A new study published in the American Journal of Sociology reports that having sex doesn't harm the mental health of older teenagers.
The latest analysis by Ann Meier, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota, found that those who are most vulnerable to depression or low self-esteem are girls who had their first sex before 15 and boys under 14.Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health of 8,563 students in grades seven through 12 during the mid-1990s, Meier compared mental health measures of teens who were virgins during the study with teens who lost their virginity during the study.
"Among those who had sex, only about 14 percent experienced increases in depression or decreases in self-esteem," she says. "In terms of depression, these are relatively modest increases. For 86 percent, it had no big effect."
This study is likely to put a thorn in the side of the abstinence-only folks, who are already likely freaking out over states refusing funds rather than lie to students.
James Wagoner, president of the amazing organization Advocates for Youth, says that the study is "the most definitive peer-reviewed research we have to date." Word.
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Well I'm all for abstinance programs that prevent sex before the age of 15, just not when it extends right up until your wedding night.
*Cheers!*
Finally! I'm not saying, "Go out & have free sex, teenagers!" But sex is an important part of humanity & I just think it's demeaning & infantalizing to teenagers to say "Just say no."
Besides, I think that one of the worst things you can do is to marry someone that you're sexually inexperienced with.
It's probably the fault of the newspaper article, rather than the journal article, but isn't the 14% number rather meaningless?
I mean, if 14% of the teens who didn't have sex also showed an increase in depression, then I suppose it would suggest having sex had no impact. But what if more than 14% of that group had an increase in depression, then wouldn't it suggest having sex was good for older teens' mental health? And if, say, the teens who didn't have sex showed a decrease in depression, that would suggest sex was bad. I just can't see how the 14% is meaningful without anything to compare it to.
As for the other result of the study, that "those who are most vulnerable to depression or low self-esteem are girls who had their first sex before 15 and boys under 14," again I don't think this really suggests abstinence education is good for children at that age (assuming of course abstinence education makes them less likely to have sex, which seems doubtful). Isn't it just as likely that people who have low self-esteem or depression are more likely to choose to have sex that young, and that having sex isn't intrinsically harmful?
Does anyone have the study? Do they examine partner age?
I strongly conjecture that negative outcomes correlate with age differences. I think teens do much better exploring with similar-age partners and much worse with partners more than a few years older. I would love to see research that confirms that.
The religious right really needs to stay away from making empirically verifiable statements. Sex outside of marriage invariably causes insanity and death? Sorry, no. Secularism is bad for society? Acceptance of evolution leads to violence? 'Fraid not, fundies. Facts have a liberal bias, don't'cha know.
Good point, Alex.
I'm not saying, "Go out & have free sex, teenagers!"
Well, c'mon, Moxie--it's probably healthier than them paying for it!
To anyone interested in this, if you haven't read the book Harmful to Minors, I really recommend it. Wingnuts wanted it banned, of course. They almost succeeded in blocking publishing.
Read the intro here.
So how much do y'all wanna bet that this study doesn't get anywhere near the amount of media play that the oral sex is bad for teens study did?
Of course, that's not really what the "teens and oral sex" study showed. But that's how the media played it. I don't think there's any way to spin this one into a "Danger! Danger! Teen sex!" story -- so I'm betting it gets largely ignored.
"Isn't it just as likely that people who have low self-esteem or depression are more likely to choose to have sex that young, and that having sex isn't intrinsically harmful?"
Now I wonder how the study counted rape victims. What percentage of the study participants who had sex before 14 or 15 were forced to have it and depressed by *that*?
This is particularly relevant to me personally, and many teenagers who are experiencing scrutiny and disapproval from parents or other family members.
I believe that if your body is mature enough for sex and you're mentally mature enough, then sex is not a damaging act that you should be ashamed of or punished for.
Sex is normal, healthy, and acceptable... and more teens need to be given a positive message about the act of sex.