J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2017 Jun;28(2):173-181. 10.12799/jkachn.2017.28.2.173.

The Relationships between Sexual Intercourse and Health Risk Behaviors in Korean and US Adolescents

• Ha Y
• Lee S
• Choi H

• KMID: 2392858
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2017.28.2.173

Abstract

PURPOSE
Early sexual intercourse is associated with poor health outcomes in adolescents. It is known that sexual intercourse coincides with other health risk behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and using drugs. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationships between sexual intercourse and health risk behaviors among Korean and US adolescents using nationally representative data.
METHODS
Data were collected from the 2011 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (29,676 students) and 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (10,135 high school students). Logistic regression analysis was performed.
RESULTS
In Korea, students who had sexual intercourse accounted for 7.0% in total. Among these, 9.7% were male and 4.2% were female students. In the US, a total of 51.3% students had sexual intercourse, and the proportion of the US male (49.3%) and female (53.4%) students who had sexual intercourse was similar. Korean and US students who experienced sexual intercourse were more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and use drugs.
CONCLUSION
Since the results of this study show the relationships between sexual intercourse and health risk behaviors, it is necessary to develop comprehensive sex education programs with effective strategies to reduce health risk behaviors in adolescents.

Keyword

Adolescent; Health; Korea; Sexual behavior; United states

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Coitus*
Drinking
Female
Humans
Korea
Logistic Models
Male
Risk-Taking*
Sex Education
Sexual Behavior
Smoke
Smoking
United States
Smoke

Reference

1. World Health Organization. Adolescent pregnancy [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization;2017. cited 2017 January 23. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs364/en/.

2. World Health Organization. HIV and young people [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization;2017. cited 2017 January 23. Available from: http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/adolescence/hiv/en/.

3. Louie KS, de Sanjose S, Diaz M, Castellsague X, Herrero R, Meijer CJ, et al. Early age at first sexual intercourse and early pregnancy are risk factors for cervical cancer in developing countries. Br J Cancer. 2009; 100(7):1191–1197. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604974.

4. Fatusi A, Wang W. Multiple sexual partnership mediates the association between early sexual debut and sexually transmitted infection among adolescent and young adult males in Nigeria. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2009; 14(2):134–143. DOI: 10.1080/13625180802601110.

5. Mmari K, Sabherwal S. A review of risk and protective factors for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in developing countries: An update. J Adolesc Health. 2013; 53(5):562–572. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.07.018.

6. Jessor R. Risk behavior in adolescence. A psychosocial framework for understanding and action. J Adolesc Health. 1991; 12(8):597–605. DOI: 10.1016/1054-139x(91)90007-k.

7. Petersen JL, Hyde JS. A meta-analytic review of research on gender differences in sexuality, 1993-2007. Psychol Bull. 2010; 136(1):21–38. DOI: 10.1037/a0017504.

8. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011 Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey [Internet]. Sejong: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;2011. cited 2014 October 1. Available from: http://yhs.cdc.go.kr/.

9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011 youth risk behavior surveillance system [Internet]. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;2011. cited 2014 October 1. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/data.htm.

10. Hussey JM, Hallfors DD, Waller MW, Iritani BJ, Halpern CT, Bauer DJ. Sexual behavior and drug use among Asian and Latino adolescents: Association with immigrant status. J Immigr Minor Health. 2007; 9(2):85–94. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-006-9020-z.

11. Madkour AS, Farhat T, Halpern CT, Godeau E, Gabhainn SN. Early adolescent sexual initiation as a problem behavior: A comparative study of five nations. J Adolesc Health. 2010; 47(4):389–398. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.02.008.

12. Aras S, Semin S, Gunay T, Orcin E, Ozan S. Sexual attitudes and risk-taking behaviors of high school students in Turkey. J Sch Health. 2007; 77(7):379–381. DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2007.00223.x.

13. Makenzius M, Larsson M. Early onset of sexual intercourse is an indicator for hazardous lifestyle and problematic life situation. Scand J Caring Sci. 2013; 27(1):20–26. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2012.00989.x.

14. Ko S. Drinking behaviors linked to sexual intercourse. J Korean Alcohol Sci. 2012; 13(1):123–132.

15. Miller JW, Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Jones SE. Binge drinking and associated health risk behaviors among high school students. Pediatrics. 2007; 119(1):76–85.

16. Tu X, Lou C, Gao E, Li N, Zabin LS. The relationship between sexual behavior and nonsexual risk behaviors among unmarried youth in three Asian cities. J Adolesc Health. 2012; 50(3):S75–S82. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.12.010.

17. Nelson MC, Gordon-Larsen P. Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns are associated with selected adolescent health risk behaviors. Pediatrics. 2006; 117(4):1281–1290. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2005-1692.

18. Spriggs AL, Halpern CT. Sexual debut timing and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. J Youth Adolesc. 2008; 37(9):1085–1096. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-008-9303-x.

19. Rink E, Tricker R, Harvey SM. Onset of sexual intercourse among female adolescents: The influence of perceptions, depression, and ecological factors. J Adolesc Health. 2007; 41(4):398–406. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.04.017.

20. Cooper ML, Shapiro CM, Powers AM. Motivations for sex and risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults: A functional perspective. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1998; 75(6):1528–1558. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.75.6.1528.

21. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth and tobacco use [Internet]. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;2017. cited 2017 January 23. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/.

22. National Guidelines Task Force. Guidelines for comprehensive sexuality education: Kindergarten-12^th grade. 3rd ed. New York: SIECUS;2004. p. 112.