Chapter 6, Section 3

Challenges of Adolescence

Sexual Behavior

Changes in norms allowed culture to develop a new standard for sex

Development of birth control, youth counterculture, and feminist movement led to the “sexual revolution”

Rates of Teen Sexual Activity

1970 – 29% of 15-19 year old women were sexually active

1995 – 50% of 15-19 year old women were sexually active

Factors Influencing Early Sexual Activity Socioeconomic – family, parent’s marital

status, religious participation 2 parent families less likely; lower

socioeconomic level more likely (remember these are only statistics)

Subcultures – group norms; drug use; delinquency If you use drugs, you are more likely to

have premarital sex (remember these are only statistics)

Consequences of Early Sexual Activity

According to the CDC: less than 1/3 of teenage women who are sexually active use birth-control methods regularly

Statistics show that 4 million teenagers contract an STD yearly

Teen pregnancy – statistics show that babies born to teenage mothers have lower birth weights and more complications

Teenage Drug Use

Can be influenced by friends who use, personal social and academic problems, and/or a hostile and rejecting family setting

Can lead to violent crimes involving teenagers

Teenage Suicide

Predictors Alcohol and drug use

Low levels of self-control Triggering events

Fear of punishment Loss of or rejection Family crisis Poor school performance Fight with friend or family

Teenage Suicide (cont.)

Age As age increases the risk increases

Sex Females 3 times as likely than males

Population density Low the density the higher the risk; social

isolation