We just read on Strollerderby that a new study by University of Virginia psychologists reports that teen sex may actually be a good thing. The findings, per ScienceDaily: Teens who have sex at an early age may be less inclined to exhibit delinquent behavior in early adulthood than their peers who waited until they were older to have sex. The study also suggests that early sex may play a role in helping these teens develop better social relationships in early adulthood.
Ha-HA! The Strollerderby blogger says she feels her "entire adolescence has been vindicated," and so do we.
It also rings true to us on an anecdotal level. Most of the people we knew who were a little loose in high school figured sex dynamics out early; by the time they were out of college, they were ready for serious relationships. The ones who dutifully waited until they were of-age to start dating and considering sex wound up spending the post-college decade trying to make up for lost time.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 6)
1. It's the same as those studies that show that abstience only sexual education is less effective than comprehensive sexual education. The realistic view is that people will grow up and eventually have sexual relationships with other people. Those who learn sexual dynamics early equip them for relationships when they are independant adults. Those who are urged to repress until an arbitrarily acceptable age, who are encouraged to deny their sexual urges until an symbolically acceptable ceremony do not have the experiances to judge good and stable relationships from poor relationships. After all, if they've never had sex until they were married, how could they know good sex from boring sex from abusive sex. The only experiance they possess is that first relationship.
This is just more evidence that what people think people should do according to religious values contradicts what nature intends as best for us.
Somber at 4:13PM on Nov 15th 2007
2. I agree, it is much nicer to shack up with a gal who has been "giving it up" since a young age...you don't have to feel bad about kicking her out cause she's experienced and can find another guy by giving up that "experienced booty".
John Lysek at 4:35PM on Nov 15th 2007
3. I agree with the article. If one does not have sexual relationships young when immaturity exists will bring that same immaturity into an adult relationship. When you are young you can grow to learn what is good, bad, what you like and don't like,etc. You learn the type of relationship in which you desire. I know from my own experience that I am glad that I did not wait until I was married. I got married very young (22) and my husband was 24. I was mature enough to know that I was getting married because I KNEW I was in love and would spend the rest of my life with my husband no matter what. I knew the difference between love and infatuation and lust. I owe this to my young sexual experiences and relationships.
D at 4:40PM on Nov 15th 2007
4. How can you write an article that condones teen sex? What if my daughter were to read this article?If they are under age the parents have the right to instill our ideas to our teenagers. You don't have to deal with it if your teen comes home pregnant. At the very least teens should not have sex until they are of legal age when they can make their own decisions as long as they are capable of handling them on their own.
Dina at 4:42PM on Nov 15th 2007
5. Yes, and they're far more likely to die of AIDS, have babies that you will pay for through welfare, catch any number of other STD's (read the article that just came out 2 days ago telling us that gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia were increasing at alarming rates). Also, you might mention the fact that couples who live together before marriage are far more likely to divorce than couples who don't, that people who are abstinent before marriage have a far lower divorce rate, etc. etc, etc.. The study stated that "Teens who have sex at an early age MAY be less inclined to exhibit delinquent behavior in EARLY adulthood" Wow - what a trade! You focus on one area that may or may not be affected by sexual behavior and then ignore the scores of documented negatives of engaging in that behavior. It's like saying that kids who mutilate puppies end MIGHT up with better table manners as adults... so what! I'd say you're an idiot, but you're not - you're just an immature liberal promoting more stupid ideas that we already know hurt real people.
lighthousecog at 5:19PM on Nov 15th 2007
6. Dina@#4, writes, "4. How can you write an article that condones teen sex? What if my daughter were to read this article?"
Words can't be written, information can't be shared and people can't discuss sexual issues because you don't know how to talk to your daughter?
Captain Negative at 5:34PM on Nov 15th 2007
7. You too, lighthousecog. Just look at the results of "abstinence education" and note the increases of STD's like syhpillis of the throat and rectum among victims of "faith-based" sexual "education."
