The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #37582

Patricia J. Dittus, PhD, Leah Robin, PhD, and Sonal Doshi, MS, MPH. Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-6196, pdittus@cdc.gov

Purpose: This study examines the association between male and female adolescents’ choice of older sexual partners and sexual risk behaviors. Method: Respondents were a subset (n=5,340) of the 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Logistic regression was used to test the association between age of partner and sexual risk behaviors, controlling for gender, age, and race. Additional risk behaviors found to have bivariate associations with the sexual risk behaviors also were included in the analyses. Results: Adolescents with a sexual partner 19 or 20 years old were more than twice as likely to report having multiple lifetime sexual partners (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.62 - 3.22) and those with partners 21 years or older were four times more likely to have multiple lifetime sexual partners (OR 4.04, 95% CI 2.92 - 5.60) than adolescents with partners 18 years or younger. Adolescents with sexual partners 21 years or older were more likely to report recent sexual activity (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13 - 2.50); and were less likely to have used a condom at last intercourse (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.26 - 0.66) than were adolescents with younger partners. A number of interaction effects were found between gender, age, race, the additional risk behaviors, and age of partner. Conclusions: Because age differences between partners impact adolescents’ sexual practices, interventions need to address problems that teens face in dealing with older partners. Adolescents should be taught negotiation and communication skills to address the potential power differential which may exist with older partners.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the relationship between adolescents' choice of older sexual partners and sexual risk behaviors.
• Recognize that older sexual partners pose a risk for both male and female adolescents.
• Understand the implications of older sexual partners for sexual risk reduction interventions among adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescents, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.