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Cited by 11Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthSexuality, Behavior, and Technology

Initial Engagement in Oral Sex and Sexual Intercourse Among Adolescent Girls With and Without Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

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Halkett, Ashley, Hinshaw, Stephen P.·2021·Archives of Sexual Behavior
DOI 10.1007/s10508-020-01733-8PMC PMC7688561
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Abstract

We investigated initial engagement in oral sex and sexual intercourse, as well as number of sexual partners, among a prospectively followed sample of adolescent girls with and without a thorough childhood diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants were adolescent girls (ages 12-19) followed longitudinally as part of a study of ADHD in females. A diverse sample of 140 girls with clinician-diagnosed ADHD (47 inattentive, 93 combined) and 88 age- and ethnicity-matched comparison girls were initially recruited and invited to partake in research summer programs. We utilized data on initial engagement in oral sex, sexual intercourse, and number of sexual partners, collected during follow-up interviews conducted 5 and 10 years after baseline participation. Girls with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD engaged in oral sex at a significantly younger age and reported nearly twice as many oral sex partners than their typically developing peers. Post hoc tests revealed that group differences were driven largely by girls with the combined presentation of ADHD (i.e., those with childhood histories of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity). No significant differences emerged with respect to age of initial sexual intercourse or number of male sexual intercourse partners. In sum, adolescent girls with ADHD, particularly those with the combined presentation, were more likely to engage in oral sexual activity at a young age and with a greater number of both male and female partners. Findings highlight the need for longitudinal research that quantifies and distinguishes between various forms of sexual behavior and later reproductive and mental health outcomes.

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  • Individuals with ADHD who experience positive and supportive relationships report lower levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

    “Individuals with ADHD who experience positive and supportive relationships report lower levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation (Ginapp et al. 2023; Halkett and Hinshaw 2021; Smusz et al. 2024).”

    From “I Felt Like a Burden”: An Exploration Into the Experience of Romantic Relationships for People With ADHD (2026) · cites this paper as Halkett and Hinshaw 2021

    The Discussion (page unavailable) mentions peer victimization and poor relationships in connection with sexual risk-taking, not reduced anxiety, depression, or social isolation. The Methods (page unavailable) lists sexual-behavior variables used in this study. Searches for supportive relationships and the three claimed mental-health outcomes found no passage establishing the attributed association. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Halkett, A., & Hinshaw, S. P.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Halkett, Ashley
ORCID
Venue
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-05-26
Volume
50
Issue
1
Pages
181-190
ISSN
  • 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2800
DOI
10.1007/s10508-020-01733-8
PMC
PMC7688561
OpenAlex
W3032321136
Cited by
11
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
FWCI
0.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH45064)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, adolescent girls, oral sex, sexual intercourse, sexual partners, age at first sexual intercourse, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, sexual behavior
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Coitus, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Peer Group, Prospective Studies, Sexual Behavior, Young Adult

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