Top

Published in:

01-06-2019 | Original Paper

Predictors of the Timing of Sexual Intercourse Initiation among Adolescents in South Korea

Authors: Jung Hee Yeo, Hyunjeong Park, Eun-Young Kim

Published in: Journal of Community Health | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

While the age of sexual intercourse initiation has decreased in South Korea, its correlates have not been identified using a nationally representative sample. This study investigated the predictors of the timing of sexual intercourse initiation among high school students in South Korea. A total of 10,810 students in the twelfth grade were selected from the Youth Health Behavior Online Survey (2016), and their data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and survival analysis. Approximately 11.6% of boys and 5.1% of girls reported having sexual intercourse. Significant predictors of the timing of sexual intercourse initiation among male students were the presence of parents, living with their family, socioeconomic status, grade of alcohol consumption initiation, grade of smoking initiation, and school type. Except for school type, the same results were found for girls. Sex education that targets high risk groups using the factors identified in this study may be effective in influencing positive changes in behavioral outcomes, such as delayed initiation of sex.

Bozon, M., & Kontula, O. (1997). Initiation sexuelle et genre: comparaison des évolutions de douze pays européens. [Sexual initiation and gender: a comparison of trends in twelve European countries]. Population, 52(6), 1367–1400. https://doi.org/10.2307/1534632.CrossRef

Statistics Korea. 2016 Korea youth statistics [Internet]. Seoul: Statistics Korea. 2016 [cited 2017 Nov 5]. Available from: http://kostat.go.kr/wnsearch/search.jsp.

Lee, G. (2016). Sexual behaviors and sexual experience of adolescents in Korea. Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial Cooperation Society, 17(12), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2016.17.12.71.CrossRef

Finer, L. B., & Philbin, J. M. (2013). Sexual initiation, contraceptive use, and pregnancy among young adolescents. Pediatrics, 131(5), 886–891. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-3495.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Lammers, C., Ireland, M., Resnick, M., & Blum, R. (2000). Influences on adolescents’ decision to postpone onset of sexual intercourse: a survival analysis of virginity among youths aged 13 to 18 years. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 26(1), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(99)00041-5.CrossRefPubMed

O’Donnell, L., O’Donnell, C. R., & Stueve, A. (2001). Early sexual initiation and subsequent sex-related risks among urban minority youth: the reach for health study. Family Planning Perspectives, 33(6), 268–275. https://doi.org/10.2307/3030194.CrossRefPubMed

Miller, B. C., & Fox, G. L. (1987). Theories of adolescent heterosexual behavior. Journal of Adolescent Research, 2(3), 269–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/074355488723007.CrossRef

Miller, B. C., & Sneesby, K. R. (1988). Educational correlates of adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 17(6), 521–530. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537829.CrossRefPubMed

French, D. C., & Dishion, T. J. (2003). Predictors of early initiation of sexual intercourse among high-risk adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 23(3), 295–315. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431603254171.CrossRef

10.

Chang, S. B., Kim, S., Han, I. Y., Park, Y. J., Kang, H. C., & Lee, S. K. (2001). Sexual behavior and related factors of coitus of teenage girls in Korea. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 31(5), 921–931. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2001.31.5.921.CrossRef

11.

Kim, M. J. (2003). A study on the factors causing the female adolescent sexual activity: focused on the peer group’s sexual experiences, social support and coping. Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association, 14(6), 63–74.

12.

Kwon, H. J., Kim, K. H., Choi, M. H., & Kim, H. Y. (2006). A study on the variables forecasting female adolescent’s sexual intercourse. Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15(2), 170–178.

13.

Han, S. H., Kim, J. J., & Choe, M. J. (2002). Effected factors on initiating sexual activity among Korean young adults. Journal of the Korean Society of Health Statistics, 27(1), 21–36.

14.

Kann, L., Kinchen, S., Shanklin, S. L., et al. (2014). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States 2013. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(4), 1–172.

15.

Singh, S., Wulf, D., Samara, R., & Cuca, Y. P. (2000). Gender differences in the timing of first intercourse: data from 14 countries. International Family Planning Perspectives, 26(1), 21–28. https://doi.org/10.2307/2648286.CrossRef

16.

Ju, J. S. (2015). Libertarian sex and sexual self determination. The Journal of Asian Women, 54(1), 7–36.

17.

Gwon, S. H., & Lee, C. Y. (2015). Factors that influence sexual intercourse among middle school students: using data from the 8th (2012) Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 45(1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.1.76.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Nik Farid, N. D., Che’ Rus, S., Dahlui, M., Al-Sadat, N., Che’Rus, S., Dahlui, M., & Al-Sadat, N. (2003). Determinants of sexual intercourse initiation among incarcerated adolescents: a mixed-method study. Singapore Medical Journal, 54(12), 695–701. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2013244.CrossRef

19.

Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Helfand, M. (2008). Ten years of longitudinal research on U.S. adolescent sexual behavior: developmental correlates of sexual intercourse, and the importance of age, gender and ethnic background. Developmental Review, 28(2), 153–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2007.06.001.CrossRef

20.

Blum, R. W., Beuhring, T., Shew, M. L., Bearinger, L. H., Sieving, R. E., & Resnick, M. D. (2000). The effects of race/ethnicity, income, and family structure on adolescent risk behaviors. American Journal of Public Health, 90(12), 1879–1884. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.90.12.1879.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

21.

Koh, Y. J., Kim, Y., & Noh, J. (2000). Contribution of behavioral disturbance, peer acceptance and friendship to the self-perceived social competence in Korean elementary-school children. Korean Journal of Psychology: Development, 13(2), 65–78.

22.

Waldron, M., Doran, K. A., Bucholz, K. K., Duncan, A. E., Lynskey, M. L., Madden, P. A. F., & Heath, A. C. (2015). Parental separation, parental alcoholism, and timing of first sexual intercourse. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56, 550–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.01.011.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Predictors of the Timing of Sexual Intercourse Initiation among Adolescents in South Korea
Authors: Jung Hee Yeo
Hyunjeong Park
Eun-Young Kim
Publication date: 01-06-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Community Health / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0094-5145
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3610
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-00605-6

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Predictors of the Timing of Sexual Intercourse Initiation among Adolescents in South Korea

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2019

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Frailty and Cognitive Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Elderly with Knee Osteoarthritis

Ann Goerdt, Donna Page, Herbert M. Cole, Peter E. Udo Umoh, Leonard Kahan, and Faustino Quintanilla: Deformity Masks and Their Role in African Cultures: The Ann Goerdt Collection

Prevalence, Severity, and Risk of Future Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Living in a Rural Community: The Atahualpa Project

Disparities in HPV Screening and Prevention in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Regions of Michigan

Effects of Urban Violence on Primary Healthcare: The Challenges of Community Health Workers in Performing House Calls in Dangerous Areas

Use of community forums to increase knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer in African American communities