Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Among Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the self-reported sexual attitudes and behaviors of adolescents living in the Midwest. A survey was administered to 463 African American youths ages 11–19. The results indicate that intent to have sexual intercourse, reported likelihood toward having sexual intercourse, and whether participants felt that they would have sex in the next 3 months were predictors of whether they had sexual intercourse at the 3-month follow-up. The results also revealed that the opinions of referent others did not predict sexual intercourse at 3 months. Negative attitudes toward condoms did predict condom use at 3 months and the opinions of referent others also predicted condom use at 3 months. Limitations as well as future research are also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescents
• positive youth development
• sexual attitudes
• sexual behaviors
• Theory of Planned Behavior

Notes

*Significant at the .05 level.

*Significant at the .05 level.

**Significant at the .01 level.