Adolescent Nonsexual and Sex-Related Problem Behaviors

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Abstract
Because researchers have identified an underlying propensity for some adolescents to be involved in a variety of problem behaviors, the present study compared the involvement in problem behaviors of a national sample of male and female youth who were either virgins, sexually experienced (never pregnant), or were pregnant or parents. Logistic regression analyses showed that, after controlling for the effects of socio-demographic status, age, school status, andfrequency of attendance at religious services, sexually experienced, never pregnant adolescents were more likely than virgins to have been involved in four types of nonsexual problem behaviors. However, adolescents who were pregnant or parents were no more involved in problem behaviors than sexually experienced, never pregnant adolescents. For males, but not for females, furthermore, early age at first intercourse was associated with increased involvement in problem behaviors. The implications of the results for policy and interventions for adolescents at risk are discussed.