Sexual behaviors of middle and high school students: Baseline data from Project Connect

Purpose: This analysis investigates adolescents' experience with sexual intercourse and oral sex, by gender and grade in school. We anticipated differences across gender and grade, but expected gender differences to hold across grade levels.

Methods: Data were collected from 10,487 middle and high school students in Los Angeles area public schools. Randomly selected classrooms completed an in-class survey measuring demographics, sexual behaviors, and other variables.

Results: 31% reported they ever had sexual intercourse, with boys more likely than girls to be sexually experienced (35% vs. 27%, p<.05). Few 6th or 7th graders (6-7%) reported sexual intercourse, whereas the percentage among eighth graders was double (14%), and almost double again for 9th graders (27%). Sexual intercourse experience continued to increase among high school students (43% and 49% of 10th and 11th graders respectively), and by the time students reached 12th grade, two thirds (65%) ever had sexual intercourse. Gender differences were more pronounced among middle school students with boys more likely to report sexual intercourse, but gender differences in 10th and 11th grade were non-significant. Percentages reporting any oral sex were somewhat lower compared to sexual intercourse (25% across all grades), but also increased across grade level, with boys more likely to report oral sex (p<.05). Further analyses will explore condom use, number of sex partners, and other sexual behavior variables.

Conclusions: Sexual behavior increases rapidly between 7th - 8th and 8th - 9th grades. Interventions to prevent the early onset of sexual behavior must reach students well before 9th grade.