Do adolescent reproductive knowledge and attitudes predict the initiation of sexual behaviors?

Citation

Guzzo, Karen B.; Lang, Vanessa Wanner; & Hayford, Sarah R. (2018). Do adolescent reproductive knowledge and attitudes predict the initiation of sexual behaviors?. Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America. Denver, CO.

Abstract

Although variation in sexual and reproductive behaviors has been widely documented in terms of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, less attention has been paid to the psychosocial influences on sexual behavior. Prior work has identified two potential sets of factors – reproductive knowledge and reproductive attitudes, both of which are multidimensional – that might that might link to sexual behavior (and ultimately fertility). However, these concepts have not been empirically tested for linkages to sexual and reproductive behavior. In this work, we use the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to test whether these two concepts, measured at Wave I, are associated with sexual behavior and timing by Wave IV. Our results do indeed show that vaginal, oral, and anal sex – and the timing of these behaviors – can be predicted by the factors that comprise reproductive knowledge and reproductive attitudes.

URL

https://paa.confex.com/paa/2018/webprogrampreliminary/Paper19464.html

Keyword(s)

adolescence reproductive knowledge sexual behavior reproductive attitudes

Reference Type

Conference proceeding

Book Title

Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America

Series Title

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health

Author(s)

Guzzo, Karen B.
Lang, Vanessa Wanner
Hayford, Sarah R.

Year Published

2018

City of Publication

Denver, CO

Reference ID

8349