Poster #231 - Gendered Pathways of Peer Acceptance and Sexual Behaviors from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

• In Event: 1-061 - Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Section - Social Relationships

Integrative Statement

In adolescence, sexual intercourse exemplifies a “pseudomature” behavior that may help youth assert social independence and gain peer status (Moffitt, 1993). Consistent with this idea, adolescents who are more accepted by peers are more likely to report sexual intercourse than their less accepted peers (Agan et al., 2015; Hawke & Rieger, 2013; Mayeux, Sandstrom, & Cillessen, 2008). However, it is unclear whether adolescent peer acceptance is linked to young adult sexual behaviors and sexual health. In addition, and consistent with a sexual double standard, the associations between peer acceptance and sexual behaviors may vary by gender in both adolescence and young adulthood. In the present research, we examine associations between adolescent peer acceptance, gender, and sexual outcomes in both adolescence and young adulthood, using multiple waves of sociometric friendship data collected from a longitudinal community-based study.

Participants (N = 1,878; 46% male; 91% White) completed annual assessments of their friendships in their schools from 6th – 12th grade. Each student nominated up to seven same-grade friends. We included two measures of peer acceptance: indegree (number of nominations received) and Bonacich centrality (Bonacich, 1987), each standardized within schools and averaged across waves of data collection. At approximately age 19, participants were re-contacted and reported on sexual health. These measures included adolescent (early sexual intercourse [prior to age 16]) and young adult sexual outcomes (STI diagnosis, past year sexual partners, number of past year sexual partners, past year casual sex, and condom use at last intercourse).

We tested whether adolescent peer acceptance was associated with adolescent and young adult sexual outcomes using a series of regression analyses with clustered standard errors to account for nesting of participants within schools (Tables 1 and 2). We controlled for receiving free/reduced lunch, parental warmth, delinquency, grades, and religious attendance averaged across waves of data collection. Participants who were more accepted by peers during adolescence were more likely to have initiated sex early, more likely to have ever had sex, and were less likely to report an STI in young adulthood. Gender interactions revealed that boys, but not girls, who were more accepted by peers in adolescence had more past year sexual partners in young adulthood. Peer acceptance was not associated with casual sex or condom use at last intercourse.

Consistent with Moffitt’s (1993) concept of pseudomature behaviors and social status in adolescence, well-liked boys and girls were more likely to initiate sex at an early age. Peer acceptance in adolescence was protective against having had an STI by age 19 and was not associated with casual sex or condom use at last intercourse. These findings suggest that, despite its association with early sexual initiation, peer acceptance in adolescence is generally associated with a healthy trajectory of sexual development by young adulthood. However, for boys, peer acceptance was associated with more past year sexual partners, providing insight into how the sexual double standard shapes sexual development and sexual risk. Implications for theory and the role of peers in sexual health interventions will be discussed.

Authors

• Rose Wesche, Medical College of Wisconsin
  Presenting Author

• Derek A Kreager, Penn State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mark Feinberg, The Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Eva S Lefkowitz, University of Connecticut
  Non-Presenting Author