Farah Williams & Melinda Schmidt
University of Virginia
We would like to thank the William T. Grant foundation, Spencer
Foundation, and National Institute of Mental Health for funding
provided to Joseph Allen, Principal Investigator, for the conduct
and write-up of this study.
Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for
Research in Child Development, Tampa, FL, April 2003. The
authors can be reached at the University of Virginia, Dept.
of Psychology, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA 229044400 or farah@virginia.edu
Abstract
This study examines the association between early sexual involvement
and negative parental and peer relationships. Multi-reporter data were
collected from a sample of 185 adolescents (87 males, 98 females),
their mothers, and their same-sex closest friend. Of the 185
adolescents, 44 (27 males, 17 females) self-reported having engaged
in sexual activity by the end of the 3rd year of data collection (age
range 12-16 years). To assess quality of parent and peer relationships
adolescents were interviewed using the Adolescent Attachment
Interview, and parents and friends were administered a short from of
the Child Behavior Checklist. Logistic regressions were conducted to
examine the predictability of young teens sexual involvement based on
the attachment relationships with their parents and the characteristics
of their close friendships. Results revealed significant predictor of
teen’s risk for sexual involvement within their parent and peer
relationships.
Introduction
According to the 1999 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 49.9%
of high school students have had sexual intercourse (Center for
Disease Control, 2000). However, information about the predictors
of premature sexual activity is limited.
Peer Relationships
One predictor of early adolescent sexual activity is participation in
other risky behaviors and association with delinquent peers (White
& DeBlassie, 1992).
In addition, teens’ perceptions that their friends hold sexually
permissive attitudes and are sexually active influence their sexual
decision making (Whitbeck, Yoder, Hoyt, & Conger, 1999).
Introduction
Parent Relationships
Much of the research on parental predictors of teens’ sexual
involvement has focused on communication and satisfaction in
parent-child relationships, although studies have produced mixed
results (Dittus & Jaccard, 2000; Newcomer & Udry, 1985).
Attachment
More recently, researchers have found that working models of
attachment relationships may set the stage for behaviors in romantic
relationships (Cohn, Silver, Cowan, Cowan, & Pearson, 1992).
For example, Roisman and colleagues (2001) found that working
models of parent-child attachment relationships mediated the link
between observed behavioral patterns with parents at age 13 and
observed behavioral patterns with romantic partners at age 20-21.
Research Questions
What characteristics of teens’ friendships might predict their
early involvement in sexual activity?
Might parent-child attachment relationships also be predictive
of early sexual activity?
Methods
Participants
Multi-reporter data were collected from a sample of 185 adolescents
(87 males, 98 females), their mothers, and their same-sex closest
friend.
Of the 185 adolescents, 44 (27 males, 17 females) self-reported
having engaged in sexual activity by the end of the 3rd year of data
collection (age range 12 – 16 years).
Adolescent Race/Ethnicity (self-identified)
Caucasian
107
African American
54
Other Minority Group
24
Family Income
Mean $30,000 - $39,999 per year (range > $5,000 - <$60,000)
Measures
Adolescent Attachment Interview. Adolescents were interviewed with
the Adolescent Attachment Interview by Carlson (1989) for use with
adolescents. A semi-structured interview was administered to
investigate adolescents’ attachment representations by probing for
descriptions of early attachment relationships and specific memories
which support and contradict these descriptions (Main, Kaplan, &
Cassidy, 1985). Adolescents were administered the AAI when they
were in the 9th grade.
Child Behavior Checklist. The original CBCL (Achenbach & Edelbrock,
1981) contains 113 items which load on 9 main scales. Parents and
peers answered questions regarding the target adolescents’ behavior
on the externalizing scales: aggression, hostility, delinquency,
hyperactivity, and immaturity. For this study, the short forms taken
from Lizotte, Chard-Wierschem, Loeber, & Stern (1992) were used.
Results
Table 1 shows adolescent’s attachment style with parents as a
predictor of early sexual activity.
Dismissing Attachment
Taking into account age, gender, and minority status adolescents
who were seen as having a dismissive attachment style were 3.59
times more likely to engage in early sexual activity.
Secure Attachment
Taking into account age, gender, and minority status adolescents
with a secure attachment were 0.25 times more likely to engage in
early sexual activity.
Results
Table 2 shows parent and peer reports of teen’s immaturity as
predictors of early sexual activity.
Mother’s report
Adolescents who were reported to be immature by their
mothers were 1.41 times more likely to engage in sexual
activity at an early age.
Close Friend’s report
Adolescents whose close friends reported as being immature
were 1.5 times more likely to engage in sexual activity at an
early age.
Results
Table 3 shows parent reports of their teen’s hostility as a
predictor of early sexual activity.
Mother’s report
Teens who were reported as being hostile by their mother’s
were 1.22 times more likely to engage in early sexual activity.
Table 1. Attachment style as a predictor of
teen’s sexual activity

