behaviors; contraceptive use; sexually transmitted infections (STI), includ- ing those due to human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV); and pregnancy. Less predominant but still frequently addressed themes in adolescent sex- uality research include sexual coercion, non-coital sexual behaviors, expo- sure to and use of sexually explicit media, and same-sex sexual experiences (Brown & Brown, 2006; Kirby, 2001; Kotchick, Shaffer, Forehand, & Miller, 2001; Wood, Maforah, & Jewkes, 1998). Data related to these problematized aspects of sexuality development are often used to justify policy, public health, and clinical interventions intended (typically) to restrain adoles- cent sexual behaviors. The focus on problematic outcomes and emphasis on social, familial, and individual restraint of sexual expression obscures the more nuanced influences of sexuality within adolescent development, and incompletely traces the trajectories of healthy adolescent sexuality and sub- sequent adult sexual health.
View more »