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Sexual and Non-Sexual Risk Behaviors Article Teenage Pregnancy

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Chapter 4.

Sexual and Non-Sexual Risk Behaviors Article

TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Submitted by:
Angel S. Maderal BSMA 1B
Submitted to:
Ms. Ma. Elena S. Casaig
Risk Behaviors Sexual Activity Among Teens And Teen
Pregnancy Trends

Adolescent sexuality is often viewed from a


negative perspective that focuses primarily on sexual
behavior and its association with other high-risk
behaviors. Youth are sometimes negatively viewed
as sex-crazed, hormone-driven individuals who want
the perceived independence of adulthood without the
responsibility of adulthood.

Negative media images that appear to


promote lustful, irresponsible sexual behavior are
often associated with early sexual activity among
adolescents.

Early sexual activity is a growing issue in adolescent development.


According to both the National Survey of Family Growth and the Youth Risk
Behavior Survey, adolescents are engaging in sexual activity at earlier ages. In
general, older adolescents (age fifteen and older) demonstrate a reduction in
early sexual activity, whereas adolescents younger than thirteen
demonstrate an increase in sexual activity. In addition, two-thirds of high
school students report having sex before graduating from high school. These
findings persist in the face of an apparent leveling off of sexual activity in
adolescents.

For both male and female adolescents, adolescence represents, in part, a


time for pressure to engage in sexual intimacy. As girls enter adolescence
(typically a few years before boys), they begin to grow into womanhood and
become sexualized objects. Within the media, images of sexuality and
overly thin body images can socialize girls into seeing themselves as sexual
objects. On the other hand, boys are pressured to exhibit their manhood
through sexual conquests.

Peer pressure to engage in adult-


like activities can encourage
adolescents to engage in various levels
of sexual experimentation. Adolescents
who engage in sexual experimentation are
at increased risk for sexually transmitted
diseases, including HIV/AIDs, and
pregnancy. Moreover, risk for early sexual
experimentation is associated with other high-risk behaviors in adolescence,
including sexual abuse and drug and alcohol use, and emotional adjustment.

Much of the research on early sexual activity in adolescents does not


address early patterns of noncoital sexuality. Noncoital sexuality is defined as
involvement in sexual contact that does not include the exchange of body
fluids. Research suggests that by middle adolescence most youths have begun
to engage in sexual experimentation, including kissing, with 97 percent of
adolescents experiencing their first kiss by age fifteen. Understanding the onset
of noncoital sexuality and factors influencing its timing is vital to delineating
patterns of early sexual activity in teenagers.

Adolescent condom use has


increased for both males and females.
The decline in teenage pregnancy is, in
part, attributable to an increase in
contraceptive use. However, since
psychosexual development is a new
challenge faced during adolescence,
some youths are ill informed, and even
though they may choose to use contraceptives, they may use these
methods incorrectly.

Teenage mothers are at risk for poverty


and school failure, while their offspring are at
risk for low birth-weight, poor access to health
care, poverty, and early childhood
developmental problems. Programs such as Aid
to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC),
which were created to support single parent
mothers, have been criticized as being an
incentive for the birth of children out of wedlock
in poor communities

The use of alcohol and drugs


reduces inhibitions, and can therefore
influence participation in unprotected
sexual activity. Boys and girls with a
history of smoking and alcohol use
have an increased risk for early sexual
activity, in part because the use of
these substances can influence the
decision making of adolescents in social
contexts.

Parents need resources to support their vital role in shaping the lives of
adolescents. Families, and parents in particular, need help in learning effective
ways of supporting their adolescent's psychosexual development. In the face of
declining teenage pregnancy rates, it is imperative that research focus on
targeted evaluations of promising practices that can influence positive
developmental outcomes.
The Summary of Risk Behaviors Sexual Activity Among
Teens And Teen Pregnancy Trends

According to both the National Survey of Family Growth and the Youth Risk
Behavior Survey, Adolescent sexuality was viewed as a negative impact in
teenagers because it switches on their sexual lust. On the other hand, psychosexual
development is a critical developmental process during adolescence. P. B. Koch has
identified the need for research identifying healthy psychosexual development in
adolescents. As children emerge into adolescence, their developing gender identity
shapes whom they interact and associate with, especially peers.

