Editing Adolescence (section)

====Romance and sexual activity====
{{Main|Adolescent sexuality}}
[[File:Teen kiss.jpg|thumb|Adolescent couple kissing]]
[[Intimate relationship|Romantic relationships]] tend to increase in prevalence throughout adolescence. By age 15, 53% of adolescents have had a romantic relationship that lasted at least one month over the course of the previous 18 months.<ref name="Carver K. 2003">Carver K., Joyner K., Udry J.R. (2003). National estimates of adolescent romantic relationships. In ''Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Sexual Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practical Implications'', 291–329.</ref> In a 2008 study conducted by [[YouGov]] for [[Channel 4]], 20% of 14−17-year-olds surveyed revealed that they had their first sexual experience at 13 or under in the United Kingdom.<ref name="sex stats">{{cite web|url=http://sexperienceuk.channel4.com/teen-sex-survey|title=Teen Sex Survey|access-date=September 11, 2008|publisher=Channel 4|year=2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912225248/http://sexperienceuk.channel4.com/teen-sex-survey|archive-date=September 12, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> A 2002 American study found that those aged 15–44 reported that the average age of first sexual intercourse was 17.0 for males and 17.3 for females.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstrategist.com/productdetails/Sex.SamplePgs.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120093911/http://www.newstrategist.com/productdetails/Sex.SamplePgs.pdf|archive-date=November 20, 2006 |title=Seventeen Is the Average Age at First Sexual Intercourse, ''American Sexual Behavior'', p.4-5 |url-status=usurped|access-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref> The typical duration of relationships increases throughout the teenage years as well. This constant increase in the likelihood of a long-term relationship can be explained by [[sexual maturity|sexual maturation]] and the development of cognitive skills necessary to maintain a romantic bond (e.g. caregiving, appropriate attachment), although these skills are not strongly developed until late adolescence.<ref>Allen, J., & Land, D. (1999). Attachment in adolescence. In J. Cassidy & P. Shaver (Eds.), ''Handbook of attachment theory and research.'' New York: Guilford Press.</ref> Long-term relationships allow adolescents to gain the skills necessary for high-quality relationships later in life<ref>Madsen S., Collins W. A. (2005). Differential predictions of young adult romantic
relationships from transitory vs. longer romantic experiences during adolescence. Presented at ''Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development'', Atlanta, GA.</ref> and develop feelings of self-worth. Overall, positive romantic relationships among adolescents can result in long-term benefits. High-quality romantic relationships are associated with higher commitment in early adulthood<ref>Seiffge-Krenke I., Lang J. (2002). Forming and maintaining romantic relations
from early adolescence to young adulthood: evidence of a developmental sequence. Presented at ''Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence'', 19th, New Orleans, LA.</ref> and are positively associated with self-esteem, self-confidence, and social competence.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Pearce M. J. |author2=Boergers J. |author3=Prinstein M.J. |year = 2002 | title = Adolescent obesity, overt and relational peer victimization, and romantic relationships | journal = Obesity Research | volume = 10 | issue = 5| pages = 386–93 | doi = 10.1038/oby.2002.53 | pmid = 12006638 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Zimmer-Gembeck M.J. |author2=Siebenbruner J. |author3=Collins W.A. | year = 2004 | title = A prospective study of intraindividual and peer influences on adolescents' heterosexual romantic and sexual behavior | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 33 | issue = 4| pages = 381–394 | doi = 10.1023/B:ASEB.0000028891.16654.2c | pmid = 15162084 |s2cid=1054833 }}</ref> For example, an adolescent with positive self-confidence is likely to consider themselves a more successful partner, whereas negative experiences may lead to low confidence as a romantic partner.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Furman |first1=Wyndol |last2=Shaffer |first2=Laura |chapter=The role of romantic relationships in adolescent development |pages=3–22 |chapter-url=https://liberalarts.du.edu/sites/default/files/2021-04/furman-shaffer-2003.pdf |editor1-last=Florsheim |editor1-first=Paul |title=Adolescent Romantic Relations and Sexual Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practical Implications |date=2003 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-1-135-64863-3 }}</ref> Adolescents often date within their demographic in regards to race, ethnicity, popularity, and physical attractiveness.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Simon | first1 = V. A. | last2 = Aikins | first2 = J. W. | last3 = Prinstein | first3 = M. J. | year = 2008 | title = Romantic partner selection and socialization during early adolescence | journal = Child Development | volume =  79| issue = 6| pages = 1676–92 | doi = 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01218.x | pmid = 19037942 | pmc = 3420070 }}</ref> However, there are traits in which certain individuals, particularly adolescent girls, seek diversity. While most adolescents date people approximately their own age, boys typically date partners the same age or younger; girls typically date partners the same age or older.<ref name="Carver K. 2003"/>

