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Teen sex doesn't cause bad grades
Teen sex doesn't cause bad grades, but beware 'hook ups'
Serious relationships don't affect school performance, new study .By ALICIA CHANG
updated 8/15/2010 1:06:21 PM ET
Share Print Font: +-LOS ANGELES — There's good news for parents who worry that their teenagers' sex lives are affecting their school performance: A provocative new study has found that teens in committed relationships do no better or worse in school than those don't have sex.
The same isn't true for teens who "hook up." Researchers found that those who have casual flings get lower grades and have more school-related problems compared with those who abstain.
The findings, presented Sunday at a meeting of the American Sociological Association in Atlanta, challenge to some extent assumptions that sexually active teens tend to do poorer in school.
Puberty hitting girls as young as 7
It's not so much whether a teen has sex that determines academic success, the researchers say, but the type of sexual relationship they're engaged in. Teens in serious relationships may find social and emotional support in their sex partners, reducing their anxiety and stress levels in life and in school.
"This should give some comfort to parents who may be concerned that their teenage son or daughter is dating," said sociologist Peggy Giordano of Bowling Green State University, who had no role in the research. Teen sex is "not going to derail their educational trajectories," she said.
Last year, nearly half of high school students reported having sexual intercourse, and 14 percent have had four or more partners, according to a federal survey released this summer.
For the study, University of California, Davis sociologist Bill McCarthy and University of Minnesota sociologist Eric Grodsky analyzed surveys and school transcripts from the largest national follow-up study of teens that began during the 1994-95 academic year. The researchers said not much has changed in terms of when teens first have sex or attitudes toward teen sex in the past decade.
The duo examined how teens' sexual behaviors affected their learning and controlled for factors that might influence their results.
Among the findings:
•Teens in serious relationships did not differ from their abstinent counterparts in terms of their grade-point average, how attached they are to school or college expectations. They were also not more likely to have problems in school, be suspended or absent.
•Compared with virgins, teens who have casual sex had lower GPAs, cared less about school and experienced more problems in school. For example, female teens who have flings had GPAs that were 0.16 points lower than abstinent teens. Male teens who have casual sex had GPAs that were 0.30 points lower than those who do not have sex. Teens who hook up also were at greater risk of being suspended or expelled and had lower odds of expecting to go to college.
•Teens who have sex — whether it's a serious or casual relationship — were at higher risk of being truant and dropping out compared with teens who don't have sex. The researchers said the dropout results should be interpreted with caution because the numbers were small.
"Having sex outside of a romantic relationship may exacerbate the stress youths experience, contributing to problems in school," Grodsky said.
In a statement, the Family Research Council said the study confirms what the group has long advocated about the negative consequences of casual sex.
But the council said it "would not interpret less severe educational impacts on students involved in 'committed' sexual relationships as a green light for comprehensive" sex education.
University of Southern California sociologist Julie Albright disagreed. She said it might be time to revamp sex education to "emphasize the importance of relationships and spell out the consequences of casual sex."
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The study dispels the notion that all teen sex is bad, said Marie Harvey, professor of public health at Oregon State University.
"The type of relationship really matters. When it comes to sexual behavior, it takes two to tango," said Harvey, adding that safe sex should be practiced to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
___
Serious relationships don't affect school performance, new study .By ALICIA CHANG
updated 8/15/2010 1:06:21 PM ET
Share Print Font: +-LOS ANGELES — There's good news for parents who worry that their teenagers' sex lives are affecting their school performance: A provocative new study has found that teens in committed relationships do no better or worse in school than those don't have sex.
The same isn't true for teens who "hook up." Researchers found that those who have casual flings get lower grades and have more school-related problems compared with those who abstain.
The findings, presented Sunday at a meeting of the American Sociological Association in Atlanta, challenge to some extent assumptions that sexually active teens tend to do poorer in school.
Puberty hitting girls as young as 7
It's not so much whether a teen has sex that determines academic success, the researchers say, but the type of sexual relationship they're engaged in. Teens in serious relationships may find social and emotional support in their sex partners, reducing their anxiety and stress levels in life and in school.
