Objective: To determine whether an increased difference between the age of a young woman/girl and her self-identified romantic partner is associated with having sexual intercourse. Method: To determine the association between the difference in a girl’s age and that of her partner (age gap) and having engaged in sexual intercourse, we analyzed cross-sectional survey data gathered from a national sample (N=1,975) of 14- to 18-year-old girls who defined themselves as having a “romantic partner.” Maximum likelihood logistic regression was used to obtain unadjusted and adjusted estimators. Other covariates of interest included a mother’s presence at home, race/ethnicity, and religion. Results: After we adjusted for the effects of other covariates, we found that girls whose partners were older were more likely to have had sexual intercourse. However, the magnitude of the effect of age gap decreased as the girl’s age increased. For example, the risk of intercourse was six times greater for 13-year-old girls whose partners were 19 than for 13-year-olds whose partners were the same age. Seventeen-year-old girls whose partners were 23, were only about twice as likely to report having had intercourse as 17-year-olds whose partners were the same age. Conclusion: Although these data cannot examine the factors that lead young women to choose partners who are significantly older, public health strategies that seek to diminish the age difference between adolescent girls and their partners, especially for those under 15 years of age, should be explored.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: (1) recognize the role of partner age differences in sexual risk behavior of adolescent girls, (2) discuss implications of partner age for educators and health practitioners who work with adolescent girls, and (3) identify ethical and practical issues of statutory rape law implementation and enforcement.
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The data used in this paper were made available by the American Family Data Archive (AFDA), Sociometrics Corporation. The study entitled The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Waves 1& 2, 1994-1996 was conducted by J. Richard Udry.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.