Some researchers are now focusing on learning about how adolescents view their own relationships and sexuality; they want to move away from a research point of view that focuses on the problems associated with adolescent sexuality.{{why|This sounds pov, in itself without an explanation|date=April 2014}} College Professor Lucia O'Sullivan and her colleagues found that there were no significant gender differences in the relationship events adolescent boys and girls from grades 7–12 reported.<ref name="O'Sullivan">{{cite journal |author = O'Sullivan L. F. |author2=Cheng M. |author3=Brooks-Gunn J. |author4=Mantsun K. Harris | year = 2007 | title = I wanna hold your hand: The progression of social, romantic and sexual events in adolescent relationships | journal = Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health | volume = 39 | issue = 2| pages = 100–107 | doi = 10.1363/3910007 | pmid = 17565623 |url=https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/gb19ff89v }}</ref> Most teens said they had kissed their partners, held hands with them, thought of themselves as being a couple and told people they were in a relationship. This means that private thoughts about the relationship as well as public recognition of the relationship were both important to the adolescents in the sample. Sexual events (such as sexual touching, sexual intercourse) were less common than romantic events (holding hands) and social events (being with one's partner in a group setting). The researchers state that these results are important because the results focus on the more positive aspects of adolescents and their social and romantic interactions rather than focusing on sexual behavior and its consequences.<ref name="O'Sullivan" />

Adolescence marks a time of sexual maturation, which manifests in social interactions as well. While adolescents may engage in [[casual sex|casual sexual encounters]] (often referred to as hookups), most sexual experience during this period of development takes place within romantic relationships.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Manning W. |author2=Longmore M. |author3=Giordano P. | year = 2000 | title = The relationship context of contraceptive use at first intercourse | url = http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3210400.html| journal = Family Planning Perspectives | volume = 32 | issue = 3| pages = 104–110 | doi = 10.2307/2648158 | pmid = 10894255 |jstor=2648158 }}</ref> Adolescents can use technologies and social media to seek out romantic relationships as they feel it is a safe place to try out dating and identity exploration. From these social media encounters, a further relationship may begin.<ref name="Swanson"/> Kissing, hand holding, and hugging signify satisfaction and commitment. Among young adolescents, "heavy" sexual activity, marked by genital stimulation, is often associated with violence, depression, and poor relationship quality.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Welsh D. P. |author2=Haugen P. T. |author3=Widman L. |author4=Darling N. |author5=Grello C. M. | year = 2005 | title = Kissing is good: a developmental investigation of sexuality in adolescent romantic couples | journal = Sexuality Research and Social Policy | volume = 2 | issue = 4| pages = 32–41 | doi = 10.1525/srsp.2005.2.4.32 |s2cid=144037962 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=Trish |last2=Connolly |first2=Jennifer |last3=Cribbie |first3=Robert |title=Light and Heavy Heterosexual Activities of Young Canadian Adolescents: Normative Patterns and Differential Predictors |journal=Journal of Research on Adolescence |date=March 2008 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=145–172 |doi=10.1111/j.1532-7795.2008.00554.x |hdl=10315/34629 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> This effect does not hold true for sexual activity in late adolescence that takes place within a romantic relationship.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Grello C. M. |author2=Welsh D. P. |author3=Harper MS |author4=Dickson J. | year = 2003 | title = Dating and sexual relationship trajectories and adolescent functioning | journal = Adolescent & Family Health | volume = 3 | pages = 103–12 }}</ref> Some research suggest that there are genetic causes of early sexual activity that are also risk factors for [[juvenile delinquency|delinquency]], suggesting that there is a group who are at risk for both early sexual activity and emotional distress. For older adolescents, though, sexual activity in the context of romantic relationships was actually correlated with lower levels of deviant behavior after controlling for genetic risks, as opposed to sex outside of a relationship (hook-ups).<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Harden K. |author2=Mendle J. | year = 2011 | title = Adolescent sexual activity and the development of delinquent behavior: The role of relationship context | journal = Journal of Youth and Adolescence | volume = 40 | issue = 7| pages = 825–838 | doi = 10.1007/s10964-010-9601-y |pmid=21069562 |s2cid=11855204 }}</ref>

