Risk and Declining Sexual Debut Among White U.S. High Schoolers, 1991-2015

• In Event: 3581 - Section on Sociology of Children and Youth Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 07. Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Between 1991 and 2015, the percentage of white high schoolers in the United States who had debuted sexually fell from 50.36% to 41.18%. This decrease was more dramatic for males (53.14% to 41.08%) than for females (47.42% to 41.34%). This article examines the relationship between this decline in sexual debut and a large decline in risk taking. First, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) is used to examine the relationship between 21 risky activities relating to physical safety and substance use among white high schoolers, and to predict a risk index variable for each individual. Next, changes in mean risk over time are analyzed by gender and sexual debut status. Finally, the relationship between the risk index and risky sexual behaviors is examined using regression. Results show that mean risk has declined for each gender and debut group, though substantial differences remain between those who debut and those who do not. Additionally, risk is a good predictor of sexual behavior, indicating that changes in sexual debut might be explained by changes in risk taking. The paper closes with a discussion of possible causes for the decline in risk taking overall and the gender-specific changes in debut.

Author

• James Abbott, Yale University