Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
06:38
Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
Published on: October 13, 2018
Having a future: sexual decision making in early adolescence
R B Monsen1, C P Jackson, M Livingston
1Henderson State University, Department of Nursing, Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Adolescents aged 12-14 prioritize self-protection, viewing delayed sexual activity or consistent protection as key to a future with relationships and family. This decision-making emphasizes safeguarding their future well-being.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Reproductive Health
- Psychology
Background:
- Limited research exists on adolescent decision-making regarding sexual activity and protection.
- Understanding young adolescents' perspectives is crucial for developing effective health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the thought processes of adolescents (ages 12-14) concerning sexual initiation and the use of protection.
- To identify key influences and considerations in adolescent sexual decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 45 adolescents in a health class setting.
- Analysis of short-answer written responses using Heideggerian hermeneutic interpretation.
Main Results:
- Adolescent reflections centered on self-protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Decisions to postpone sexual activity or use protection were linked to preserving future opportunities.
- Future aspirations included love, marriage, and having children.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents perceive sexual decision-making as integral to future life planning.
- Self-protection is a primary motivator for choices regarding sexual activity and contraceptive use.
- Health education should address adolescents' future-oriented thinking in sexual health.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Decision Making
Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
01:14Psychosexual Theory of Development
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the recognition that people have...
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are themselves.
01:17Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, "identity versus role confusion," is crucial during adolescence (ages 12 to 18). In this stage, adolescents face the developmental task of forging a distinct personal identity, a process influenced by social, psychological, and biological changes typical of this period. Adolescents naturally explore different roles, behaviors, and ideologies as they navigate complex questions of self-concept, asking, "Who am I?" and "What is my place in...
01:27Emerging Adulthood
Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during this...