Timing of pubertal maturation and the onset of sexual behavior among zimbabwe school boys
Abstract
The relationship between reproductive maturation and the onset of sexual behavior in boys across cultures is unclear. To explore the relative timing of pubertal events and their relationship to the onset of sexual behavior, we used data collected from 442 Zimbabwe school boys aged 12-18 years. Measures of reproductive maturation included self-reported spontaneous nocturnal emission, secondary sexual characteristics, and salivary testosterone. Behavioral measures included age at first sexual fantasies, non-coital sexual behavior, and coitus. Sigmoid interpolation curve techniques indicated a median age of first erection at 10.75 +/- 0.11 years, first sexual fantasy at 12.66 +/- 0.03 years, first spontaneous nocturnal emission at 13.02 +/- 0.03 years, and adult levels of blood testosterone at 17.2 +/- 0.7 years. First reported spontaneous nocturnal emission was significantly related to all measures of sexual behavior. Multiple regression models indicated that first reported spontaneous nocturnal emission was a stronger predictor of sexual behavior than variation in secondary sexual characteristics. In addition, testosterone was a significant predictor of sexual fantasies and intercourse, independent of first reported spontaneous nocturnal emission. These results confirm earlier findings in other populations that self-reported spontaneous nocturnal emissions can be used as a marker of pubertal timing among adolescent boys. They also suggest that variation in testosterone plays a role in the onset of sexual behavior among boys, beyond its relationship to developmental timing. The behavioral mechanisms represented by the significant effects of testosterone reported here remain to be investigated.
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Higher testosterone modestly correlates with increased sexual fantasies in pubertal boys, but the effect disappears in models that include onset of spontaneous nocturnal ejaculations and age.
“Higher testosterone modestly correlates with increased sexual fantasies in pubertal boys, but the effect disappears in models that include onset of spontaneous nocturnal ejaculations and age (Campbell et al., 2005).”
From Becoming a sexual being: The “elephant in the room” of adolescent brain development (2017) · cites this paper as Campbell et al., 2005
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- Authors
- Campbell, B. C., Prossinger, H., & Mbzivo, M.
- Affiliations
- Boston University (US)
- University of Vienna (AT)
- World Health Organization (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Campbell, Benjamin C.
- Venue
- Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Published
- 2005-10
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 505-516
- ISSN
- 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2800
- OpenAlex
- W2020272241
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 12806)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Keywords
- pubertal timing, adolescent boys, secondary sexual characteristics, salivary testosterone, sexual fantasies, sexual intercourse
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Psychology, Adolescent, Age Factors, Coitus, Humans, Male, Masturbation, Psychosexual Development, Puberty, Surveys and Questionnaires, Testosterone, Urban Population, Zimbabwe, Logistic Models
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