Dismissing Attachment
Age
Gender
Minority
Dismissing Attachment
Secure Attachment
Age
Gender
Minority
Secure Attachment
*** p < .001 ** p < .01. * p < .05
2
Standardized
Odds Ratio

11.75***
2.68***
2.94***
4.91***
0.53
-0.22
0.22
0.30
5.30
0.45
2.33
3.59
12.32***
3.17***
2.85***
5.75***
0.54
-0.24
0.21
-0.31
5.63
0.42
2.31
0.25
Table 2. Parent and peer reports of immaturity
as statistical predictors of teen’s early sexual
activity
2
Mother’s report of
immaturity
Age
Gender
Minority
Mother’s report of teen
immaturity
Close Friend’s report of
immaturity
Age
Gender
Minority
Close friend’s report of
teen immaturity
*** p < .001 ** p < .01. * p < .05
11.3***
4.67***
11.54***
Standardized

Odds Ratio
0.44
-0.27
0.39
0.37
3.58
0.37
4.65
10.80***
3.36***
10.95***
0.42
-0.21
0.38
3.36
0.46
4.43
4.95***
0.26
1.50
9.41***
1.41
Table 3. Parent reports of hostility as a
statistical predictor of teen’s early sexual
activity

2
Mother’s report of
hostility
Age
11.45***
Gender
3.30***
Minority
10.62***
Mother’s report of teen
4.85***
hostility
*** p < .001 ** p < .01. * p < .05
Standardized
Odds Ratio

0.42
-0.22
0.36
3.38
0.46
4.15
0.25
1.22
Conclusions
Our results indicated a clear association between negative
parent and peer relationships and early adolescent sexual
behavior.
Parent- Child Attachment
It appears that parents may affect adolescent sexuality through
their influence on their teen’s attachment styles.
Teens who were found to be more dismissing and less securely
attached were at greatest risk for early involvement in sexual
relationships.
Conclusions
Immaturity
Teens who are reported as being more immature by their
mothers and close friend are more likely to engage in sexual
behaviors at a young age.
Hostility
Teens whose mother report their child as having high levels of
hostility are more likely to engage in sexual behaviors at a
young age.
Future Directions

Investigate how observed parent-child interactions reflect
the attachment findings.



Does parent-child behavior during an observed supportive
behavior task predict early involvement in sexual activity?
Does parent-child behavior during an observed autonomy and
relatedness task predict early involvement in sexual activity?
Assess whether other qualities of close friendships predict
early sexual involvement in adolescents.

What aspects of companionship might predict early sexual
involvement?
References
Center for Disease Control. (June 9,2000). Youth Risk
Behavior Surveillance – United States, 1999, from
http://www.cdc.gov.
Cohn, D.A., Silver, D.H., Cowan, C.P., Cowan, P.A., & Pearson,
J.L. (1992). Working models of childhood attachment and
couple relationships. Journal of Family Issues, 13, 432-449.
Dittus, P.J., & Jaccard, J. (2000). Adolescents’ perceptions of
maternal disapproval of sex: Relationships to sexual
outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 26, 268-278.
Newcomer, S.F., & Udry, J.R. (1985). Parent-child
communication and adolescent sexual behavior. Family
Planning Perspectives, 17, 169-174.
References, cont’d
Roisman, G.I., Madsen, S.D. Hennighausen, K.H., Sroufe,
L.A., & Collins, W.A. (2001). The coherence of dyadic
behavior across parent-child and romantic relationships as
mediated by the internalized representation of experience.
Attachment & Human Development, 3, 156-172.
Whitbeck, L.B., Yoder, K.A., Hoyt, D.R., & Conger, R.D. (1999).
Early adolescent sexual activity: A developmental study.
Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 934-946.
White, S.D., & DeBlassie, R.R. (1992). Adolescent sexual
behavior. Adolescence, 27, 183-191.