Adolescent sexuality at the dawn of the 21st century

Human sexuality can be defined as including the physical characteristics of and capacities for specific sex behaviors, together with psychosocial values, norms, attitudes, and learning processes that influence these behaviors. It also includes a sense of gender identity and related concepts, behaviors, and attitudes about the self and others as women or men in the context of one's society. At the dawn of the new century, adolescent sexuality remains a topic of concern to adults throughout the world. This concern is not unique to this new age. In each era of recorded history, adults have been concerned about adolescent sexual behavior, particularly sexual intercourse and its consequences. Things have not changed all that much in the realm of adolescent sexual behavior. What has changed is our ability to prevent the serious consequences of this behavior and, hopefully, to help adolescents avoid behaviors that put them at risk for the negative consequences of expressing their burgeoning sexuality. This article reviews the major influences on adolescents developing' sexuality, the data on adolescent sexual activity, some tips on caring for adolescents comprehensively, and ends with some predictions of how this issue will be addressed in the new century.