"This should give some comfort to parents who may be concerned that their teenage son or daughter is dating," said sociologist Peggy Giordano of Bowling Green State University, who had no role in the research. Teen sex is "not going to derail their educational trajectories," she said.
Last year, nearly half of high school students reported having sexual intercourse, and 14 percent have had four or more partners, according to a federal survey released this summer.
For the study, University of California, Davis sociologist Bill McCarthy and University of Minnesota sociologist Eric Grodsky analyzed surveys and school transcripts from the largest national follow-up study of teens that began during the 1994-95 academic year. The researchers said not much has changed in terms of when teens first have sex or attitudes toward teen sex in the past decade.
The duo examined how teens' sexual behaviors affected their learning and controlled for factors that might influence their results.
Among the findings:
•Teens in serious relationships did not differ from their abstinent counterparts in terms of their grade-point average, how attached they are to school or college expectations. They were also not more likely to have problems in school, be suspended or absent.
•Compared with virgins, teens who have casual sex had lower GPAs, cared less about school and experienced more problems in school. For example, female teens who have flings had GPAs that were 0.16 points lower than abstinent teens. Male teens who have casual sex had GPAs that were 0.30 points lower than those who do not have sex. Teens who hook up also were at greater risk of being suspended or expelled and had lower odds of expecting to go to college.
•Teens who have sex — whether it's a serious or casual relationship — were at higher risk of being truant and dropping out compared with teens who don't have sex. The researchers said the dropout results should be interpreted with caution because the numbers were small.
"Having sex outside of a romantic relationship may exacerbate the stress youths experience, contributing to problems in school," Grodsky said.
In a statement, the Family Research Council said the study confirms what the group has long advocated about the negative consequences of casual sex.
But the council said it "would not interpret less severe educational impacts on students involved in 'committed' sexual relationships as a green light for comprehensive" sex education.
University of Southern California sociologist Julie Albright disagreed. She said it might be time to revamp sex education to "emphasize the importance of relationships and spell out the consequences of casual sex."
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The study dispels the notion that all teen sex is bad, said Marie Harvey, professor of public health at Oregon State University.
"The type of relationship really matters. When it comes to sexual behavior, it takes two to tango," said Harvey, adding that safe sex should be practiced to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
___
I saw a great Penn and Teller about teaching Self Esteem. You can't teach it. It's gained through approval for good behavior and gentle teaching of how not to behave. How many times have you heard a parent call their own child bad or stupid. I've always tried to separate the child from the mistake. ie. "You are such a smart kid but what you did was really dumb: You are NOT stupid. Think before you do something like this again." It seems to work. Time will be the judge on that.
Will my kids ALWAYS make good decisions? I doubt it seriously. But that's how you learn. It's hard as a parent to step back and let them make mistakes and take the consequences. But sometimes it's necessary.
Will my kids ALWAYS make good decisions? I doubt it seriously. But that's how you learn. It's hard as a parent to step back and let them make mistakes and take the consequences. But sometimes it's necessary.
Very true Sara! it starts in the home, and the parental awareness and outreach must start in childhood...it's too late by the tween years.
In my opinion, teen sex has more to do with how a teenage girl views herself. If she has low self esteem, she is more likely to engage in risky behavior. "looking for love in all the wrong places" so to speak. We need to find a way to show girls how to view themselves in a positive light. And frankly, I think it begins in the home.
We had to do that when I was in high school..I think it was 9th grade for me. That baby was obnoxious, but not enough of a deterrent in my opinion. It's obviously nowhere near as interfering as a real baby, and the way that you silenced it's crying was to insert a key into the back and turn and hold it until the baby calmed down...and you had to turn it pretty hard so you couldn't just prop it but we all figured out how to wrap our arm around and cheat the system that way so you could just stick the key in and go back to sleep...so it didn't work so well for us.
