Which Behavioral, Emotional and School Problems in Middle-Childhood Predict Early Sexual Behavior?

Abstract

Mental health and school adjustment problems are thought to distinguish early sexual behavior from normative timing (16–18 years), but little is known about how early sexual behavior originates from these problems in middle-childhood. Existing studies do not allow for co-occurring problems, differences in onset and persistence, and there is no information on middle-childhood school adjustment in relationship to early sexual activity. This study examined associations between several middle-childhood problems and early sexual behavior, using a subsample (N = 4,739, 53 % female, 98 % white, mean age 15 years 6 months) from a birth cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Adolescents provided information at age 15 on early sexual behavior (oral sex and/or intercourse) and sexual risk-taking, and at age 13 on prior risk involvement (sexual behavior, antisocial behavior and substance use). Information on hyperactivity/inattention, conduct problems, depressive symptoms, peer relationship problems, school dislike and school performance was collected in middle-childhood at Time 1 (6–8 years) and Time 2 (10–11 years). In agreement with previous research, conduct problems predicted early sexual behavior, although this was found only for persistent early problems. In addition, Time 2 school dislike predicted early sexual behavior, while peer relationship problems were protective. Persistent early school dislike further characterized higher-risk groups (early sexual behavior preceded by age 13 risk, or accompanied by higher sexual risk-taking). The study establishes middle-childhood school dislike as a novel risk factor for early sexual behavior and higher-risk groups, and the importance of persistent conduct problems. Implications for the identification of children at risk and targeted intervention are discussed, as well as suggestions for further research.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10964-013-9973-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Peer Rejection, Affiliation with Deviant Peers, Delinquency, and Risky Sexual Behavior

“…Particularly if peer rejection engenders feelings of loneliness and social disconnectedness (Boivin, Hymel, & Bukowski, 1995), individuals who were rejected by peers during childhood may try to connect with others in any way possible, including through early sexual intercourse and multiple sexual partners. However, Parkes et al (2014) found that children whose mothers reported that they had more peer relationship problems at ages 6–8 and 10–11 years were less likely to have early sexual involvement (defined as adolescents’ reports of engaging in oral sex or sexual intercourse within the last year, reported at age 15). Therefore, it is possible that peer rejection during childhood may protect against risky sexual behavior if rejected children have less social interaction in general and therefore less opportunity to develop relationships that would lead to sexual behavior.…”

Exposure to sexually explicit media in early adolescence is related to risky sexual behavior in emerging adulthood

“…Academic performance was assessed with the question, "What is your class rank this semester?" The response categories were 1 (top 5), 2 (6-10), 3 (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), and 4 (over 21). Health status was based on self-rated health using five response categories.…”

“…For example, problem behavior theory [14] argues problem behaviors tend to cluster; hence, early substance use is highly related to later risky behavior, including risky sexual behaviors [15][16]. Similarly, social control theory [17] argued a lack of social bond (e.g., low school commitment) "releases" an individual for deviance, including risky sexual behaviors [18]. Other factors simply provide opportunities for sexual practice and are related to risky sexual behaviors, such as those in a romantic relationship [15,19].…”

“…Velezmoro and colleagues [65] have argued that studying sexual expression in different cultural settings sheds much light on the similarities and differences of the same phenomenon across cultures. Furthermore, some Asian countries suffer from increasing prevalence of STIs, such as an increased rate of HIV infection among young population in China [53,66] and South Korea [67] and both HIV and other STIs (e.g., gonorrhea) are at their highest rates among adolescents and young adults (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) in Taiwan [8]. Although a few studies have been conducted and yielded similar results, these studies also suffered from the aforementioned limitations [68,[53][54].…”

South African adult caregivers as “protective shields”: Serving as a buffer between stressful neighborhood conditions and youth risk behaviors

“…In South Africa, approximately 1 in 5 youth experience some form of mental or behavioral health challenges (Kleintjes, Lund, & Flisher, ). Children who exhibit early externalizing behaviors are more likely to have increased rates of alcohol‐related problems, illicit drug use (Fergusson, Horwood, & Lynskey, ), and increased odds of engaging in risky behaviors such as sexual risk‐taking (Fergusson, Horwood, & Ridder, ; Fontaine et al, ; Parkes et al, ; Timmermans, van Lier, & Koot, ; Wu, Witkiewitz, McMahon, & Dodge, ). In addition, youth who exhibit destructive childhood behavioral patterns (e.g., lying, cheating, yelling, public disobedience, and physical violence; Frick, ) are more likely to have an elevated risk for experimenting with illicit substances as they enter adolescence and adulthood (Hopfer et al, ).…”