The Context of Sexual Decisions and Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Factors Related to Sexual Initiation Among Female Military-Dependent Youth

Abstract

Despite the sizable population of military-dependent youth (MDY) in the United States and the military stressors they experience (e.g., relocations, parental deployment), little is known about MDY’s sexual behavior, especially about the perceived role that military stressors play in their sexual decisions, such as the decision to initiate sex. We conducted 25 semistructured, in-depth interviews with sexually experienced female MDY aged 15 to 19 years to (a) describe MDY’s general perceptions of military life and (b) identify intrapersonal and interpersonal characteristics related to MDY’s sexual initiation, including the perceived impact of military stressors. We analyzed life history grids and transcripts to identify common and unique themes across participants’ experiences. Most participants reported having positive experiences related to military life, and most did not believe that military stressors influenced their decision to initiate sex. Common intrapersonal and interpersonal characteristics related to sexual initiation were having an older first sexual partner, being in a dating relationship, receiving sexual health education prior to their first sexual experience, and discussing sex with a parent prior to their first sexual experience. These intrapersonal and interpersonal characteristics should be considered when developing sexual health programs for MDY, which should focus on building supportive peer and parental relationships.

Funding and Acknowledgments

The authors thank the nursing and support staff at the adolescent medicine clinic, in which this study was conducted, for their assistance with the recruitment of youth into the study, and Lionel Santibáñez for his editorial assistance. This study was partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Associations of Schools of Public Health (ASPH)/Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Minority Health Fellowship. The CDC/ASPH/PRC had no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the ASPH, CDC, PRC, or the U.S. Department of Defense.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the nursing and support staff at the adolescent medicine clinic, in which this study was conducted, for their assistance with the recruitment of youth into the study, and Lionel Santibáñez for his editorial assistance. This study was partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Associations of Schools of Public Health (ASPH)/Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Minority Health Fellowship. The CDC/ASPH/PRC had no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the ASPH, CDC, PRC, or the U.S. Department of Defense.