Only wingnuts believe that the answer is supression of information.
Captain Negative at 5:38PM on Nov 15th 2007
8. hummmm how about the "soul ties" with all those you've become 1 with? hello becoming 1 means something beyond the 'physical realm'. so your saying that the sooner & more frequent that we do this the better off we are as adults? that fits in
with the Mambla mind set. then why is there such a problem with adults have sex with an under 18- certainly their 'skill' would be beneficial to this end result right? THIS ARTICLE IS BOGUS!
jacque at 5:51PM on Nov 15th 2007
9. Yeah Yeah Yeah I look at this and all i see is BS
What the study doesn't reveal is the dangerous mental wounds that premarital sex has on teens and young adults (look up the relationship between high sex activity and suicide, depression and anger you will find the results quite interesting) It also doesn't revel that married people have better sex and longer lasting sex then those who do it outside the covenant (USA Today "The revenge of the church ladies), plus it doesn't show that with the lie comes the price which is being paid with high rates of AIDS herpes Syphilis HPV and hepatitis C that now exist in the teen/ young adult population
I look and its sad that now most of these bright young people won't live to see their 30th birthday
My question to you is a little shacking up worth it
I think not
as for the writer of this study you are a moron
have a nice day
Joe at 5:47PM on Nov 15th 2007
10. suppression of information..... that is completely false. in place of "do what feels good", we are actually informing, training, showing and teaching the realities of the POWER of PURITY! come on now- you cant think you KNOW IT ALL about this topic.... right? the HOURS that go into this FAITH BASE system is filled with : Honor, Respect, Love for that Teen-- NOT AT ALL WHAT YOU THINK! Open your mind.
jacque at 5:51PM on Nov 15th 2007
11. The, "Power of Purity" has me laughing the posterior off! It reveals your true attitude.
Abstinence equals, "purity" to you? If you have children, I pity them.
Captain Negative at 5:58PM on Nov 15th 2007
12. Teen Sex Hmmm! I think your right on with this, Only what can a teen girl learn from a teen boy about sex, Surely she will need to sleep with much older men if she hopes to learn anything. And while she's at it, Perhaps she can learn financial responsiblity to. Yea, that's it! She can charge for the sex and really learn a thing or two. Anybody buying this bunch of B.S. has got to be outside of there heads, religion aside.
Lane at 6:13PM on Nov 15th 2007
13. The reality is folks, statistics and studies can be manipulated to say whatever you want them to say depending how you word them etc...There probably is some good that comes from pre marital sex etc and theres also some bad results, thats part of making choices deciding whether good results outweigh bad results. However the only way to make such a decision is to have as much information with as few inaccurate assumptions as possible. Information is key to making proper decisions. So it doesn't matter what the study says, all that matters is you get some information from it and then get some more from somewhere else and keep doing so so you can make up you own damn mind..
Jimmy at 6:27PM on Nov 15th 2007
14. It's sad that someone writes a piece like this and then it's a "true fact". Who are these psychologists that did this study? Some website shows statistics from some "study" and it's a fact that is shared on an AOL news blog like it's "ok" for teens to have sex an at early age and that it makes them " less inclined in exhibiting delinquent behavior in adulthood". I'm not believing this.
K Harrison at 6:40PM on Nov 15th 2007
15. I find it interesting how those who agree with the article have to justify their sexual experiences earlier in life. I mean seriously "D" did you really have to have sex in order to figure out the difference between "love" and "lust". Everything you mentioned previously in your comments can be aquired without having to have sex with someone but I can see how a good stiff one would help in the development of ones "maturity"...lol. I'm sad to hear you got married at such a young age hopefully you will not end up contributing to the ever rising divorce rate in the U.S. today. I wish you all the best with your marriage and in life. Don't be a statistic...I cannot stress the importance of education especially within the home...maybe if more were provided for that individual they would not have associated sexual experiences and immaturity.
stealthfighter at 6:42PM on Nov 15th 2007