I actually think it is a great idea. Anytime teens can be shown the reality of a situation rather then the "storybook romantic" side of things it's a positive. I remember we had to do something like that with an egg...not quite the same thing though.
LOL, Yeah probably so, not enuff hormones to pump up this old libido! Darn it! My hubby says double darn it!
I think they need to make the baby doll experiement mandatory in certain grades at school. It is an eye opener! And my daughter got so sick of that doll interfering in her life. I remember her wanting to throw it away! LOL Yep, I told her to always remember those feelings! Cause unless you are emotionally ready for a baby, that is reality at such a young age! She had to take it to cheer leading practice, and on dates. It was funny! And no one else was allowed to babysit either!
I think they need to make the baby doll experiement mandatory in certain grades at school. It is an eye opener! And my daughter got so sick of that doll interfering in her life. I remember her wanting to throw it away! LOL Yep, I told her to always remember those feelings! Cause unless you are emotionally ready for a baby, that is reality at such a young age! She had to take it to cheer leading practice, and on dates. It was funny! And no one else was allowed to babysit either!
Isn't that number absolutely terrifying? I too am happy to see many kids heading in the opposite direction.
Brice - nothing deleted; no one offended.........
This quote from the original post: "Last year, nearly half of high school students reported having sexual intercourse, and 14 percent have had four or more partners, according to a federal survey released this summer."
Call me naive (or am I deprived? - naww, don't think so), but I haven't had that many sexual partners in my whole life; and I'm really old....been married to the same man for 43 yrs. Isn't there a law against being married to the same person for that long?? LOL
It does make me feel better to see some of the younger people feeling the same way I did/do........... I feel better knowing there are some parents out there who are trying to teach their children the difference between right and wrong........ you all go for it......
teko -- I think they didn't start with the hormones in food when we were young enough to "benefit"............lol
This quote from the original post: "Last year, nearly half of high school students reported having sexual intercourse, and 14 percent have had four or more partners, according to a federal survey released this summer."
Call me naive (or am I deprived? - naww, don't think so), but I haven't had that many sexual partners in my whole life; and I'm really old....been married to the same man for 43 yrs. Isn't there a law against being married to the same person for that long?? LOL
It does make me feel better to see some of the younger people feeling the same way I did/do........... I feel better knowing there are some parents out there who are trying to teach their children the difference between right and wrong........ you all go for it......
teko -- I think they didn't start with the hormones in food when we were young enough to "benefit"............lol
I get a number of pm's regularly from very young girls asking me how to get pregnant. They do think it's like a little doll. I wrote a journal on it hoping to set them straight. I love my son heart and soul and love taking care of him...but even as a women in a stable and healthy marriage, with a husband that is more then happy to be involved it's hard. Let alone the financial end of things. Babies are expensive and these young people just don't think it through.
Teko, I think that is a wonderful course and would very much like to see more of that. Eye opener I bet...
Teko, I think that is a wonderful course and would very much like to see more of that. Eye opener I bet...
It seems kids think getting pregnant is a game these days, do they not realize what that means? I dont understand. I remember when my girls were in high school. They gave them these babies as a course. The baby was computerized and came with a carrier and a bottle and diapers. It was programmed to act just like a real baby and they had to take it with them everywhere they went, and it would cry and they had to figure out why and care for the baby in the correct manner before the crying would stop. They even had to get up in the middle of the night with it. That did the trick! None of my kids wanted anything to do with babies after that! Not even babysitting for someone elses! LOL
My daughter has several classmates who are or want to get pregnant. Mostly for "someone to love". Boy, did we talk about that one. I've always been very open to the point of being blunt about sex. Am I naive enough to believe that my children won't have sex before they should? Absolutely not. But I do hope they listened when I talked about birth control. What works and what doesn't. All you can do is arm them with information and facts and then pray you raised them correctly.
teko your comment about your sex life floored me..I"m still laughing.
Meli I'm sure you raised her right and can trust her to make the right decision :). Even though sometimes amazing kids make mistakes, you've just gotta hope that your kid remembers it all when it boils down...at least..that's the theory I'm working on for when my two reach the age of the "sex-is-life" mindset.
