Talking about sex and sexual behaviour of young people in Ireland

Abstract

Research from a joint ESRI/HSE Health and Wellbeing research programme analyses how young people receive information on sex and relationships. Using data from the Growing up in Ireland ’98 Cohort at 13 and 17 years of age, the research also examines the role of this information in shaping sexual behaviours among Irish adolescents. The research finds that four in ten 17 year-olds have not spoken to their parents about sex and relationships.

Use of pornography by young adults in Ireland

“…and age verificaYon (Children's Commissioner, 2023), although a review of qualitaYve research with young people noted that efforts to prevent young people from accessing pornography, such as through idenYty screening and blocking websites by parents and schools, were not viewed as deterrents and were easily overcome when desired (Peterson et al, 2023). However, in this report, parental While the analyses in this report found little association between the timing of RSE receipt, the timing of discussions with parents about sex and relationships, or the types of topics discussed with parents, and use of pornography, previous research using GUI has highlighted the fact that the measure of RSE receipt (and parental discussions) does not capture important dimensions of formal and informal sex education including quality and quantity (Nolan and Smyth, 2020). In general, previous research focuses on the negaYve aspects of pornography use, but some research notes that, in certain circumstances, pornography can provide useful informaYon about sex (Litsou et al, 2021).…”

“…As previous research had indicated some relaYonship between pornography use and early pubertal Yming, we disYnguish between females who had early periods (11 or younger) and others, and between males whose voices had fully or parYally broken at age 13 and others. Males and females differ significantly in their sources of informaYon on sex and on the Yming of parental discussions of sex, with a higher proporYon of men reporYng their parents had never talked to them about sex (38 per cent compared with 25 per cent) (Nolan and Smyth, 2020). Parents were also asked about whether they had talked to their children about five different issues: sex and sexual intercourse;…”

“…The variance inflaYon factor indicates a strong correlaYon between peer alienaYon and internet use so it may be that young people without a strong peer network turn to internet use and that this influences pornography use. AddiYonal analyses (not shown here) looked at the effect of having older friends as this was previously found to be related to riskier behaviour regarding contracepYon (Nolan and Smyth, 2020).…”

“…The Yming of RSE is not significantly associated with later pornography use (Table 3.2). Parents emerged as the main source of informaYon on sex for 13-year-olds, but by age 17, friends had become an important source (Nolan and Smyth, 2020). Males who rely on their friends for informaYon at both age 13 and age 17 are more likely to use pornography.…”

“…While the GUI study does not contain a measure of pornography use at earlier ages, previous research using GUI data has shown that young men are significantly more likely to use the Internet as their main source of informaYon about sex than young women at ages 13 and 17 (Nolan and Smyth, 2020). Research from the UK has also highlighted the fact that most young people first see pornography in early adolescence (Children's Commissioner, 2023).…”