Extent of regretted sexual intercourse among young teenagers in Scotland: a cross sectional study
The first UK large scale study of sexual behaviour questioning young people under the age of 15, has confirmed previous studies that early sexual intercourse is often, in retrospect, regretted says a paper in this week's BMJ. A team led by Daniel Wight and Marion Henderson of the MRC's Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in Glasgow, surveyed all third year pupils, with an average age of 14 years, in 24 non-denominational secondary schools in east Scotland as part of a sex education trial.
Eighteen per cent of boys and 15 per cent of girls reported that they had experienced heterosexual intercourse, with 60 per cent using contraception at first intercourse. A high proportion of both boys and girls felt that their sexual experience had happened too early (32 per cent for girls and 27 per cent of boys) or should not have happened at all (13 per cent of girls and five per cent of boys).
In boys, regret was linked to having exerted pressure on their partners, in girls many factors including feeling under pressure, lack of prior planning and parental monitoring were all significant. The researchers conclude that helping young people take control by developing their relationship and negotiation skills may help to delay first intercourse and reduce subsequent regret.
Contact:
Daniel Wight, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow G12 8RZ Email: danny@msoc.mrc.gla.ac.uk