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Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine sexual risk behavior among adolescents in the United States classified as early initiators of sexual intercourse. Secondary analyses were carried out with data from the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n=14,041). Only adolescents 16–18 years old who reported being sexually experienced were selected for analyses (n=5315, 48% female). Of sexually experienced adolescents, 11% were classified as early initiators of sexual intercourse. Based on prior research it was expected that early initiators of sexual intercourse would demonstrate increased sexual risk behavior when compared to adolescents who initiated sexual intercourse at later ages and that there would be ethnic and gender differences in risk behavior. Early initiators were significantly more likely to report multiple sex partners in their lifetime and were more likely to drink or use drugs before the last time they had sex. Overall, the findings did not demonstrate differences in sexual risk based on gender and ethnicity.