Do You Know Your Teen?
Trends in Adolescent
Relationships and
Sexual Behaviors
Kim Allen, PhD
CASPP, MU Extension
Where do you stand?
History of dating
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Most of known history: arranged
marriage
19th and early 20th century—moms
pick boyfriends
Mid century: liberation movement
21st century: hooking up
Teen Terminology: A Brief Introduction
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Hooking Up
Friends With Benefits
Rainbow parties
All up in my business, grill, kool-aid
You may feel like you need a dictionary!
Hooking Up
AKA friends with benefits
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Adolescents engaging in sexual
activities outside of romantic
relationships
Trend is primarily in privileged
populations (college phenomenon)
Benefits of sex without heart ache
of relationship
What we know about Hooking Up
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Research shows that about 80% of
college students report hooking up
Love viewed as risky,
Increases risk of STDs
Try as you might,
emotions are still involved and
there are often negative effects
Statistics
Statistics
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In Missouri, 52% of high school students
have had sexual intercourse
In U.S., 14.9% of high school students
who had sexual intercourse with four or
more partners
In Missouri, 7% of high school students
had sexual intercourse before age 13
In Missouri, 88% of high school students
have been taught about AIDS or HIV
infection in school.
Adolescent Brain Still Under
Construction
Teens (left) used less of the prefrontal (upper) region than adults
(right) when reading emotions.
The Frontal Lobe
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As the “prefrontal cortex” area of
the frontal lobe matures, through
experience and practice, teens can
reason better, develop more
impulse control, and make better
judgments
Prefrontal cortex is one of the last
areas of the brain to fully develop
Increased need for structure, mentoring, guidance.
So what?
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Good news; there is a lot we can do
to help our teens and young adults
make healthy sexual choices!
ParentPower Quiz
Taken from http://thenationalcampaign.org
Teens say _______ most influence
their decisions about sex
A.
B.
C.
D.
Parents
Peers
The media
Teachers and Sex Educators
Teens say _______ most influence
their decisions about sex
A.
B.
C.
D.
Parents
Peers
The media
Teachers and Sex Educators
ParentPower Quiz
How many teens think it’s important
for them to be given a strong
message from society that they
should not have sex until they are
at least out of high school?
A.
B.
C.
D.
About
About
About
About
3
5
7
9
in
in
in
in
10
10
10
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How many teens think it’s important
for them to be given a strong
message from society that they
should not have sex until they are
at least out of high school?
A.
B.
C.
D.
About
About
About
About
3
5
7
9
in
in
in
in
10
10
10
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ParentPower Quiz
Most teens say they wish they were
getting more information about
both abstinence and contraception,
rather than just one or the other.
True
False
Most teens say they wish they were
getting more information about
both abstinence and contraception,
rather than just one or the other.
True
False
ParentPower Quiz
How many teen girls become
pregnant at least once by age 20?
A.
B.
C.
D.
About
About
About
About
1
2
3
5
in
in
in
in
10
10
10
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How many teen girls become
pregnant at least once by age 20?
A.
B.
C.
D.
About
About
About
About
1
2
3
5
in
in
in
in
10
10
10
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What Can You Do?
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Tune in and Talk
Question Choices
Speak Up
Understand
Encourage
Educate
Be real
Model
Talking to Your Teen : 10 Tips
From http://www.thenationalcampaign.org
1. Be clear about your own sexual values
and attitudes
2. Talk with your children early and often
about sex, and be specific
3. Supervise and monitor your children and
adolescents
4. Know your children’s families
and their friends
5. Discourage early, frequent
and steady dating
Talking to Your Teen: 10 Tips
Continued
6. Take a strong stand against your daughter
dating a boy significantly older than she is.
And don’t allow your son to develop an
intense relationship with a girl much
younger than he is.
7. Help your teenagers have options for the
future that are more attractive than early
pregnancy and parenthood.
Talking to Your Teen: 10 Tips
Continued
8. Let your kids know that you value education
highly.
9. Know what your kids are watching, reading and
listening to.
10. These first nine tips for helping your children
avoid teen pregnancy work best when they occur
as part of strong, close relationships with your
children that are built from an early age.
The End
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http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/d
efault.aspx
http://midwestteensexshow.com/
http://www.scarleteen.com/
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/
Rutgers University: http://www.sexetc.org/
Youth Noise: http://www.youthnoise.com/
Do Something: http://www.dosomething.org/
Teen Central: http://www.teencentral.net/
http://www.guttmacher.org/