Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Educational correlates of adolescents' sexual attitudes and behavior

  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Parents' educational attainment is known to be related to their children's educational aspirations and plans, and these variables have been presumed to be inversely related to early adolescent sexual activity. Relationships between these educational variables and adolescents' sexual attitudes and behavior were analyzed in a sample of 810 high school students from two Western states. Parents' educational background was positively related to adolescents' educational plans and performance, and these educational variables were inversely related to adolescents' premarital sexual attitudes and intercourse experience. It seems most plausible to conclude that parents' educational backgrounds affect children's educational interests and grades, which, in turn, affect adolescent sexuality. However, the observed associations also could be interpreted to suggest that early sexual behavior reduces adolescents' educational plans and lowers their school grades.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alwin, D. F. (1986). Schools, adolescent sexuality, and achievement. In Thornton, A. (ed.),Family and Institutional Factors in Adolescent Sexuality. Unpublished manuscript. Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billy, J. O. G. (1987). Effects of sexual activity on adolescent social and psychological development. Unpublished manuscript, Battelle Human Affairs Research Center, Seattle, WA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Card, J. J., and Wise, L. L. (1978). Teenage mothers and teenage fathers: The impact of early childbearing on the parents' personal and professional lives.Family Plan. Perspect. 10: 199–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S. (1965).Adolescents and the Schools. Basic Books, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, M., and Kandel, D. B., (1981). Parental and peer influences on adolescents educational plans: Some further evidence.Am. J. Sociol. 87: 363–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, C. D. (ed.) (1987).Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Childbearing. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofferth, S. L. (1987). Factors affecting initiation of sexual intercourse. In Hofferth, S. L., and Hayes, C. D. (eds.),Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Childbearing (Vol. II). National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, S. L., and Jessor, R. (1975). Transition from virginity to nonvirginity among youth: A social psychological study over time.Develop. Psychol. 11: 473–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen, S. R., and Alexander, S. J. (1983). Research on adolescent pregnancy risk: Implications for sex education programs.Theory into Practice, 22: 125–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, B. C., and Bingham, C. R. (1988). Family configuration in relation to the sexual behavior of female adolescents.J. Marriage Family, 50: xxx-xxx.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, B. C., McCoy, J. K., Olson, T. D., and Wallace, C. M. (1986). Parental discipline and control attempts in relation to adolescent sexual attitudes and behavior.J. Marriage Family, 48: 503–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, K. A., Peterson, J. L., and Furstenberg, F. F., Jr. (1984). Starting early: The antecedents of early premarital intercourse. Paper presented at annual meetings of The Population Association of America.

  • Mott, F. L., and Marsiglio, W. (1985). Early childbearing and the completion of high school.Family Plan. Perspect. 17: 234–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America. (1986).American Teens Speak: Sex, Myths, T. V., and Birth Control. PPFA, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sewell, W. H., Hauser, R. M., and Featherman, D. L. (Eds.). (1976).Schooling and Achievement in American Society. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teachman, J. D. (1987). Family background, educational resources, and educational attainment.Am. Sociol. Rev. 52: 548–557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelnik, M., Kantner, J., and Ford, K. (1981).Sex and Pregnancy in Adolescence. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, CA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Human Development, Utah State University, 84322-2905, Logan, Utah

    Brent C. Miller (Professor)

  2. Evanston School District, 82930, Evanston, Wyoming

    Karen R. Sneesby (School Nurse)

Authors
  1. Brent C. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karen R. Sneesby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The data analyzed here were collected as part of a prevention demonstration grant (APH 003-6-01-0) awarded to Terrance D. Olson by the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs. This paper is based on the master's thesis of the second author.

Received Ph.D. in Family Sociology from the University of Minnesota. Research interests concern the antecedents and consequences of early adolescent sexual behavior.

Received a master's degree from the Department of Family and Human Development at Utah State University. Interested in the problem behaviors of young teenagers.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miller, B.C., Sneesby, K.R. Educational correlates of adolescents' sexual attitudes and behavior. J Youth Adolescence 17, 521–530 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537829

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537829

Keywords

Search

Navigation