Lecture 7 - Sexuality in childhood and adolescence Flashcards
At what age do kids typically start having romantic or sexual thoughts?
Age 10 — first “crush” or attraction
What is the average age of first sex in Canada
age 16-19 — first intercourse
what is the average age people have their first experience
- age 10 — first “crush” or attraction
- age 12-14 — first kiss
- age 15-16 — genital fonding
- age 16-19 — first intercourse
data sources
- retrospective surveys with adults
- kinsey interviews
- talking computer interviews
- survey adolescents
- canadian youth, sexual health, and HIV/AIDs study
- bibby (2001, 2009)
Factors influencing psychosexual development
parental socialization
- expectations
- reactions
- communication
social learning (modelling)
sexual experiences
- developmentally appropriate
- abusive
cultural factors
Infancy and preschool years
- 0-4 years
- sexual response
- attachment
- self-stimulation
- child-child encounters
- knowledge
Sexuality during Childhood
- 5-11 years
- adrenarche
- minded-sex sexual play
- same-sex sex play
Masturbation by age 12
Boys
- to orgasm 42%
- not to orgasm 27%
Girls
- to orgasm 20%
- not to orgasm 18%
Masturbation by age 14
- boys - 62.6%
- girls - 43.3%
masturbation by age 17
- boys - 80%
- girls - 58%
Debra Haffner “from diapers to dating: a parent’s guide to raising sexuality healthy children from infancy to middle school”
- healthy body image
- respect for others
- understand the concept of privacy
- make age-appropriate decisions
- comfortable asking questions about sexuality
- prepared for the changes of puberty
sexualization of children occurs when
- a person’s value comes from sexual appeal or behaviour
- a person is held to a standard in which physical attraction = being sexy
- a person is sexually objectified
- sexually is inappropriately imposed on another person
sexualization of boys
- tv, games, movies that promote muscularity, physical power, and that sex for men involves aggressive domination of beautiful women for the pleasure of men
sexulization of girls
- sexual objectification, weight and appearance
- beauty pagents
Sexuality during adolescence
- 12-18 years
- key features
- interest
- biological factors
- social factors
Masturbation during adolescence
- increase after puberty
- sharp increase for boys
- gradual increase for girls
hookups
- any sexual behaviour in a seemingly uncommited context
- between 60-80% of YA college students have some sort of hookup experience
- gateway to a romantic relationship
Sexuality during emerging adulthood
- ages 19-24 = emerging adulthood/late adolescence
- masturbation = 98% of men, 80% of women masturbate
- intercourse = 85% by age 24
- most in context of romantic relationships, not marriage
Sexuality among LGBTQ+ adolescents
- begin to process social implications of sexual orientation/identity
- behaviours vs. identity/orientation
- bullying
Sexting
- sexual messages or images via cellphones
- 39% of teens have sexted
- 15-20% teens posted/sent nude or semi-nude pictures
- 30% recieved nude or semi-nude pictures
Increasing the likelihood of adolescent condom use
- motivation
- skill
preventing teen pregnancy
- access to information about effective contraception, access to these methods
- greater societal acceptance of sexual activity among young people
health concerns
adolescence pregnancy rates
- 2.8% of teen girls in 2010, 2.5% in 2019
- lower than US higher than Europe
Highest rates of STIs are among adolescents
- inconsistent condom and contraceptive use
Pro of Adolescent romantic relationships
- learn skills and scripts needed to maintain a long-term relationship
- explore identity
- develop future goals
- learn communication and conflict resolution skills
- learn how to enhance intimacy, sexuality
Con of Adolescent romantic relationships
- some are low-quality relationships characterized by high-conflict, controlling behaviour, etc.
- emotional experience can include anxiety, jealousy, depression
- cyberstalking and stalking behaviours
- harrassment for LGBTQ+ youth
- extradyadic sexual activity
Predictors of too early sex:
- Living in single-parent home
- Having more depressive symptoms
- Displaying antisocial behaviour
- Less self-disclosure to parents
- More parent-child conflict
- Having more other-sex friends
- Having friends who use alcohol and drugs
- Lower academic achievement
Too early sex
15 or younger
Associated risks of early sex
- Less likely to use a condom
- More likely to have sex with more than one partner
- Higher risk of teen pregnancy
- Higher risk of STIs
Losing virginity
– Gift
– Stigma
– Process
Predictors of satisfaction at first intercourse:
- Intentional (not spontaneous)
- People less committed to gender roles
- More positive body image
Motives for NOT engaging in intercourse
- Not feeling ready
- Not having the right opportunity
- Not having met the right person
- Wanting to be a virgin at marriage
First intercourse
Reissing et al. (2011)
• 60% with serious partner
• Most rated as positive
Tsuit & Nicolades (2004)
• ½ emotional satisfaction
• 40% rated as good or excellent
Motives for engaging in intercourse
Love and affection (expressed by more girls)
Curiosity and experimentation (expressed by more boys)
Other reasons:
• Increased intimacy
• Sexual pleasure
• Increased social status
Mixed-sex sexual behaviour
• Attitudes
• Have become more accepting
• Behaviour
Same-sex sexual behaviour
Attraction: CYSHHAS (2003) sexual attraction grades 9-11
- 5% girls attracted to girls or both
- 2-6% of boys attracted to boys or both
Experience Bancroft et al.
- relationship to sexual identity