You're not old Amanda...not by any stretch of the imagination. And certainly not for your mores. I waited until I was in college and absolutely in love before I had my "first"...and even though he and I rushed into it, I knew in my heart it was the right choice because I had been with many guys before that and never felt like I had found the one who deserved the gift I had held onto all my life...when I met him I *KNEW*...and here we are, 8 years later...married 3 years with two beautiful children.
He regrets not waiting to make me his "first" all the time..and even though I'm glad in some ways he didn't wait (he got "it" out of his system before settling down with me)...he really beats himself up over it when he thinks about how special my gift was to him.
I hope I instill the same sense of importance to my children..and even if their "first" is at a younger age than I would wish it to be, I hope that it means something and isn't thrown away "just 'cause".
I hope. and My daughter will be on birth control, LOL.
Meli I'm sure you raised her right and can trust her to make the right decision :). Even though sometimes amazing kids make mistakes, you've just gotta hope that your kid remembers it all when it boils down...at least..that's the theory I'm working on for when my two reach the age of the "sex-is-life" mindset.
You're not old Amanda...not by any stretch of the imagination. And certainly not for your mores. I waited until I was in college and absolutely in love before I had my "first"...and even though he and I rushed into it, I knew in my heart it was the right choice because I had been with many guys before that and never felt like I had found the one who deserved the gift I had held onto all my life...when I met him I *KNEW*...and here we are, 8 years later...married 3 years with two beautiful children.
He regrets not waiting to make me his "first" all the time..and even though I'm glad in some ways he didn't wait (he got "it" out of his system before settling down with me)...he really beats himself up over it when he thinks about how special my gift was to him.
I hope I instill the same sense of importance to my children..and even if their "first" is at a younger age than I would wish it to be, I hope that it means something and isn't thrown away "just 'cause".
I hope. and My daughter will be on birth control, LOL.
Offensive? Nope, none taken here at all.
Ash, the casual way teens are thinking about sex is such a huge problem now. You guys know I work with people living in poverty and homeless. Well, I cannot even begin to tell you how many of the single moms I work with started having sex and babies at incredibly young ages. I have women in their 20's with anywhere from 4-8 (yep, 8!) kids, on their own, no real education (don't know why, sounds like their grades didn't suffer) and a totally casual attitude about it. This whole "hooking up" business...I mean, I am no prude, but that is something we just didn't do. Your first was a huge big deal....I know I am old, but still, I can't understand it at all.
Ash, the casual way teens are thinking about sex is such a huge problem now. You guys know I work with people living in poverty and homeless. Well, I cannot even begin to tell you how many of the single moms I work with started having sex and babies at incredibly young ages. I have women in their 20's with anywhere from 4-8 (yep, 8!) kids, on their own, no real education (don't know why, sounds like their grades didn't suffer) and a totally casual attitude about it. This whole "hooking up" business...I mean, I am no prude, but that is something we just didn't do. Your first was a huge big deal....I know I am old, but still, I can't understand it at all.
I wasnt offended at all brice! Nothing offensive about it, welcome to MH...
Was somebody offended? Was there a post that was removed? I don't have ANy problem with what you posted, but maybe I missed something...
Yeah my son frightens me too but my daughter hitting puberty is by far more frightening to me....
I was 11 when my period started, but I didn't even THINK about sex until I was about 14/15...and then I was too afraid to become pregnant in high school so I frustrated all my boyfriends until I graduated and met my husband. boy did he hit the jackpot, lol.
I can't imagine casually accepting my teenaged daughter's sex life..but I guess in some cases it's either accept and monitor or have them hide it from you??? such a fine line..
Yeah my son frightens me too but my daughter hitting puberty is by far more frightening to me....
I was 11 when my period started, but I didn't even THINK about sex until I was about 14/15...and then I was too afraid to become pregnant in high school so I frustrated all my boyfriends until I graduated and met my husband. boy did he hit the jackpot, lol.