In regard to puberty, early-maturing adolescents are more likely to engage in early


sexual experimentation than are later-maturing adolescents. They confront their
emerging sexuality at younger ages than their peers do, and are more likely to be pursued
by older peers in social settings because they appear physically older than their
chronological age.

For both male and female adolescents, adolescence represents, in part, a


time for pressure to engage in sexual intimacy. As girls enter adolescence
(typically a few years before boys), they begin to grow into womanhood and
become sexualized objects. Within the media, images of sexuality and overly thin body
images can socialize girls into seeing themselves as sexual objects. On the other hand,
boys are pressured to exhibit their manhood through sexual conquests.

Much of the research on early sexual activity in adolescents does not address early
patterns of noncoital sexuality. Noncoital sexuality is defined as involvement in sexual
contact that does not include the exchange of body fluids. Research suggests that by
middle adolescence most youths have begun to engage in sexual experimentation,
including kissing, with 97 percent of adolescents experiencing their first kiss by
age fifteen. Understanding the onset of noncoital sexuality and factors influencing
its timing is vital to delineating patterns of early sexual activity in teenagers.

The association of early sexual activity with teenage pregnancy has been a
societal concern for decades. For females, teenage pregnancy can complicate
adolescent development and contribute to a troublesome transition to young adulthood,
which involves a potential future as a single parent with limited educational and economic
opportunities.

Girls with a history of sexual trauma are also at great risk for involvement in the
juvenile justice system, particularly if they do not have supportive home environments that
allow them the opportunity to heal from their traumas. Girls within the juvenile justice
system are likely to exhibit runaway behaviors in an effort to get out of abusive
home environments.

Efforts to conduct sexuality education within the home environment have


been found to be insufficient. Parents need to provide supportive learning
environments in which children can develop a healthy understanding of their
sexuality, particularly during their adolescent years. Adolescence represents a time
of fundamental change, as adolescents are introduced to new reproductive capacities
that have to be understood cognitively, socially, and emotionally.

In the face of community efforts to address teenage pregnancy, some


parents may be apprehensive about other adults influencing their children
regarding personal, sensitive issues. For parents who feel comfortable and
equipped in addressing these issues with their children, the National Campaign to
Prevent Teen Pregnancy offers several tips for parents, including being aware of
their own personal values and attitudes regarding sexuality and how they want
their children to be introduced to the sensitive topic of sexuality.

Effective parent–child communication regarding love and intimacy, as well


as family rules and standards about teenage dating, can provide needed support
for adolescents who are confronting the social and emotional challenges related
to puberty.
Teenage Pregnancy Trend
(REACTION)

The Article was focusing about teenage


pregnancy and sexual behaviors that we should
control especially in the puberty stage. According to
the article above we women are more likely to
mature first than men. Not just mentally as well as
physically. We women are the first to feel sexual lust
and this is where our curiosity develops in sexual
matters. Especially when we see nude photos of
women or men it makes the hot feeling strong.
According to the survey conducted by National Survey of Family Growth and the
Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that more cases of women engage in sexual
activity than men .

Many researchers keep finding solutions on this problem, especially when


pregnancy in teenagers became a trend. The article also says that since 1970 the
cases of pregnant young women didn’t drop instead it gets higher every year,
that’s why contraceptives, condoms and other things to prevent teenage
pregnancy and for family planning was made. These inventions really help to
somehow drop the case of early pregnancy.

“You’re supposed to be
changing the world not changing
diapers”

This quote was actually


related to the article to raise
awareness and to have a proper
education so that we were bold to
any challenges we face and not
rushing through the storm of
emotions. It's just sad to think that many of girls younger than me have lost hope
because they get pregnant at a young age.

This is why teachers are so desperate to teach students to study first before
they become parents because there are so many young mothers out there that
they don’t know how they will provide milk for their children.

The article also said that the lesson should first start at home and parents
should be sensitive of what their children feels because this may cause
depression and they were easily influenced by their peers to try things that they
will regret for the rest of their life.

“Learn how to say no”

“To young to be parent”

“Think before you do it”

“Don’t put yourself in sideline


or danger”

These quotes are what the author of


the article really wants to convey. The
article tells us that we must be
responsible to ourselves because the solutions they made are actually for us the
youth. Think before you do it, the one that should be considered before doing
things that can damage our future.

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