Young Teens and Sex – What’s Going On?

PEOPLE Magazine and NBC News recently conducted a survey in New York about young teens and their intimate sex practices and attitudes. This survey resulted in shocking revelations, such as 13-year-old teens revealing what they know about sex and if they have been doing it. The poll was conducted by the Princeton Survey Research Associates International and asked teens 13 to 16 years of age questions about relationships, on sex, sexual behavior ,STDs and safe sex, casual sex partners or “friends with benefits,” and oral sex.

With these things in mind, it’s no surprise why many parents are now worried about their children and how teens are becoming sexually active even at a young age. Here are some more surprising and enlightening findings about young teens and sex.

How sexually active are they?

In the survey, about 27% (3 out of 10) of teens have tried having sex or are currently sexually active. Most sexual activities these younger teens have done are touching someone else’s genitals, oral sex and vaginal sex. Teens 15 to 16 years old are however, more commonly active compared to 13 to 14 year olds. Peer pressure is also one of the biggest factors of teens becoming sexually active. Many of their friends would say that they have tried having sex so they’d feel insecure or different.

Most young teens actually prefer to wait

The study, however, also shows that the vast majority of young teens would still rather wait to have sex and have not experienced or done any type of sexual behavior. 74% of these teens say that they made the decision of abstaining from sex themselves, while others are afraid of the consequences such as their parent’s reaction, STDs and pregnancy. Other reasons would include not meeting the right partner, lack of opportunities, and religious or moral beliefs.

What now?

Although sex is still a taboo topic, it’s still the responsibility of parents to talk to their kids about sexual health and safe sex. Media and classes about sexual health help, but they may still not be enough to help kids understand what sex is all about and how to best protect themselves when engaging in the act. The alarming rate of sexual activity and pregnancy amongst younger teens should be addressed, starting at home. Parents may not expect their 13 year old to know about sex, let alone be sexually active, but we can never tell in this time and age. Proper guidance is crucial to keep them safe and still enjoy their teen years.