I can't imagine casually accepting my teenaged daughter's sex life..but I guess in some cases it's either accept and monitor or have them hide it from you??? such a fine line..
If anyone found my above post as offensive, I am sorry. I am assuming it was the first sentence.....I am truly sorry for offending anyone.
Oh man, my 13 year old boy scares the heck out of me in regards to this subject. About a bit more than a year ago he found his penis and girls in the same week and cant keep his hands and mind off of either! He is a good kid, boy scout, school athlete, relatively good grades and bright as all get out, and we have had numerous talks about sex. I often wonder if the talks are falling on deaf ears though. Ive made myself approachable on all subjects, but wonder if he would ever come to me with questions about sex?
At 13, I still hated girls because of "cooties". My 16 year old is a different guy entirely. My only concern is he dang near needs to shave as much as I do. I do think my 16 year old would come to me or his mother with questions regarding sex.
At 13, I still hated girls because of "cooties". My 16 year old is a different guy entirely. My only concern is he dang near needs to shave as much as I do. I do think my 16 year old would come to me or his mother with questions regarding sex.
I am so glad mine are grown! My god daughter had pubic hair at 7. Doc said all the hormones in the food these days is what is causing the early puberty. That is scary! I wonder why those hormones dont help my sex life tho?
I hate it.. she is 13 now and will be 14 in october.. she is a GREAT kid and so far very obedient 4.0 student( hope that doesn't mean she's having sex) haha.. no she hasn't had a boyfriend yet.. No dating until 16. We will se what happens then
Oh, good...my 14-year-old's sex life won't affect her grades. Wait. my 14-year-old's sex life?!??!
Reality check...time to stop finding reasons to OK teenage sex and time to start finding ways to educate and minimize it. Sigh, my daughter hitting puberty is one of those things about life that terrifies me...I would imagine it's similar to a man dreading his first prostate exam....
Reality check...time to stop finding reasons to OK teenage sex and time to start finding ways to educate and minimize it. Sigh, my daughter hitting puberty is one of those things about life that terrifies me...I would imagine it's similar to a man dreading his first prostate exam....
my 13 year old starting getting pubic hair at age 7 at 10 she had her period..
now my other DD is 7 and she is beginning to get them
now my other DD is 7 and she is beginning to get them
ha ha. I don't know why I find this study funny. Because I get that it isn't funny at all. I agree. Seems a study on how to convince teens that school is more important than sex would be more beneficial.
And good lord . . . puberty starting at 7? That's like 1st grade!! I've got a boy starting first grade next week . . . this puts a whole different slant on circle time. Well, it's official (and I've been contemplating this all summer anyway . . .)-------- I AM going to school WITH him. (must add a LOL here but I don't want to. I really want to go!)
And good lord . . . puberty starting at 7? That's like 1st grade!! I've got a boy starting first grade next week . . . this puts a whole different slant on circle time. Well, it's official (and I've been contemplating this all summer anyway . . .)-------- I AM going to school WITH him. (must add a LOL here but I don't want to. I really want to go!)
I'm having trouble getting past the first paragraph....
There's good news for parents who worry that their teenagers' sex lives are affecting their school performance: A provocative new study has found that teens in committed relationships do no better or worse in school than those don't have sex.
...but they should worry if it's just hook ups? Ay....
The fact that our society has become so accepting of teen sex that they are doing a study about it? I am all for educating our teens on birth control, etc., but how about a little more education on why having sex as a teenager is just a bad idea...for so many reasons. This whole study just doesn't sit right with me.
There's good news for parents who worry that their teenagers' sex lives are affecting their school performance: A provocative new study has found that teens in committed relationships do no better or worse in school than those don't have sex.
...but they should worry if it's just hook ups? Ay....
The fact that our society has become so accepting of teen sex that they are doing a study about it? I am all for educating our teens on birth control, etc., but how about a little more education on why having sex as a teenager is just a bad idea...for so many reasons. This whole study just doesn't sit right with me.
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