[[Dating abuse|Dating violence]] can occur within adolescent relationships. When surveyed, 12–25% of adolescents reported having experienced physical violence in the context of a relationship while a quarter to a third of adolescents reported having experiencing psychological aggression. This reported aggression includes hitting, throwing things, or slaps, although most of this physical aggression does not result in a medical visit. Physical aggression in relationships tends to decline from high school through college and young adulthood. In heterosexual couples, there is no significant difference between the rates of male and female aggressors, unlike in adult relationships.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Halpern C. |author2=Oslak S. |author3=Young M. |author4=Martin S. |author5=Kupper L. | year = 2001 | title = Partner violence among adolescents in opposite-sex romantic: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health | journal = American Journal of Public Health | volume = 91 | issue = 10| pages = 1679–1685 | doi = 10.2105/AJPH.91.10.1679 | pmid = 11574335 | pmc = 1446854 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Halpern C. |author2=Young M. |author3=Waller M. |author4=Martin S. |author5=Kupper L. | year = 2004 | title = Prevalence of partner violence in same-sex romantic and sexual relationships in a national sample of adolescents | journal = Journal of Adolescent Health | volume = 35 | issue = 2| pages = 124–131 | pmid = 15261641 | doi = 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.09.003 }}</ref><ref name="Collins2009">{{cite journal |author1=Collins W. A. |author2=Welsh D. P. |author3=Furman W. | year = 2009 | title = Adolescent romantic relationships | journal = Annual Review of Psychology | volume = 60 | issue = 1| pages = 631–652 | doi = 10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163459 | pmid = 19035830 |s2cid=207671931 }}</ref>

Female adolescents from minority populations are at increased risk for [[intimate partner violence]] (IPV). Recent research findings suggest that a substantial portion of young urban females are at high risk for being victims of multiple forms of IPV. Practitioners diagnosing depression among urban minority teens should assess for both physical and non-physical forms of IPV, and early detection can help to identify youths in need of intervention and care.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Teitelman | first1 = AM | last2 = Ratcliffe | first2 = SJ | last3 = McDonald | first3 = CC | last4 = Brawner | first4 = BM | last5 = Sullivan | first5 = C | year = 2011 | title = Relationships between physical and non-physical forms of intimate partner violence and depression among urban minority adolescent females | journal = Child and Adolescent Mental Health | volume = 16 | issue = 2| pages = 92–100 | doi = 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2010.00572.x | pmid = 21617762 | pmc = 3100197 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Volpe | first1 = EM | last2 = Morales-Aleman | first2 = MM | last3 = Teitelman | first3 = AM | year = 2014 | title = Urban adolescent girls' perspectives on romantic relationships: Initiation, involvement, negotiation and conflict | journal = Issues in Mental Health Nursing | volume = 35 | issue = 10| pages = 776–790 | doi = 10.3109/01612840.2014.910582 | pmid = 25259641 | pmc = 4670570 }}</ref> Similarly to adult victims, adolescent victims do not readily disclose abuse, and may seek out medical care for problems not directly related to incidences of IPV. Therefore, screening should be a routine part of medical treatment for adolescents regardless of chief complaint. Many adults discount instances of IPV in adolescents or believe they do not occur because relationships at young ages are viewed as "puppy love," however, it is crucial that adults take IPV in adolescents seriously even though often policy falls behind.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thomas |first1=Kristie A. |last2=Sorenson |first2=Susan B. |author2-link=Susan Sorenson|last3=Joshi |first3=Manisha |title=Police-Documented Incidents of Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Women |journal=Journal of Women's Health |date=June 2010 |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=1079–1087 |doi=10.1089/jwh.2009.1612 |pmid=20482254 }}</ref>

In contemporary society, adolescents also face some risks as their sexuality begins to transform. While some of these, such as emotional distress (fear of abuse or exploitation) and [[sexually transmitted disease|sexually transmitted infections]]/diseases (STIs/STDs), including [[HIV/AIDS]], are not necessarily inherent to adolescence, others such as [[teenage pregnancy]] (through non-use or failure of contraceptives) are seen as social problems in most western societies. One in four sexually active teenagers will contract an STI.<ref name="Mulrine, A 2010">{{cite magazine |last1=Mulrine |first1=A |date=27 May 2002 |title=Risky business: teens are having more sex—and getting diseases. But is telling them to wait the answer? |magazine=US News and World Report |pages=42–49 }}</ref> Adolescents in the United States often chose "anything but intercourse" for sexual activity because they mistakenly believe it reduces the risk of STIs. Across the country, clinicians report rising diagnoses of [[Herpes simplex|herpes]] and [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV), which can cause genital warts, and is now thought to affect 15 percent of the teen population. Girls 15 to 19 have higher rates of gonorrhea than any other age group. One-quarter of all new HIV cases occur in those under the age of 21.<ref name="Mulrine, A 2010"/> Multrine also states in her article that according to a March survey by the [[Kaiser Family Foundation]], eighty-one percent of parents want schools to discuss the use of condoms and contraception with their children. They also believe students should be able to be tested for STIs. Furthermore, teachers want to address such topics with their students. But, although 9 in 10 [[sex education]] instructors across the country believe that students should be taught about contraceptives in school, over one quarter report receiving explicit instructions from school boards and administrators not to do so. According to anthropologist [[Margaret Mead]], the turmoil found in adolescence in Western society has a cultural rather than a physical cause; they reported that societies where young women engaged in free sexual activity had no such adolescent turmoil.