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How Sources of Sexual Information Relate to Adolescents' Beliefs About Sex

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Objectives : To examine how sources of sexual information are associated with adolescents' behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about having sexual intercourse using the integrative model of behavior change.

Methods : Survey data from a quota sample of 459 youth.

Results : The most frequently reported sources were friends, teachers, mothers, and media. Regression analyses indicated that learning about sex from parents, grandparents, and religious leaders was associated with beliefs likely to delay sex; friends, cousins, and media were associated with beliefs that increase the likelihood of having sexual intercourse.

Conclusions : Different sexual information sources were associated with different underlying beliefs.

Keywords: adolescents; integrative model; media; sexual information

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1 Research Scientist, Annenberg Public Policy Center, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Publication date: 01 January 2009

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  • The American Journal of Health Behavior seeks to improve the quality of life through multidisciplinary health efforts in fostering a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of both individuals and social systems as they relate to health behaviors.

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