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Puberty and adolescent sexuality.

J Dennis Fortenberry¹

¹Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. jfortenb@iu.edu

Hormones and Behavior

|September 4, 2013

Summary

Adolescent sexuality research often focuses on risks, overlooking key aspects of adult sexuality. This review proposes a framework to understand the development of sexual desire, arousal, behaviors, and function from puberty through adulthood.

Keywords:

Abstinence Adolescence Masturbation Puberty Sexual arousal Sexual behavior Sexual desire Sexual function Sexuality

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Area of Science:

Reproductive Health
Developmental Psychology
Human Sexuality

Background:

Sexuality is a critical component of development during puberty and adolescence.
Current research often emphasizes risks like unplanned pregnancy and STIs, neglecting broader sexual development.
A gap exists in understanding the continuum of sexuality from adolescence to adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a framework for an expanded understanding of adolescent sexuality.
To connect emerging adolescent sexuality with established adult sexual characteristics.
To address gaps in the ontogeny of sex and the lifespan continuum of sexuality.

Main Methods:

This is a review article, synthesizing existing research.
It proposes a conceptual framework based on four hallmarks of adult sexuality.
The framework examines sexual desire, sexual arousal, sexual behaviors, and sexual function.

Main Results:

The proposed framework integrates adolescent sexual development with adult sexuality.
It offers a more comprehensive view beyond risk-focused research.
It highlights the developmental trajectory of key sexual components.

Conclusions:

Understanding adolescent sexuality requires a framework encompassing desire, arousal, behavior, and function.
This approach provides a continuum of sexual development from adolescence to adulthood.
It addresses the ontogeny of sex and its lifelong progression.