2-022 - Early Adolescent Sexual Development in Peer Contexts: Longitudinal Studies on Networks, Norms, and Mechanisms

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

The development of sexual behaviors during adolescence is strongly embedded i n social contexts, including relations with peers (Kotchick et al., 2001; Zimmer-Gembeck, & Helfland, 2008). This symposium brings together three innovative longitudinal studies assessing how early adolescents’ engagement in various coital and noncoital sexual behaviors can be understood within peer contexts.

Paper 1 examines how the onset of sexual activity in early adolescence diffuses across friendship networks. Paper 2 investigates how adolescents’ perceptions of friends’ and popular peers’ attitudes and behaviors regarding coital and noncoital behaviors are related to their own numbers of coital and noncoital sexual partners. Paper 3 explores two mechanisms that may explain the link between frequent peer interactions and early adolescent sexual activity: via perceptions of sexual peer norms (descriptive norms, injunctive norms, peer pressure), and via alcohol use.

While all three studies employ longitudinal designs and focus on early adolescent samples (13-14 years @baseline), they vary in countries (Netherlands, United States), methods (self-reports, peer nominations), measures (behavioral, cognitive, relational), and state-of-the-art analytical strategies (structural equation modelling, network analyses). As such, they provide a multifaceted perspective on early sexual development as contextualized by various aspects of adolescents’ peer contexts.

The discussion focuses on integrating the multi-method, interdisciplinary, and international perspectives presented in this symposium. Moreover, an interactive discussion will be facilitated on how research can further advance our theoretical understanding of the important role that peers play in adolescent sexual development, and how prevention and intervention practices can incorporate these insights into sexual health promotion strategies.

Sub Unit

• Sex, Gender

Chair

• Daphne van de Bongardt, Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Discussant

• Manfred van Dulmen, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, USA

Individual Presentations

• Onset to First Sexual Activity in Early Adolescence: A Network Diffusion Model - Presenting Author: Rūta Savickaitė, Department of Sociology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands; Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, University of Groningen; Derek Kreager, Pennsylvania State University; Greetje Timmerman, Department of Pedagogy and Educational Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands; Tom Snijders, 1Department of Sociology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands; Rene Veenstra, University of Groningen

• Examining the Roles of Perceived Peer Norms and Gender in Early Adolescents’ Numbers of Sexual Partners Over Time - Presenting Author: Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Mitchell J. Prinstein, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Adolescents’ Frequent Peer Interactions and Early Sexual Behaviors: Sexual Peer Norms and Substance Use as Explanatory Mechanisms - Presenting Author: Daphne van de Bongardt, Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Helle Larsen, Developmental Psychology, Addiction, Development and Psychopathology (Adapt)-lab (Yield), University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Reinout Wiers, Developmental Psychology, Addiction, Development and Psychopathology (Adapt)-lab (Yield), University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Maja Deković, Utrecht University; Geertjan Overbeek, University of Amsterdam