Documenting the Need for Earlier Prevention: Sexual Behavior in Grades 6 through 12

Purpose:  Little research is available on the sexual behavior of youth across a span of 6^th through 12^th grade.  The purpose of this study was to examine sexual behaviors of adolescents in middle school through high school to identify critical time periods and variables to address in planning sexual risk reduction interventions.

Methods: 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data for middle school (n=3138) and high school (n=2542) youth were obtained from a large school district in the south.  Data collections followed CDC protocol including randomization and obtaining at least 60% response rate required to calculate weighted data.  Frequencies and Chi Squares were tabulated. 

Results:  In middle school, 23% of all students reported ever having sexual intercourse while 54% of high school students reported the same.  There were significant differences by grade, gender and ethnicity.  Thirteen percent of 6^th graders reported ever having sex, while 28% of 8^th graders did so.  An approximate 10% increase was evident each year through 12^th grade – 39% of 9^th, 47% of 10^th, 57% of 11^th and 63% of 12^th graders reported ever having sex.  In middle school 25% of males and 13% of females reported ever having sex.  In high school, 55% of males and 47% of females reported the same.  One-fourth of black (25%) and Hispanic (24%) middle school youth reported ever having sex, while 12% of white and 6% of Asian students reported the same.  At the high school level , 57% of black and 54% of Hispanic students compared to 44% of white and 25% of Asian students reported ever having sex.  Additional comparisons by grade, gender and race for age of first sex, multiple partners, and condom use will be presented.

Conclusions: The consequences of sexual risk behaviors are well documented, particularly for younger adolescents.  Discussion will include the marked difference in sexual behaviors by race and gender, and explore why patterns are more pronounced for middle school aged youth.  Implications for sexual risk reduction programs targeting critical time periods and demographic variables will be presented.