TRONCO, Cristina Benites    DELL'AGLIO, Débora Dalbosco. Description of adolescent sexual behavior: sexual initiation and gender. Gerais, Rev. Interinst. Psicol. []. 2012, 5, 2, pp.254-269. ISSN 1983-8220.

This study investigated sexual initiation and behavior characteristics of 691 randomly selected adolescents, from both genders, between 12 and 19 years of age (M=15.47; SD=1.53), studying in public schools in Porto Alegre (RS). They answered the Brazilian Youth Questionnaire in which topics referring to sexual behaviors were analyzed. Data showed that 44.7% of the adolescents had already had their first sexual intercourse at the average age of 14.25 (SD=1.40), with partners on average 2.51 (SD=3.01) years older and who were mostly boyfriends (girlfriends), friends or neighbors. Significant gender differences were identified in the age of first intercourse, partner's age difference at first intercourse and use of contraceptive methods, among others. It can be concluded that adolescents' sexual initiation generally occurs with older partners, with whom the adolescents have a prior emotional bond and this process occurs differently between genders, explaining gender stereotypes.

: Adolescence; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Initiation.

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