Older adolescents' positive attitudes toward younger adolescents as sexual partners

Adolescence. 2004 Winter;39(156):627-51.

Abstract

The prevalence of older adolescents' positive attitudes toward younger sexual partners was investigated through three measures of self-reported hypothetical likelihood of having sex with preadolescents and younger adolescents (LSA), using a school-based cluster sample of 710 Norwegian 18- to 19-year-olds attending nonvocational high schools in Oslo. Some likelihood of having sex with a preadolescent (less than 12 years of age) was reported by 5.9% of the males. The 19.1% of the males who indicated some likelihood of having sex with a 13- to 14-year old, compared to those who did not, reported more high-frequency drinking, more alcohol-related problems, earlier sexual initiation, more conduct problems, and poorer psychosocial adjustment. This subgroup also reported more high-frequency use of pornography, having more friends with an interest in child pornography and violent pornography, and greater use of coercion to obtain sexual favors.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology
  • Attitude*
  • Child
  • Coitus / psychology
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marijuana Smoking / psychology
  • Norway
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Sexual Partners / psychology*