[Cool Teen Sites]
Tuesday, 29 February, 2000, 06:27 GMT
Smart teenagers 'delay sex'
Study examined teenagers' sexual habits
Smarter adolescents start having sexual relations later than teens of average
intelligence, researchers have found. According to US scientists, intelligent
adolescents also tend to postpone any kind of lesser sexual activity - from holding hands
and kissing to heavy petting.
[EDITORS: I guess that places most of us in the research department in the slightly "not so smart" category.]
Ambition is the best form of contraception
Anne Weyman, chief executive, Family Planning Association The researchers, from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also found that the least intelligent teens
also appear to delay sexual contact. Dr Carolyn Halpern, assistant professor of
maternal and child heath, said an adolescent with an intelligence score of 100 - average
intelligence - was up to five times as likely to have had sexual relations than a peer
with an intelligence score of 120-130.
Smarter girls were even less likely than their male counterparts to have sex at an early
age. Researchers analysed information from two detailed confidential surveys
They used a test called the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test to measure intelligence.
The analysis revealed that for each point increase in intelligence score the chance
of necking went down 2.5% for boys and 1.6% for girls. The likelihood of intercourse
decreased 2.7% for boys and 1.7% for girls.
It is commonly assumed that students who get good grades are more reluctant to have sexual
relations because they are focused on their studies, and do not want to jeopardise their
future. But the researchers found that more intelligent students did not even engage in
behaviours such as kissing. Dr Halpern said: "It is hard to believe that teens avoid
kissing because they see it as the start of a slippery slope to sexual intercourse and
possible pregnancy."
Surprising finding
Anne Weyman said sex education was vital Dr Halpern said the finding that the
least intelligent teenagers also refrained from sexual relations was surprising.
She said: "We thought that teens on the high end would be least likely to have sex,
and teens on the low end would be most likely. "We thought teens of lower
intelligence might be more vulnerable to being taken advantage of or less likely to
consider possible negative consequences of having sex."
The researchers suggest that less intelligent teenagers may be more likely to be sheltered
by their parents or guardians. Anne Weyman, chief executive of the Family Planning
Association, said: "We know that young people with aspirations to achieve in life are
less likely to engage in early sexual activity and that ambition is the best form of
contraception.
"Children with special needs on the other hand, be they physical, emotional or
intellectual, are likely to be more closely supervised and therefore have less opportunity
to engage in early sexual experiences." Ms Weyman said it was important that all
young people received responsible education about sex and relationships.
Source: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_659000/659685.stm)