Differences in Early Adolescent Dating Intentions/Behaviors and Peer Norms by Sex, Gender, and Sexual Identity

• In Event: Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Topic - Social Relationships

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Dating and romantic relationships play an important role in adolescent development and carry important implications for psychosocial and sexual health; however little work has been done to characterize the dating behaviors of early adolescents across sexual and gender identities. In this study, we aim to fill that gap by using national data to characterize the early dating behaviors and attitudes of 11-12 year olds of diverse sexual and gender identities.

METHODS
The ABCD study is an ongoing, longitudinal, study of adolescents in the United States. At time of analysis, half the ABCD cohort had completed a year-2 visit (n=6571, ages 11-12; 47% female, n=3104); when youth are first asked about their own and peers’ dating behaviors and attitudes. We used chi square and fisher’s exact tests to identify differences by sex and gender/sexual minority (GSM) status.

RESULTS
At ages 11-12, youth reported very little dating intention or behavior. Only 40% of the sample report wanting a romantic relationship and 25% report ever having had one; 8% report having kissed someone while <1% report ever having or putting hands under clothes. Those wanting to date, having dated, and having kissed were more likely to be male (all p<.001), despite males being earlier in puberty (ie. 36% vs 5% prepubertal). GSM (8%, n=477) youth were more likely to endorse all items than majority peers. When asked about peer behavior, female participants are more likely to report that none of their peers have kissed (59% versus 53%, p<.001) and that peers would disapprove of them kissing (38% versus 28%, p<.001) compared to males. GSM youth, despite being 82% female (n=389), were less likely to report that no peers have dated (15% versus 27%, p<.001) or kissed (36% versus 57%, p<.001), and less report peer disapproval (dating 5% versus 13%, p<.001; kissing 17% versus 33%, p<.001) than majority peers.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with other work on early adolescence, very few youth in this sample reported dating intention and behavior. Sex differences in this sample affirm the salience of social and peer norms at this age: males in this sample were more likely to report dating intentions and behaviors than females, and males were also more likely than females to think their peers also engaged in these behaviors and to think their peers would disapprove of this behavior. Interestingly, GSM youth were also more likely to report dating intentions and behaviors and congruent peer attitudes and behaviors than non-GSM youth, despite the fact that 80% of GSM youth were female. Given the age of this sample, this finding may suggest that youth at this age who identify as GSM may be further along in their sexual development than youth who do not identify as GSM. Continued examinations of these developmental trajectories over time is warranted.

Authors

• Sarahjane L Dube, University of Vermont
  Presenting Author

• Michelle M Johns, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Non-Presenting Author

• Alexandra Potter, University of Vermont
  Non-Presenting Author